Cooking CLASS

Master these simple techniques for preparing your cake pans and you'll get perfect results every time

Buttering & flouring a cake pan

Melt butter and, with a pastry brush, brush it evenly over the base and side of the pan. You can then use the pan as it is, or line it with baking paper, see next steps. To flour the pan, sprinkle base with a little plain flour – turn the pan to coat the base and side in a light layer of flour. Hold the pan upside down and tap firmly to shake out the excess flour. This ensures the cake browns evenly and there is no flour band around the base of the cake after baking.

Lining the base & sides of a square cake pan