12 Comments

Hey Ashleigh! This is great! The cakes look amazing, I use almost the same recipe. But, sometimes ive had problems with mine sinking in the middle. I thought it was because I over-beat them, but I think ive been filling my tins to full. I’m going to try your way and yes I agree with the ‘eggy’ eggs! Lol!! ;-)
Great tip about lining the outside, thanks.
Im in manchester too, in middleton, where abouts are you? :-)

Thanks so much for the comprehensive blog with loads of interesting and useful tips, love the pics… I’m an hour away from Manchester, near Sandbach . :)

Love the diy bake-easy strips, I have some wilton ones – the new purple ones – which are both too shallow and too fiddly to get on (don’t know why they changed the design from the silver ones)… Might give this newspaper thing a try.

About the egg, I use free range carton egg whites instead of whole eggs, pre-pasteurised, not eggy at all I feel happier than buying eggs from caged hens. I get mine from my local sainsbury’s, and I replace whole eggs with them for all my recipes without an issue x

Great idea about the eggs Sawsen ;-)
Hey Ashleigh, ive just noticed in your cake pics, I have the same nice biscuit mug as you! (Tesco?) Lol ;-)

I have that mug too – it really is ‘nice’!! :-D
I use exactly the same recipe as you do except for the amount of vanilla – do you really use 1 – 1 1/2 tablespoons? and I split the recipe between two tins. Perhaps I should just use one…….. :-) I wish you hadn’t said that about the eggs though – now I am torn between wanting yummy cakes and wanting happy hens….. :-/

Aw I’m sorry about the egg situation lol! Well, I use free range eggs for other stuff like when I’m just eating omlette or something but it’s just in cake. Really eggs taste to them!
Haha Christine! Good spotting in the mug! Yep it’s totes from tesco!
Hey we have gooood taste :-D
Julia- yes Hun that’s how much I’d use. I use 1 1/2 tbsp per 300g mix. So I’d use 3tbsp for 600g etc. Although I can only just fit a 700g mix in my mixer!
Every one always comments on the yummyness of the vanilla. X

Ooh – well I am seriously under-vanilla-ing and need to change that. You must get through a lot.
(I also have the Bourbon one :-D) x

Yes I buy the large litre bottle of Nielsen Massey from www.purplecupcakes.com
The bottle is £50 but sometimes they have it on offer. I always have a quick check there. Tbh that bottle has lasted me I bought It in April and still have over 1/4 left. Vanilla is my most popular flavour and I average on 3/4 vanilla sponges a week :-) x

Thanks for that – I will check it out. No other brand compares does it :-) x

That link didn’t seem to work properly but I went to purplecupcakes.co.uk and it is £30 and really good value! Fantastic! :-D x

Whoops I put .com ://

Ooooo is it on offer again! I must purchase a bottle :-)

Thanks for the heads up lol! Xx

I really love your sponge recipe. And the diy idea, totally awesome! Please I will like to make it in a 10" and 12" cake pan that is 3" high. How do you suggest I handle the recipe to acheive a great result. Thank you!