Bake & Decorate

"Coming soon... we’re not just a magazine, we have launched our fantastic online shop! Watch this space for all the details!" …and welcome to your February edition of Bake & Decorate! February is the month to celebrate love, and we know how to help you share the love – with cake of course! We begin with an abundance of sumptuous chocolate-y makes that will be perfect for Valentine’s Day, including a gateau adorned with raspberries, brownies, lava cake, fondue, and using modelling chocolate for sweet little heart decoration. We don’t forget the simple chocolate cake, ideal for satisfying your favourite chocoholics! Alongside the best biscuit, cupcake, cake and pudding recipes, you’ll find super cake decorating tutorials for you to try your hand at. To celebrate Pancake Day, Zoe Burmester has…

Viva Magenta works for a red velvet cake! Credit: Cake by Zoe Burmester Be bold with your colour and technique with an isomalt topper! Credit: Cake by Lisa Elliott Use as a drip effect - perfect against a chocolate cake! Credit: Cake by Natalie Porter The Pantone Colour of the Year for 2023 has been announced! Throughout the fashion industry, home interiors, and the cake world, many look to this annual colour announcement as a basis for new trends. Viva Magenta, described by Pantone as a colour that “vibrates with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating colour whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic…

P9: VALENTINE'S DAY CAKE P10: LE GÂTEAU COEUR AU CHOCOLAT P11: CHOCOLATE CAKE P11: CHOCOLATE & CLEMENTINE FRIDGE CAKE P12: CHOCOLATE CARAMEL FUDGE CAKE P13: CHOCOLATE & RASPBERRY BROWNIES P13: FRUIT CORNERS WITH HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE NUT DIP P14: CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES P15: CHOCOLATE FONDUE P15: MEGA RICH ESPRESSO POTS  Valentine's Day cake SERVES 10-12 F or the stracciatella sponge cakes 220g (8oz) butter, softened 150g (5½oz) caster sugar A pinch of salt 1tsp grated lemon zest 4 free-range eggs 280g (9¾oz) plain flour 3tsp baking powder 2tbsp cornflour 1tbsp rum 80ml (2¾fl oz) milk 75g (2¾oz) chocolate chips For the filling ½ a vanilla pod 400ml (14fl oz) milk 3 free-range egg yolks 40g (1½oz) caster sugar 30g (1oz) cornflour 200g (7oz) butter, softened 100g (3½oz) icing sugar 100g (3½oz)…

P17: PISTACHIO & ROSE CAKE P18: EASY BAKEWELL CAKE P19: VEGAN BLOOD ORANGE & GINGER UPSIDEDOWN CAKE P20: STICKY GINGERBREAD CAKE P21: CRANBERRY CAKE P22: NO BAKE MAPLE RHUBARB CAKE P22: LEMON & PISTACHIO CAKE P23: BERRY & WHITE CHOCOL ATE POPCORN CHEESECAKE P24: ORANGE & ALMOND CAKE WITH BRANDY CREAM P25: RAW APPLE CARAMEL CHEESECAKE P25: WHOLEWHEAT CARROT AND HONEY CAKE P26/27: PINK VELVET CAKE WITH STRAWBERRY BUTTERCREAM P28: VICTORIA SPONGE CAKE Pistachio & rose cake Decorating idea! Not only using chopped pistachios for décor, but florals too! SERVES 12-14 For the cake 400g (14oz) plain flour 25g (1oz) baking powder 100g (3½oz) unsalted pistachios 400g (14oz) caster sugar ¾tsp fine salt 210g (7¼oz) soft butter 4 free-range eggs, at room temperature 300ml (10½fl oz) milk, at room temperature…

P34: VALENTINE’S HEARTS P36: MAPLE FROSTED SOUR CREAM COOKIES P37: GO NUTS COOKIES P37: MAPLE-GLAZED APPLE COOKIES P38: BLOOD ORANGE ROSEMARY COOKIES P38: SPICED MEXICAN WEDDING COOKIES Valentine’s hearts Decorating idea! Get the kids involved this half term by decorating biscuits with sprinkles! MAKES 24 For the biscuits 170g (6oz) caster sugar 170g (6oz) salted butter 170g (6oz) golden syrup 1 large free-range egg 1tsp vanilla extract 480g (1lb) plain flour 130g (4½oz) self-raising flour For the icing 900g (1lb 14oz) royal icing mix 150ml (5½fl oz) cold water Red food colouring gel 1 Preheat the oven to 150°C/Gas Mark 2. For the biscuits, sift the flours together into a mixing bowl, add the sugar and mix well. Add the butter and, using just the tips of your fingers, rub…

Cakes & Bakes with Hello Bake & Decorate friends! I hope you’ve had a good start to the year and kept cosy inside baking and cake making. I don’t know about you, but I’m quite glad to see the back of January! I had a go at Veganuary and dry January and, although it was good for the waistline and my energy levels, it isn’t so much fun, especially with the grey and wet weather! For our February issue we’re going all out for chocolate and Valentine’s Day – great reasons for baking I hope you’ll agree. I always like to do a special dinner at home on Valentine’s Day that I end with some sort of delicious cake or chocolate treat, so if you’re planning on treating a special…