TASTE TEST
Craving a home-baked cake but don’t have the time to make one from scratch? Baking mixes are a convenient option – we tell you which ones we like.

DR. OETKER ORGANICS CHOCOLATE ORGANIC CAKE MIX
$8.20, from Cold Storage
If you’re not one for rich and cloying desserts, you’ll like this. The cake looked sinful but tasted healthy, although some found it too bland. We wished the cake was less dry and crumbly though. 6.5

KRUSTEAZ OAT BRAN SUPREME MUFFIN MIX
$7.60, from Cold Storage
These muffi ns emerged from the oven with a delicious cinnamon aroma. The crusty tops and moist texture make a nice balance. While it wasn’t oaty enough, it was the easiest to make – just add water.7.5

CARREFOUR FONDANT CHOCOLAT
$5.05, from Carrefour Suntec City
Luscious and perfectly chocolatey, this cake is scrumptious. The surface is lightly crisp and the inside, soft and creamy. It won extra points for the sheet of baking paper that comes with the mix. 8.5

BETTY CROCKER WALNUT SUPREME BROWNIE MIX
$8.45, from major supermarkets
These chocolate chip cookies make great comfort food, with their homemade taste and just the right sweetness. Just out of the oven, the edges are nice and crisp, and the centre, chewy.7.5

DONNA HAY CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIE MIX
$20.90, from Jones the Grocer
Luscious and perfectly chocolatey, this cake is scrumptious. The surface is lightly crisp and the inside, soft and creamy. It won extra points for the sheet of baking paper that comes with the mix. 8.5

BASCO DOUBLE CHOC MUFFINS
$8.75, from Cold Storage
We like how fluffy these muffins were, and they had a good bite. But some found it too sweet; and the chocolate was lacklustre.7

CANTERBURY NATURALS CHOCOLATE BROWNIE MIX
$6.80, from Threesixty Market Place
Brownies should be chocolatey and this one boasts an aromatic cocoa fl avour. It’s sweet but not cloying. The crust is thin and crisp, while the brownie is rich, moist and chewy.8

SIGN UP FOR A CLASS Whether you want to learn to make a basic sponge cake or craft a fondant rose, there’s a customisable class for you.

PAISLEY AND CREAM
Tel: 9838-6978, www.paisleyandcream.com
How much: Price upon application
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Get one-to-one instruction at this caterer-cum-cooking-school, from owner-chef Puja Pawa, who holds a diploma from culinary school Le Cordon Bleu in London. She will run a private class even if it’s for just one person. Baking enthusiasts can learn to make cupcakes in fl avours like white chocolate, carrot, Oreo cookies, pistachio and even beer, rum and bourbon. If you’re into an egg-free or glutenfree diet, she can put together special recipes for you.