Cheap cake recipes

krlyr

It's an office tradition to bring cakes in for your birthday (I've always thought people should bring you in cake, but nevermind!) and as I'm a keen baker, I've always done homemade. On a bit of a budget this year, now having a mortgage to pay, so just wanted some inspiration for cheaper cakes please.
Not bothered by complexity, but would rather it not require lots of expensive ingredients. I have some ingredients/a good stash of equipment I can make use of. I'd prefer more 'mature' cakes as most people in the office are 40+ - no no rice crispy cakes! :rotfl: We tend to all bring in a selection, e.g. something chocolatey, something fruity and something not too sweet. They can either be individual cupcakes, or big cakes to slice. Not-quite-cake recipes may work too (e.g. cheesecart, sweet tarts, etc)

quintwins

if this was me i'd say choccy muffins, pineapple upside down cake and a jam and cream sponge

BAGGY

I'd second muffins too. I have a dead easy recipe which you can adapt with various fruit (slushy bananas and dark choc chip, or spiced apple and rasin my fave).

scaredy_cat

lemon drizzle cake - a basic sponge mix, add zest of a lemon, bake as normal.

when out of the oven, let cool for 5 mins, stab all over with a skewer, then mix in a bowl the juice from the lemon and about 3 dessert spoons of granulated sugar, don't let the sugar dissolve, but spoon straight over the top of the cake. The juice soaks in and makes it lovely and moist.

when the cake is cold, take out of the tin.

these could be made in big muffin cases.

krlyr

Thanks guys Not sure pineapple upside down cake would be the best idea as it would never leave my kitchen - it's a newfound favourite of mine! Infact, you've nearly got me popping to Tesco for the ingredients right now and my birthday isn't for another 2 weeks :rotfl:

freezspirit

Baggy, could I have your muffin recipe

zippychick

we have loads of recipes if you search the board. here are a few links to help you

Sponge cake recipe

coffee cake

cheap tasty puddings

muffins muffins muffins

cheap cake recipes

ill merge this with the last thread later on

Zip

BAGGY

The muffin recipe I use is the wet and dry mix method. Imperial as I am a dinosaur.
DRY
10oz SR flour
1tsp baking powder
3oz sugar
any dry flavouring - coconut, cocoa powder, spice, choc chunks, raisins etc
WET
3 1/2 fl oz veg oil
enough liquid to make up to 11 1/2 fl oz (smushed banana, grated apple, milk, tinned fruit?)
1 egg
Add wet to dry. Bake 12ish mins at 200 o/c.
Makes 12 large muffins or 24 little.
I would see if they have the little silicone ones in the £1 shop as I always do little ones now so I can make one mix but 2 different flavours.
HTH

booter

Hi - I love this no bake recipe, but be aware, it's very sweet! But it's delicious - and you only need a small slice (so a little goes a long way!)
http://www.netmums.com/family-food/recipes/a-z-of-family-recipes/tiffin

scaredy_cat

i know that as refrigerator cake, booter!

booter

scaredy_cat wrote: »

i know that as refrigerator cake, booter!

Yep, that's the one - it's gorgeous