THE TASTE

• Secondly, it is one of the densest cakes around and makes a fantastic bottom tier – it can support lighter cakes with ease and also many weighty pillars or ornaments.

• Thirdly, it is a ‘neat’ cake – no, we’re not going all Yankee on you, what we mean is that it cuts well, and as a result a 10 inch tier of fruit/spice cake will provide more servings than a like for like tier of sponge cake.

• Fourthly, it is a traditional wedding cake and if you follow the view that you should keep the top tier of the cake and eat it as a couple on your one year anniversary, then a fruit or spice cake (with the right preservatives added) will allow you to do this.

• Finally, if you want to help hit your target of five portions of fruit and veg a day, then a fruit/spice cake can help you on your way (please note that we have just made this point up, so please do not quote us on this in any way - but who knows, it sounds good and could be true!).

Sponge Cake

If you don’t fancy a fruit/spice cake or are looking for ideas for the remaining tiers, then why not opt for a sponge cake. A sponge cake basically consists of three ingredients; sugar, eggs and flour. The eggs and sugar are beaten together then the flour is folded in and the whole mixture is then baked – a wonderfully light, moist and airy cake is the result.