Basic Cake/Cupcake Recipe, Toppings and Ideas

I am always being asked for the recipe of various cakes and cupcakes i make and here it is. The basic recipe i base most of my cakes on with some ideas to give you some inspiration too with chocolate ganache, whipped cream, butter cream and more. Also some photos of what i have used the recipe for making myself.
I only started baking obsessively since early Spring 2011, so i am definitely no expert, i have a great deal to learn but it just goes to show if you are passionate about something and want to learn you will go along way whatever it may be.
The recipes and ideas are quick and simple, they have to be as i have two young children so can't be in the kitchen hours on end making complicated dishes.
The aim of these recipes is to inspire you to get baking, show you how easy it can be and maybe even get you obsessed with it like i am now!
Apologies for any spelling and grammar errors, i know this can bug a lot of you but writing has never been my strong point!
I have allowed download for this one for easy use and because the text is a lot clearer downloaded thanks to DA losing quality upon upload.
OTHER USEFUL INFO
For gluten free baking add a tsp of Xanthan gum
All purpose flour can be substituted for self raising flour
granulated/regular sugar can be substituted for castor sugar
If adding summer fruits to your cake mix the juices from the fruit will increase the cooking time slightly.
you can use vanilla flavouring or vanilla extract
in many cases milk can be replaced with soya, rice milk etc if required.
Whipping/double cream is known as heavy cream in some countries.
50 grams = 1.7636981 ounces
If you need to convert any of the ingredients from grams, ml etc, here is a really good conversion site [link] but many modern digital scales have the measurements in oz and grams etc so i hope this will not be a problem for you.
When covering a cake with butter cream, always crumb coat first! Crumb coating is when you add a very thin layer of butter cream to your cake to seal in all the crumbs and is left to harden for a while so when you add the rest of the butter cream you shouldn't get any crumbs ruining your presentation.

Now you have baked your lovely cakes and cupcakes why not read my latest article on basic food photography!


food gallery [link]

my recipes [link]

Polymer Clay gallery [link]

my Etsy store [link]
UPDATED
thanks to and a few other chocolate lovers out there on DA, i have updated the part on simple chocolate as you can make chocolate shine when set with a nob of butter or a drop of oil