Baking has popped up out of nowhere, hasn’t it? Sure, people have been baking stuff for centuries, but all of a sudden, everybody’s an amateur baker. It could be down to the success of the Great British Bake Off. The entire country seemed to be tuning in every week to watch the bakers battle it out to be crowned the winner. We all loved the critiques of the beloved Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood and the witty banter between Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc. Whatever the cause for the rise in popularity, the fact is, baking is cool. Whipping up a batch of chocolate chip cookies is now officially the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We’re going to explore some of the British Baking favourites that tie in with events throughout the year. So… on your marks, get set, bake! Valentine’s Day: Red Velvet Cupcakes [caption id=“attachment_28261” align=“aligncenter” width=“695”]
“Red Velvet attempt #2” (CC BY 2.0) by alliecooper[/caption] Nothing says “I Love You” like a fluffy, red cupcake baked with, well, love. The red velvet cupcake is the perfect Valentine’s baking project. Without further ado, here’s a recipe for top notch Valentine’s Day red velvet cupcakes: What you’ll need… For the cakes: 225g butter (unsalted) 225g caster sugar 3 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 190g plain flour 35g cocoa powder 10g baking powder 1.5 tbsp red food colouring For the buttercream: 500g icing sugar 250g butter (unsalted) 1 tsp vanilla extract Right, let’s get baking. For the instructions, head over to BakingMad.com. Pancake Day: Pancakes Duh. What else would you make on pancake day? Okay, so pancakes aren’t technically baking, but for those of us who are a little spatula-challenged, this is our recipe. For this recipe, we’re sticking to a classic. I’m pretty sure everyone grew up with a Be-Ro book, and in case yours is as dog-eared as ours, here’s the recipe: What you’ll need… 100 g (4 oz) plain flour Pinch of salt 1 egg 300 ml milk Let’s get baking. Literally just chuck all the ingredients into a mixing bowl, whisk together and ladle into a pan. Flip halfway through. Put onto your plate and enjoy. Easy peasy. Good Friday: Hot Cross Buns [caption id=“attachment_28263” align=“aligncenter” width=“728”]
“Hot Cross Buns” (CC BY 2.0) by jemasmith[/caption] So apparently, we eat hot cross buns on Good Friday because they are made with dairy products that were forbidden during Lent. The cross on the top symbolises the cross Jesus was crucified on and the spices represent his embalming. Who knew? (Okay, maybe a fair few people know that, but it’s still pretty interesting.) So, what you’ll need… For the buns 1kg flour 180g caster sugar 180g butter 15g dry yeast 10g cinnamon powder 10g nutmeg powder 30g mixed spice 250ml water 250ml warm milk 150g raisins 150g sultanas 200g currants 3 eggs 20g salt For the cross & glaze 160ml water 75g flour 2tbsp sugar 2tbsp water Ready to get baking? Get yourself over to the Deliveroo Foodscene blog for the full recipe. Christmas Day: Christmas Cake Oh, the traditional Christmas Cake. The thing is, every family seems to have their own secret recipe, which is why we shouldn’t attempt to tell you how to make your Christmas Cake. Your best chance is to ask a relative. You know, the one who spends all year perfecting and injecting their cake with liqueur so that it’s absolutely perfect on Christmas Day. And if you’re really, really stuck, check out the BBC Good Food recipe for some inspiration. So, there you have it: a year of tasty treats. Go grab your apron and get baking!
