Read more: Cake Hacks Every Baker Will Wish They Knew Sooner A major benefit to using vanilla ... certain recipes are ...

Sift together the flour, cocoa, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and ... Add the vanilla and mix until smooth. If the cake tops are domed, slice off the top of one, using a long serrated knife ...

Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and salt into a large bowl, give them a quick mix and make a well in the centre. Finely grate the lemon zest in, if using. Split the vanilla ...

I'd never had a homemade mug of hot chocolate — or hot cocoa, if it's made from a powder ... stick since vanilla beans are a little too pricey for me to justify using them for garnish.