Ok, I know it is oretty pathetic but... please help me save my fariy cakes!

[NCbirdy]

Dd has a friend here playing and I need to make buns for the school fair. Great, activity for dd and friend and my cakes are done...

Normally I judge by eye but thought, as these are for judgy parents school I would follow a recipie, use scales and everything

The result after cooking half the mixture (for dd other dc and dd friend to take home) they are crystlised on top, have far too big air bubbles and are overly soft (but cooked).

What do I need to add to rest of the mixture to save it? Please oh wise mumsnetters!

(I am guessing it is too much sugar and baking powder???)

They do taste nice though

Aww go on, I know it is sad but I would like to not totally embarass myself in front of the mothers children!

(Usually my chuck it in and see cakes are light and fluffy and lovely - Bah to recipie books!)

One last hopeful bump before I go off and pick up the LO

dont really know tbh did you use caster sugar and not granulated? did you make sure the butter and sugar was completely mashed together?

having always used tamsin day lewis recipe which i was never happy with ive just started using jamie's recipe from his i will teach you how to cook book, i think thats what its called and it works a treat every time! though i use one less egg and add a bit of milk to the mixture to thin it!

Def caster sugar yes and all mixed in, but thank you!

I am not using a book next time - will go with my mix and hope theory

Ok, I cooked the rest of the cakes this afternoon. They turned out perfect... I added nothing, didn't mix, didn't even take anything away

So how'd that happen then?