Cake Angels: Amazing gluten, wheat and dairy free cakes

* Whisks I use a large balloon whisk quite a lot. They are great for getting air into a mixture without over beating.

* Flexible silicone spatula How did we ever cope without silicone? I use my spatula all the time when baking, especially for scraping down the sides of mixing bowls when creaming and beating and for making sure I get every scrap of mixture into the cake tin.

* Scales Baking is as much a science as an art, so scales are essential to achieving a perfect cake. I use battery-operated digital scales that can measure weights as well as volumes in metric and imperial. There are some really good inexpensive ones on the market now, so it’s worth shopping around.

* Measures It really is worth purchasing a set of measuring spoons because the teaspoon in the kitchen drawer might not be the same size as mine!

* Mixing bowls I have lots of bowls in different sizes, but for a first time baker this isn’t necessary. Invest in a couple of heatproof bowls of different sizes, making sure they have a rounded base so you can reach every bit of mixture.

* Tins Always buy the best you can afford. Cheap tins are a false economy because they don’t perform well and don’t last long. Good-quality tins that are looked after will last you a lifetime. Non-stick tins are a lot easier to clean, but it is still important to grease and line as recommended in each recipe. Always use the correct size tin for the recipe. If you don’t have one, why not borrow one from a friend? I would recommend the following sizes, which will cover all the recipes in this book:

1 x 18cm (7 inch) square tin with removable base

1 x 18cm (7 inch) deep round tin with a removable base

2 x 20cm (8 inch) sandwich tins with removable bases

1 x 20cm (8 inch) deep round tin with a removable base

1 x 20cm (8 inch) springform sandwich tin

1 x 20cm (8 inch) square tin with removable base

1 x 23cm (9 inch) springform sandwich tin with a removable base

1 x 900g (2lb) loaf tin

1 x 33cm x 23cm (13 x 9 inch) Swiss roll tin

1 x 20cm x 30cm (8 x 12 inch) shallow baking tin

1 x 25cm x 38cm (10 x 15 inch) Swiss roll tin or roasting tin

1 x 18cm x 27cm (7 x 10½ inch) shallow baking tin

6-hole muffin tin

12-hole muffin tin

* Baking trays These should always be heavy, flat and rigid.

* Muffin cases With the correct size paper cases, your cupcakes will rise beautifully and you shouldn’t have any mixture left over. I use Easybake cases, the dimensions of which are 3.5cm (1¼ inches) high with a base width of 5cm (2 inches). You will, however, find a huge selection, in a variety of colours, in the supermarkets or at specialist cake decorating suppliers. Where cases are not required, you will need to grease and flour the muffin tins to stop the cakes sticking.

* Wire/metal cooling rack You need to cool cakes properly when they come out of the oven by letting the air circulate underneath.

* Sieve I always sift my dry ingredients as it helps to evenly combine xanthan gum, baking powder and spices into the flour. They are also good for straining purées and pulps and dusting cakes with icing sugar.

* Knives One of my best buys has been a large plastic knife normally used for cutting lettuce. It is brilliant for cutting brownies and other sticky cakes and traybakes. Palette and round-bladed knives are great for smoothing and lifting, whilst small serrated knives provide a clean finish.

* Spoons When folding flour, fruit or egg whites into the cake mixture, I always use a large metal serving spoon. It reduces the amount of folding I have to do and keeps more air in the mixture.

* Skewers I use a metal skewer to test whether my cakes are baked. Insert into the middle of the cake and if it comes out clean, the cake is ready.

* Icing nozzles I have a selection of different shapes and sizes for piping frosting onto my cupcakes. Unless you are an experienced cake decorator, you will need only a couple, in either plastic or metal.

* Piping bag Used for piping frostings and creams, they can be washable nylon or disposable plastic.

* Baking parchment Used for lining tins and trays. Don’t make the mistake of using greaseproof paper. It is not stick-proof and you will need to grease it.

Cakes

Victoria sandwich (#ulink_7b9803a4-377f-59cf-bb21-82677dcc61a3)

Banana, pecan & golden syrup loaf (#ulink_f49c23e2-e8ca-5af2-afc0-fa9e438826bc)

Chocolate fudge cake (#ulink_89494120-b255-5fb4-b68e-039a3e0ff770)

Apple & blueberry cake

Swirly blackcurrant cake (#ulink_bd9ad71b-9e76-50ac-a573-cc054d0d869f)

Bara brith

Date & chocolate torte

Orange & pomegranate cake (#ulink_b7abd343-9d38-5da0-9753-01f5cf4c6151)

Traditional cherry & almond cake (#ulink_d491744a-bd30-5277-af60-d2f5eec02660)

Raspberry, blueberry & lime drizzle cake (#ulink_e3712997-533f-54df-a32f-9e7ebf35c30e)

Carrot cake (#ulink_9e45dba3-4da1-5c6c-956e-10f78306cd38)

Chocolate & hazelnut cake

Orange, polenta & poppy seed cake (#ulink_fa928bcd-1dfa-5f53-a2d0-3031f86f1a77)

Christmas cake (#ulink_a6bc4399-d5d1-5835-9c69-466040895df8)

Chocolate banana loaf (#litres_trial_promo)

Apricot & squash torte (#litres_trial_promo)

Greek honey & pine nut cake (#litres_trial_promo)

Boiled fruit cake

Marmalade, hazelnut & chocolate torte (#litres_trial_promo)