Cakeydora Baking Academy

Cakeydora’s Julie Crisp is all set for afternoon tea

Basic ingredients:  Mother-and-daughter team Pauline and Julie run Cakeydora from their pristine kitchen in Lichfield, Staffordshire. What started over 20 years ago with baking for family and friends, alongside bespoke cake decoration and design, now sees them sharing their skills with budding bakers and keen cake-makers. Most regular classes, including Cupcake Decorating, Bread Making, Cookie Making/Decorating and Cake Topper Modelling, run from two to five hours and cost between £35 and £95. A two-hour Chocolate Truffle Masterclass, priced at £37.99 and including tastings, tea, techniques such as tempering and hand-rolling, and gift-wrapped hand-made chocolates, is great value; and there’s an impressive range of cupcake parties for kids, aged 4 and above, which can offer cake-decoration with buttercream and sugarcraft tutorials as well as refreshments, fancy dress and  – the icing on the cake – a coveted cupcake certificate.

They say: Our new Baking Academy provides a fun and supportive teaching environment for all those interested in learning cake decorating or baking skills. If your passionate about these then you have come to the right place!

We say: Cake-lovers really can have their cake and eat it if they bring along their own baked goods to one of the school’s monthly Evening Cake Clubs. Entry fee of £2 per person covers the cost of tea served in a vintage cup and saucer which is supped while swapping recipes, chatting and making “cakey friends”.