Perfect Cakes Every Time

When newly-wed Victoria Combe baked a cake for her in-laws' first visit, the result was a sunken, soggy disaster.

In despair she appealed in her column in the "Daily Telegraph" for help. 'Is there a cake recipe out there I cannot ruin?', she pleaded.

Thankfully scores of readers from all over the country came to her aid.

They sent precious recipes which had been handed down the generations and had never failed.

There were recipes for squidgy ginger cakes, treacly chocolate cakes, and the lightest easiest sponges.

Readers gave life-saving tips and Victoria Combe tried again.

The results were delicious. Here she shares the best of the "Telegraph" readers' recipes for foolproof cakes, biscuits, scones and loaves, in the hope that others will be saved from disaster and will learn to delight their nearest and dearest with delicious home baking.

It also includes a crash course in ingredients and packed full of useful readers' tips to ensure every cake is a success.