What are your top baking tips? Share your top cheats, shortcuts and tips with Flora and you could win a £200 John Lewis voucher NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

Flora have asked us to find out about Mumsnetters top baking tips and tricks.

Here's what Flora have to say, "At Flora were real fans of baking, but we're always on the lookout for tips and cheats to speed up the creation of cakes. We'd love to hear how you fit time to bake into your busy lives and how you make your cakes extra special with brilliant decorating designs that wow. (We'd also love to see photos of your creations, and we're running a great competition over on our Facebook page with some fantastic prizes, so pop over and upload your pics for a chance to win!)"

What are your top baking tips? Do you take any shortcuts when baking? Maybe you buy ready-made icing? Perhaps you use pastry from a packet? Or do you prefer making everything from scratch? Have you ever bought a cake and pretended that you baked it yourself?

Whatever your top baking tricks are, Flora would love to hear them.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £200 John Lewis voucher (in time for Christmas).

Please note your comments may be included on Flora's social media channels, and possibly elsewhere, so please only post if you're comfortable with this.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

[TiredDog]

Top tip from someone who has used an unreliable oven for years... the cake needs longer if it's sizzling regardless of how it looks

I don't make pastry very often. I don't like cake mixes (tasteless)

[SolidGold]

I don't use any cheats, as ready made products just don't taste as good to me.

If I make an all-in-one sponge, it's very quick and easy to make, who needs packet mixture? Buttercream and icing are also easy to make.

My top tip would definitely be to be careful with your cake, don't slam the oven door, and also check if the cake is cooked by inserting a wooden skewer into the cake, if it comes out clean and dry the cake is cooked through.

[DinoSnores]

To grease tins, I use spray olive oil as it gets into all the corners better than getting butter all over your fingers.

[AngelieMumsnet]

Thanks for all your comments! The winner of the prize draw is TheDietStartsTomorrow - congratulations! I'll PM you for your details shortly.