2-week Back to Basics
Upcoming Start Dates
Over the two consecutive weeks you will bake a round madeira cake and then split fill and ice it to achieve a smooth professional finish. Working with flower paste you will make dainty blossom flowers and pretty butterflies to decorate your cake. You will complete the design with ribbon at the base of your cake.
Back to Basics is the perfect place to start your Cake School journey; it will give you base skills that you can develop further with our other courses, including the diplomas and master classes. Our recommendation would be that a beginner (or those wishing to refresh their skills) attends both this 2 week Back to basics and also the 4 week Back to basics before progressing onto more advanced courses.
We provide everything you need, just bring your apron and the desire to create wonderful cakes. At the end of your two weeks you will take home the completed cake along with the skills to create many more.
- How to line a cake tin
- How to bake a madeira cake
- Tutorial - how to freeze a maderia cake
- How to professionally layer your cake and fill with jam and buttercream
- How and why to crumb coat your cake
- How to professionally cover your cake with sugar paste icing
- How to use smoothers to best effect
- Tutorial – how to use colour to best effect
- How to colour flower paste
- How to make flower paste butterflies
- How to create blossom flowers from flower paste including layered blossoms.
- How to attach ribbon to a celebration cake
- Storage & transportation of your cake
Annabelle
Annabelle
Director
Annabelle established Confection Perfection (now re-branded as Annabelle Jane Cake School) in 1996 from her kitchen table; bought her first retail premises in 2000 and is now settled in a delightful setting in Bearsted, just outside Maidstone. Annabelle has extensive cake decorating experience and is highly creative and artistic. Annabelle is an accredited tutor for the PME Diplomas in Sugar craft and also designs and delivers a wide range of other highly successful cake baking and decorating classes. Annabelle has a huge vision for our Cake School and ensures that the strong reputation we have earned continues to grow lead by her consistently high standards.
The course price includes everything you need to bake and decorate your cake and even the box to take it home. We will provide all the ingredients, materials, all sugarcraft tools, equipment and refreshments. Course attendees will also receive a full set of course notes which includes the cake recipe and a discount sheet which gives exclusive discounts on the items used during the course purchased in the cake decorating supplies shop for the duration of your course.
- What's the skill level?
Any level, beginners and upwards
- Are there any age restrictions?
Age 14+ (under 16 must be accompanied by an adult)
- What are the course times?
7.30 – 9.30pm - evening course 10.30am - 12.30pm - daytime course
- What do I need to bring?
You need to bring an apron (or we have disposable aprons 50p each)
Very friendly, fun and helpful. A new experience and I learnt a lot. Very likely to come back.
— Megan, 28th July 2020
Tutor very clear and concise; also friendly and chatty. A lovely little cakey haven in a mad world at the moment - just what I needed!
— Sara Hayes, 28th July 2020
Friendly tutor, helpful at every stage, step by step guide, no rushing, clear answers to any questions, very informative and useful information. I would certainly return for further course and recommend Annabelle's cake course. Love it!!
— Rebecca David, 14th July 2020
This has been fabulous. The tutor and the pace of teaching is excellent. I feel like I have learned so much over these two evenings. Excellent.
— Jo Stephenson, 14th July 2020
I have never attended a cake course before, so this course is brilliant for first timers. Great attention to details & lots of fun. Very helpful tutor, lots of helpful tips and made the experience very enjoyable. Loved it!
— Laura Knowles, 14th July 2020
Great course for getting to grips to basics of baking. Easy step by step instructions. Annabelle was welcoming, friendly, knowledgeable. Shared lots of tips & advice. Extra care and consideration for health and safety was put in place which was greatly appreciated.
— Joanne, 14th July 2020
Very knowledgeable & friendly. Learned a lot and was fun.
— Chinwe, 14th July 2020
Very helpful tutor, very nice person. Very good course.
— Gloria Anani, 14th July 2020
The course is very informative & the tutor is calm & patient. Everything is explained very well & Annabelle & Linda were very friendly. Everything was well planned & organised. I really enjoyed the experience.
— Cyd Bell, 26th June 2020
Amazing. I felt calm, relaxed, our tutor was so nice. Course what I expected and more. Thank you.
— Debbie Gregory, 26th June 2020
I am in my 60's and have baked all my life so was worried I would already know a lot. How wrong! I have learnt so much and would recommend this course to people old and young with some skills or none! Couldn't have wished for a better tutor. Annabelle teaches in a calm and friendly manner, was kind and knowledgeable and answered all my questions without judging. Thank you so much!
— Kim Beman, 26th June 2020
Excellent, great for the hints and tips you can't learn anywhere else. Amazing tutor, so helpful.
