Cupcakes and tea parties are all the rage, so when Listed Magazine was invited to attend a brand new course to make their very own cupcake creations in Bournemouth, they jumped at the chance.

Hosted by Rachel Filmer in the award-winning Green House Hotel on the East Cliff, the course ran from 10.30am-4.30pm. Class sizes are nice and small with a maximum of 12 people. Rachel provides all the ingredients and specialist cake decorating contraptions, so all you need is a willingness to learn and your own apron. Refreshments are also provided with a sandwich buffet lunch in the hotel’s bar.

The morning started with a demonstration of making the perfect sponge base. We were shown a nifty technique for filling the cupcake cases and then they were popped in the oven to cook. We set about the creative, fun bit of learning to model with all manner of sugar paste, modelling paste and flower paste.

Rachel put everyone at ease and before long we were all making sugar daisies, lilies, roses and butterflies. We were able to use paintbrushes and put on something called lustre dust, which made things shiny. In the afternoon we got onto piping butter cream and swirling shapes and there was yet more glitter and sparkly bits to adorn our cakes.

We were all delighted and surprised with what we’d achieved. By the end of the day I left with 9 cupcakes, an info pack containing all the recipes and instructions, as well as supplier information and tips.

Whether you want to wow your friends and family with your creative prowess or invite a group to join you for a day out, you are sure to learn new skills. So, if you’ve got a day off or a special occasion, a hen party, a birthday bash or a retirement do, why not invite your friends, family or colleagues for a bake off. You’ll enjoy it and you’ll never be able to look at a shop bought cupcake in the same way again.

For more information, visit www.letsmakecupcakes.co.uk

Image: Fiona with her cupcake creation.