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We all know about white, milk and dark chocolate but since 2017 there has been a new kid on the block, Ruby chocolate. This new variety isn’t just a coloured or flavoured white chocolate, it stands as a separate type. The reason is that the dark pink colour is...

Getting the perfect buttery pastry for mince pies that can be a challenge. The pastry needs to be strong enough to hold a lot of mincemeat while warm and still be thin and crisp. Then there is the flavour. Using a lot of butter will leave you with a great taste but...

What is it? Technically any fat that is solid at room temperature is classed as shortening. This is because a fat such as butter or lard coats the strands of gluten in flour. Stopping them from stretching and becoming elastic. Joining and stretching of the gluten...

Baking at home for profit, why do it? Baking at home for profit by starting a food business from your own kitchen is something that a lot of people try to get into. It can be great fun and grow rapidly. But only if you pair the right products with the right local...

Baking for diabetics can be one of the hardest things you have to do with pastry work since it all revolves around sugar. That doesn’t have to be the case though. There are a few recipes and substitutions that can really help. Not all recipes can be substituted with...

  A lot of people ask about how they can leave their current job and become a pastry chef. It is something that commonly presents itself as a passion at home and seems like the perfect thing to leave behind the 9-5 for. The reality doesn’t always live up to the...

When it comes to making bread, some people prefer to mix and knead their dough by hand, but if you have access to a stand mixer then this can make the process less physically demanding and in some cases faster. As is the case with any mixing of dough, it is obviously...

5 Essential tips for beginner bakers Starting out in baking can be a daunting process. This is my top 5 essential tips for beginner bakers to get you on the right path. Just like learning any new skill it will take a while to get comfortable with how everything works....

How to Make Perfect Tart Shells Getting perfect tart shells is something that can look very easy when you watch cookery shows. The reality though is that getting a perfect shell is made up of lots of small processes. All the details add together to make a thin, secure...

What is it for? Pastry cream (or crème patisserie) is one of the most important recipes in the pastry kitchen. From tarts to eclairs to trifles, this versatile cream pops up in so many places and is one of the first things you learn as a pastry chef. Contrary to the...

How to glaze a cake properly Learning how to glaze a cake properly is a big part of life in professional kitchens and cake shops. If done right, in my opinion there is no cleaner way to finish a cake than with a glaze. Most glazes are made with a base of water, sugar,...