— Clare Hazelwood, 26th June 2020
Great course, lots of tips and tricks learnt to enable me to create a perfect birthday cake. Well organised in a social distanced environment. Very good tutor, despite restrictions.
— Sarah Ward, 26th June 2020
Exactly what I needed to create that long sought after 'professional' look. Excellent tutor.
— Emily, 16th June 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this course. Annabelle always explains everything clearly and makes the whole experience fun. During the Covid Pandemic it was refreshing to enjoy a pleasant evening & forget about it. Safety was of key importance with all due care taken, everything very carefully considered & well thought / laid out.
— Caroline Freemantle, 16th June 2020
Excellent course, really informative & we have learnt lots! Can't wait to get baking! Annabelle was very friendly & funny. Amazing job considering the social distancing rules. Great experience
— Julie Kent, 16th June 2020
Great course and experience. Friendly, helpful, professional, really good explanations.
— Adina Ciuche, 16th June 2020
Highly recommend the Cake School. I went for a beginner class also learnt how to do icing. Excellent. I cannot believe my eyes.
— Abi, 7th February 2020
Do not hesitate to book! You will not regret it! Brilliant tutor, no question too small/silly. Keen to help. Very informative. Friendly. Lots of cake + tea too!
— Jolene Smith, 7th February 2020
Course was very informative. Annabelle was not only talented but friendly and so helpful and not judgemental, always checks that everyone ok, understands & there if not but does not take over. Can't wait to come back.
— Sue Halls, 7th February 2020
The basic course is excellent for beginners. The tutor is very patient providing lots of information & help. I will be back for more.
— Claire Hall, 7th February 2020
I found the course fantastic. I learnt loads, and very enjoyable content. Absolutely brilliant tutor, very knowledgeable, caring, helpful.
— Carly Taylor, 7th February 2020
Such a good course. Tutor all you could wish for. Delightful, helpful, patient, full of tips and 'how to' advice. Course flew by.
— Karen Nicholson, 17th June 2019
This course is brilliant + a real revelation for using equipment I had but didn't know how to use properly + tips on how to improve my cakes. So enjoyable + learnt so many techniques. Highly recommend.
— , 17th June 2019
Such a wonderful course in a great setting. Attention to individual needs and hands on support. Annabelle was so helpful and I learnt so much. Absolutely loved it all, and got tea and cake too!
— Becky Nicholson, 17th June 2019
Course exactly what I wanted. Tutor is amazing!! Its so much better than watching tutorials little tips that you can't pick up on you tube. I cant wait to come back.
— Sam Fielon, 14th June 2019
I have found out so much & thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Brilliant & lovey tutor and course more than I expected.
— Sarah Town, 14th June 2019
I have thoroughly enjoyed this course it's so informative and easy to follow instructions, plus you get the extra benefit of being helped straight away if you come across a problem. You learn so much. I will be back, for sure!
— Lisa Berry, 14th June 2019
Found the course very helpful. Excellent tutor.
— , 14th June 2019
Just do it! You wont regret it. Fabulous tutor. So many helpful hints, funny and just wonderful. Non judgemental.
— Natalie Donald Trinh, 14th June 2019
Very friendly & encouraging. Would have like to cover different shape cakes & slightly longer.
— Diane Stock, 14th June 2019
Its definitely worth attending. Your learn things that you will not get on sites like youtube. What I expected and more. Excellent tutor. Very friendly and supportive.
— Wendy, 14th June 2019
Wonderful tutor. Exceptional. I will definitely return & definitely recommend.
— Michelle Watts, 14th June 2019
What a fun and informative morning. Annabelle was so patient and helpful, friendly and so full of knowledge, so encouraging too. It was perfect - its the perfect escape!!
— Diane Bradley, 14th June 2019
I had a very good experience. The course is very organised and the tutor is very lovely and helpful. She also had good techniques and explained well.
— Michelle Orekaya, 20th May 2019
Friendly, informative and fun. I've noticed the difference these courses have made, my cakes at home are really improving and everyone at home has noticed too, thank you!
— Hayley, 20th May 2019
I thought the course was great. Perfect for anyone at different levels of skill. I learnt a lot I didn't know. and I will definately be back again!
— Yasmin, 20th May 2019
Lovely experience. Fantastic tutor made learning very easy. A lot packed in to the course - would highly recommend.
— Chrissy Dove, 7th March 2019
Excellent tutor. She was very patient and lovely.
— Sylvia Appau, 7th March 2019
Excellent course! It was fun and learnt loads! Really helped give me the confidence to be a better cake maker!
— Marie Boniface, 7th March 2019
A great way to spend the evening - will be back! Tutor was great - incredibly patient and knowledgeable and managed us well!! Fun and informative.
