3 Things I Never Bake

plus Autumn Apple and Blackberry Crumble Muffin Recipe for paid upgrade subscribers

I've been a professional baker for many years. There are things I love to bake. There are things I'll bake but I wouldn't call them my favourite. But then there are the things I NEVER bake.

1. Cake Pops

They are the devil's work!!! I have tried to make those cute little cake balls covered with smooth, pretty chocolate at the end of a stick. But what I always end up with are lumpy, bumpy blobs that fall off the stick if you dare to leave them unattended for more than 2 seconds.

2. Laminated Dough

Life is too short to laminate dough. Sure, I've made croissants and puff pastry. I've rolled, folded, and chilled like a baking goddess. But it didn't make me a better baker or person. In fact, it infuriated me because it was so damn fiddly. So I ask you, why bother when you can buy really good stuff ready made?

This is my London Cheesecake Recipe made with shop bought puff pastry - life is just too short to make it. Click the picture for the recipe.

3. Wedding Cakes

Been there, done that. I have made and delivered hundreds (literally) of wedding cakes in my time as a baker. And unless it's for a close friend of family, I'm not doing it again.

Sure, if you're a good business person, there is money to be made making wedding cakes. Absolutely, it's fun getting the chance to create a large, beautiful cake. But the stress!!!!

Nope, I'm done with that kind of stress in my baking life.

What do you never bake, and why?

I posted this on Instagram on Saturday and have had many people share with me what they will never bake. Many agree Cake Pops are just evil, although I did have the suggestion of doing them upside down so there is no chance they’ll fall off the stick.

These are some upside down cake pops I made in 2012. I obviously wasn’t that happy with them as I tried to make them look better with little bows. The bright pink isn’t helping either!

There were a few people saying that they won’t make macarons. I do get that. They are tricky little buggers! I actually went on a course to learn ow to make them. And mostly my macarons come out just fine. However, when we lived in our 500 year old cottage there was an underlying level of dampness that meant that they never, ever came out very well. The are so very temperamental!

A lot of people agree with me on wedding cakes, and I had a few say character cakes or any that involved using dowels were a ‘nope’ as well.

I'm really interested to hear what others struggle with...come on, get it off your chest!

Below is this weeks recipe for upgraded subscribers. It’s delicious autumnal Apple and Blackberry Muffins with a crumble topping - because who doesn’t love Apple and Blackberry crumble at this time of the year?

There are ingredient details and substitutes below the recipe.