Eric Lanlard's Top 10 cake-baking tips

So you want bake eye-poppingly, jaw-droppingly beautiful cakes? Then you want to follow these expert tips.

1 Study the recipe and list of ingredients and tools needed in advance and make sure you have them all to hand.

2 Clear the diary and send the kids/husband/wife away so you can concentrate and are not disturbed.

3 Use only the best quality ingredients for the filling. Remember the cake must taste as good as it looks.

4 Start with a very clean surface – when icing any dirt will show up on white icing so everything must be spotless.

5 Layout all your tools and equipment like a surgeon on a small tray next to you.

6 Follow the recipe step by step – do not try and improvise – baking is a science.

7 Always allow royal icing or painted details to dry thoroughly before adding the finishing touches such as pearl lustre or gold/silver decorating paint.

8 When doing an elaborate icing design that will take more than a few days to complete – use a fruit cake because a sponge cake will go stale after a day.

9 When making a wedding cake or a tiered cake for a special occasion, mix up the tiers to give the guests options. Think about using chocolate, lemon or even a carrot cake instead of using fruit cake for every tier; it’s much more interesting that way.

10 Don’t give up if it doesn’t work out the fist time – keep trying – practice and experience is the secret to success. Of course it always helps if you are naturally artistic!