— Amanda Reeves, 7th March 2019
Very helpful + friendly tutor. Already booked more courses!
— Carly Bassom, 7th March 2019
Enjoyed course very much. Very good tutor, explained clearly.
— Daphne Tallet, 17th January 2019
Tutor brilliant, helpful and patient.
— Sheila Cheeseman, 17th January 2019
5 star course. Tutor very helpful, friendly.
— Surmaya Gurung, 17th January 2019
Definatly coming back. Tutor brilliant, extremly helpful.
— Susie Jones, 17th January 2019
It was a really good experience of baking cake first time in my life. Linda was helpful & friendly. Thank you, very much.
— Nelson Rai, 17th January 2019
Excellent course, very helpful and informative, can't wait to come back and do more courses.
— Louise Wilde, 12th October 2018
Come and do a course you will enjoy. I couldn't wait to come back the second week to decorate my cake. Had fun. Very informative. Friendly. Found lots of useful tips. Loved it.
— Kay Oliver, 12th October 2018
Brilliant course. Lots of useful information and techniques. Friendly and knowledgeable tutor. Would definitely recommend.
— Holly, 12th October 2018
Brilliant. Excellent tutor.
— Sam Joseph, 12th October 2018
Fantastic, friendly, very helpful tutor + reassuring! Great course, very informative as well as fun.
— Vanessa, 12th October 2018
Friendly and informative. Really enjoyed the two evenings + happy with all the info + tips and the end result.
— Olivia Wilson, 26th September 2018
It was my first time icing a cake and looking at my finished piece I can't believe I've made it. Excellent course. Tutor very good! I felt really relaxed, she was very helpful and offered a lot of tips. I really enjoyed it and I think others would too. I'll be back.
— Katie Osborne, 26th September 2018
Excellent tutor - good balance of helping + letting us make mistakes. Thoroughly enjoyable, extremely informative, completely accessible. Just brilliant!
— Lisa Keslake, 26th September 2018
Great teaching. Amazing, friendly, caring and helps - fun + bubbly.
— , 28th June 2018
Excellent teaching. You are guaranteed to learn no matter your pace of learning. 5 stars all the way.
— Kerri, 28th June 2018
Amazing tutor: friendly, helpful, kind, gives clear explanations. Course content even better than I expected. Everything was GREAT!
— , 28th June 2018
It's enjoyable + the teachers are amazing. Do this course. A great start to your cake journey!
— Karen Williams, 28th June 2018
Course was fantastic. Annabelle was lovely, very patient and an excellent baker. It was a great course. Thank you very much.
— Stephanie Turner, 18th May 2018
Very good tutor. An enjoyable experience as well as learning a lot.
— Carolyn, 18th May 2018
Had such a fantastic time and learnt so much. Thank you. Will definitely be coming back.
— Joanne Hodgson, 18th May 2018
I was really pleased with the course. I have learned a lot and I'm really looking forward to doing more courses here.
— Melanie Germain, 18th May 2018
Everyone should do this course, a lot of content to take away & try at home. Learn so much. Annabelle was so helpful + has so much knowledge to pass on. Gave excellent advise throughout. I really enjoyed the course.
— Natasha Turnbull, 18th May 2018
Superb - I'm coming back for more! Superb - v. friendly tutor. Made me feel v. comfortable and able to ask any questions despite how daft they may seem.
— Jo Prideaux, 18th May 2018
Very good - all of it. Very informative. All well explained. Can't wait for the next course.
— Caroline Ward, 18th May 2018
Really enjoyed the course and everything was well organised, tutor was lovely. Well worth doing. Cakes looked beautiful.
— Sue Truman, 18th May 2018
Fantastic course. Excellent tutor.
— Sarah Putney, 18th May 2018
Lots to learn and friendly. Annabelle made us all relax, enjoyed the class very much.
— Tracey Mahaffery, 18th May 2018
I liked the course and I am very happy. I'm rating more than 5. The tutor she is very good and knowledgeable, friendly, helpful.
— Sophia, 18th May 2018
Amazing tutor, Linda is so helpful, patient & knowledgeable. This course is great for beginners, however you will become addicted!
— Erika Broad, 12th April 2018
Not had so much fun in ages. Really loved baking and particularly enjoyed the decorating. Lovely, very good tutor, learned a lot.
— Eva, 12th April 2018
Very friendly & knowledgeable. Excellent tutor, gave extra tips too. Great fun, relaxed atmosphere, learnt lots. Brilliant!
— Claire Dickens, 12th April 2018
Brilliant course, never need to worry about messing up. Linda is the best tutor ever! Such a lovely lady. Overall experience has been fantastic for a 1st time cake course, already booking up more classes and joined cake club! LOVE IT!
