How to Make a Cake and Jazz it Up

We all love a great sponge cake, here is a great ,simple recipe, to make a basic sponge cake. The cake can be jazzed up, check out my favorite tips at the end of the step by step recipe.

Ingredients
6 oz all purpose flour (or self raising)
6 oz butter
6 oz sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp baking powder
Vanilla essence

Tools
Large mixing bowl
Weighing scales
Wooden spoon
1 or 2 teaspoons
Grease proof paper (not required)
Cake baking pan

Step one
Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. Gather all your ingredients, and tools you need to make this yummy cake.

Step two
In a large mixing bowl cream together the sugar and flour. When the butter and sugar are ready the mixture in the bowl should be a very pale cream color nearly white. This process should take about 5 mins. If however your butter is really hard it may take a while longer, to speed up this process you can soften the butter in the microwave for a few seconds, about 5 seconds should do depending how hard the butter is.

Step three
Add one large egg to the mixture, and also add some (not all) of the flour to the mixture. Mix this in well at this time also add your baking powder making sure it is mixed in well. Continue to add the last two eggs and flour. Beat together thoroughly. The batter should be a nice cream color and should not be stiff.

Step four
Now your batter is ready add a few drop of vanilla essence, be-careful not to over do it. You do not want the essence to over power the cake.

Step five
Grease your baking pan, making sure the pan is covered to prevent the cake from sticking. To help prevent the cake from sticking to the pan I recommend you cut a piece of grease proof paper to fit the bottom of the pan. The grease over the paper, also put a small amount of flour in the pan and shake the pan till the flour covers the bottom of the pan too.

Step six
Now your pan is ready pour the batter into it and spread over the pan so it is evenly covered. Place in the oven and cook for 25-30 or until cooked all the way through. When the cake is cooked it will spring back when touched on the top.

Step seven
Let your cake cool for a few mins before taking it out of the pan. When it is out of the pan, let it cool off fully especially if you intend to frost it.

Tips to jazz up your cake!

1. When the cake batter is made try adding some coco powder to make a yummy chocolate cake.

2. Try adding some colored sprinkles to the batter to brighten it up and look fabulous when it is eaten.

3. Chocolate chips make a great way to have fun with your cake, add them to your batter, so when you eat your cake you will have mouth watering chocolate in the middle.

4. If your making the cake for a children's party add a few drops of food coloring to make the cake a bright surprise.