Die Butter mit dem Zucker schaumig schlagen ...

We live in a cynical world: there's not nearly enough cake.<BR><BR>Baking holds and shares memories. Each slice of cake carries the scent, the flavour and the wonder of a birthday, a friendship, a celebration. The classic art of cake-baking is also a rhythm that can bring so much joy to the baker - especially when you're measuring, creaming, folding and scraping to foolproof Emelia Jackson recipes. Every style of cake imaginable is covered here across four approachable, delightful, fully photographed chapters:<BR><BR>Hello, is it cake you're looking for? For all the go-to classics, from one-bowl wonders like fluffy vanilla cake and carrot and pecan cake, to the code-breaking recipe for café-style banana bread.<BR>All you need is cake. The perfect introduction to nut meals, syrups and more, this chapter features creative and simple cakes that will up your flavour and texture combinations, including a roasted plum, brown sugar and cinnamon pavlova for a very special summer celebration.<BR>May the (mini) cake be with you. Cake can come in all shapes and sizes, including mini lemon polenta cakes and cardamom and blackberry financiers, all purpose-designed for travelling to a friend's home or gifting (after saving one for yourself).<BR>Around the world in 80 flavours. A delicious voyage through cultural cornerstones, from Syrian orange cake, to two wonderful Hungarian layer cakes to impress, and an incredibly easy but satisfying French yoghurt cake.<BR><BR>In Emelia's hands, cake becomes limitless. Each of the 80-plus recipes are flexible, adaptable and designed to welcome bakers of any skill level. Now, show me the cake.

'There's no better hand to hold than Emelia's to lead you to baking bliss' Alice Zaslavsky<BR><BR>Make baking your happy place. It's not so much a science; it's practice plus play, which becomes instinct and then art. And even the failures are delicious.<BR><BR>Welcome to First, Cream the Butter and Sugar - the ultimate guide for everyone who loves cake. Whether you're here for the only choc chip cookie recipe you'll ever need, or you're setting your sights on conquering an opera cake, a raspberry passionfruit tart or becoming a choux-master, Emelia Jackson has done the homework on behalf of us all.<BR><BR>For those who love a good homemade cake but don't love sifting flour and icing sugar (is it really necessary?) and enjoy a shortcut (do I need to wait hours for my eggs to reach room temp?), Emelia breaks down the steps that truly matter and dispenses with those that don't. Packed with advice for every level of home baker, this is the modern baking reassurance you need, whether it's the night before the birthday party or just a Sunday afternoon for baking something sweet to get you through the week.