— Chloe Wilson, 12th April 2018
Highly recommended course for those who learn from basic. Friendly & knowledgeable tutor. You can learn everything.
— Mrs Kuhapperiya Ranjithkumar, 12th April 2018
Very friendly. Very good tutor and lovely lady.
— Mariatu Juana, 12th April 2018
I would highly recommend that people who are interested in baking book a course with Annabelle Jane's Cake School. I really enjoyed my course and Linda was lovely. Even though I have baked a few sponge cakes, I learnt a couple of new tricks and will put those to use during my next bake.
— Lynsey Bryant, 12th April 2018
Tutor was lovely - so helpful & knowledgeable. Will be back!
— Gill Newton, 12th April 2018
Very enjoyable. I learnt a lot of new skills.
— Michael Wells, 18th January 2018
I was given the course for my birthday & it was the best present. Loved it. Linda & Annabelle are fantastic. Can’t recommend this enough. Will do more courses. Thank you.
— Natalie Batchelor, 18th January 2018
Very, very good, very knowledgeable tutors. Answer every question. Fantastic advice and very friendly. They have taught someone who is completely useless in the kitchen to someone who can produce a fantastic tasty cake and will definitely go on and do more courses.
— Brian Fulthorpe, 18th January 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed the course. I’ve learnt a lot and can not wait to practice at home. Would recommend to anyone wanting to learn about cake making.
— Nicola Hooper, 18th January 2018
I learnt a lot and the teachers of both classes were wonderful, explained clearly and I liked their method. What I expected but not all the tips!
— Marnie Martin, 18th January 2018
It’s a little hard to find. I enjoyed the course, the tutors were supportive, patient and attentive. The environment for the course was relaxed and enjoyable. A little royal icing piping to add a little more detail to the cake decorating would be good. It’s really good fun and it’s good to take part with other people. I have already booked another course.
— , 18th January 2018
The course very good. Everyone should do. Anyone can learn to make a cake. Everyone was friendly and you are talked though at a good speed and shown how to do first. Thank you. Loved course. Hope to do more.
— Lee Drury, 18th January 2018
Definitely pleased I chose to do this and 100% likely to do more. Annabelle is lovely and her knowledge and info learnt – great. Felt at ease, welcomed. More than I expected – as being called ‘back to basics’ – I thought it would be basic and easy – although easily enough the knowledge of what was explained (how the cake molecules work etc) has been good to know! More of a foundation level – which I now feel excited to go on and learn more from. Excellent.
— Lisa, 10th February 2017
I'd recommend because the instructions and course notes are always good. Annabelle is always easy to follow and helps when necessary. Excellent.
— Louise, 10th February 2017
Great fun and taught me some techniques to create great looking and tasting cakes! Very good tutor. Made it great fun and explained things simply. Help always on hand which was appreciated. Brilliant.
— Kate, 10th February 2017
A fun and informative way of learning. Made to feel welcome and met with a smile. Excellent tutor, very happy to answer any questions. Very reassuring and helpful the whole time. The course content was even better than expected. Excellent!
— Lorna, 10th February 2017
Wonderful. Amazing tutor, very knowledgeable.
— Louise, 7th December 2016
It’s brilliant here.. Friend liked on facebook… and fab-u-lous! The course was what I expected and more. Fantastic.
— , 7th December 2016
100% likely to do more – amazing, very knowledgeable and helpful tutor; friendly and welcoming. Fantastic.
— Sarah, 7th December 2016
Friendly and welcoming environment. Excellent, very patient and very skilful tutor. Amazing!!! 5+ *s
— Dan, 7th December 2016
I came away really happy.
— Deanna, 7th December 2016
Very enjoyable & max learning. It was perfect – perhaps longer time. Amazing.
— Thelma, 18th November 2016
Fantastic, relaxing course. Made to feel welcome. Friendly. Fabulous tutor - 100%. Brilliant.
— Arlene, 18th November 2016
Lovely teacher, very good – very knowledgeable, very helpful. I have learnt so much – a refresher – new tips – I will be doing more. Excellent.
— Neela, 18th November 2016
I had a lovely time and will definitely do it again. Very friendly, lovely teacher, easy to understand + fun. Very knowledge, no question was too silly. Fabulous.
— Sophie, 18th November 2016
My husband bought this as a gift. Excellent. I learnt so much, relaxing and fun. Patient, friendly, knowledgeable, loads of tips – what I expected + more. Would recommend.
— Emma, 18th November 2016
Friendly and really enjoyable. Easy to follow – great tips offered in a friendly way – not condescending. Brilliant – a wow moment at the end.
— Sandra, 18th November 2016