Most people would never imagine a cupcake containing fish. But some shiny, glossy sprinkles — the kind that look extra magical on celebration cakes — use fish gelatine  as a binding agent. In case you didn't know, fish is one of the 14 major allergens that must be declared on every bake that leaves your kitchen. It’s unexpected, unintuitive, and exactly why allergen awareness matters so much for bakers. If you take money for baked goods, whether you call yourself a hobby bake

If you sell cakes from home — even just occasionally, even “just for friends” — there’s one thing you need to understand: Allergen responsibility still applies to you. Yes, even if: you don’t see yourself as a “business” you only charge for ingredients you mostly bake for people you know Because the moment money changes hands, the rules change. And it’s not about being told off or getting into trouble. It ’s about protecting you, and the people eating your food. “I Didn’t Rea

There was a time — back in my celebration‑cake era — when I thought offering cake tastings was just “part of the job.” A nice little extra. A gesture of goodwill. A way to show off my flavours. Then came that   email. A customer wanted three different flavours for a £40 birthday cake. Free, of course. (and yes, this was back in the day when I didn't realise that I had to charge for my time too!) When I politely explained that I’d need to bake whole cakes, that tasters creat