The 50 Best baking essentials 2. kMix Firecracker Stand Mixer Don't do all that whisking and beating by hand. This will look great on the worktop, won't stand idle long and is very versatile. Where: kenwoodworld.com How much: £399 Architec Melamine Mixing Bowls Anything that takes up less storage space is a good thing so these stacking bowls are perfect. Choose from four colours. Where: baytreecookware.co.uk How much: £29.99 Lekue Springform Silicone Rim with Ceramic Plate Greasing tins is a thing of the past with silicone bakeware. Here's one with the plate already there to serve it on and a clip to release it easily. Where: amazon.co.uk How much: £28.95 Cuisipro Food Decorating Pen For anyone who has faffed about with one of those bags and a nozzle comes this nifty icing pen. Pull the plunger to fill it up and decorate away. Where: mulberryhall.co.uk How much: £7.95 Nordic Ware Cake Lifter Used all the time on the Great British Bake Off, this is the best way to move your cake from cooling rack to tin. You've probably been using a fish slice but you will soon wonder how you did without. How much: £17.95 Balloon Whisk Set A real essential that won't break the bank. Perfectly designed for getting air into egg whites and cream. There's nothing better for the job. How much: £5.99 Shell Compact Digital Scale The precision of digital scales aid baking. In Joseph Joseph style, the lid becomes the measuring bowl and you can weigh liquid and dry ingredients with the add and weigh function. How much: £48 Sunflower Oil Spray For those who hate faffing with a knob of butter, try using a low-fat cooking spray which will get into the corners of the tin and make the job much easier. Where: supermarkets nationwide How much: around £2 Parchment-Lined Foil Exactly what it says on the tin. Foil on one side, greaseproof paper on the other. Foil side down spreads heat evenly while the paper on top prevents sticking. Great for sausage rolls. Where: lakeland.co.uk How much: £4.29 Icing Set One-Beginners Almost anything from Jane Asher's site will help but this set includes the essentials: a palette knife, five colours, two brushes and nozzles. Where: janeasher.com; 020 7584 6177 How much: £41.75 Ceramic Cake Stand with Glass Dome This way you don't have to move leftover cake into an airtight tin. However, it does create a clearly visible temptation. Where: thecookskitchen.com; 0844 357 4772 How much: £39.88 Silicon Pastry Brush Non-stick and heat resistant to 315C so you can baste with hot oils. Note to perfectionists: it doesn't leave brush marks. Its long handle will keep you out of heat's way. Where: decuisine.co.uk How much: £3.95 Bistro Electric Hand Mixer Sometimes a hand whisk just won't do. Comfortable to hold and in a very snazzy range of colours including zesty orange, purple and lime green, or available in classic black and white. Where: bodum.com How much: £49 Loaf Tin Liners Back to the sticky subject of releasing the cake from its tin. These readymade greaseproof liners will sit inside the tin and you can just lift it, and the cake, out in one go after cooking. Where: lawsonshop.co.uk How much: £3.59 Edge Brownie Pan There's often a fight for the bits of the brownie with chewiest edges. This neat tin helps form chewy edges on both sides, making a liquid centre and dry edge a thing of the past. Where: firebox.com How much: £31.99 The Contemporary Cake Decorating Bible A comprehensive guide to sugarcraft from beginner to expert by Lindy Smith. This will up the competition at children's birthday parties no end. Where: waterstones.com How much: £19.99 Standard Loaf Bag Bread doesn't really like being in a plastic bag and the artisan ones dry out really quickly in paper bags. These material bags really seem to work - I know, I've got one. How much: £7.99 Chocolate Grater Well, clearly it isn't just for chocolate but lemon zest and all those other twiddly bits that baking often requires. Probably best to have a different one from the one you use for the cheese. Where: bakingfrenzy.com How much: £1.45 Cuisinart Elite Mini Processor This is small enough to sit on the worktop but large enough to do the job, chopping chocolate and grinding nuts with ease. Where: johnlewis.com; 08456 049049 How much: £59.95 Tala 1960s Cook's Dry Measure If you don't want to get scales out for a few ingredients, this measuring cup will do the dry things. Just fill to the line with everything from sultanas to beans or flour and sugar. Where: johnlewis.com How much: £8 PushPan 10 cm If you don't like silicone or springform, how about this? The base is loose with a silicon leakproof seal, and you simply turn it upside down and push the base to ease the cake out. Chocolate Cigarellos Not sure I could wait until the cake was baked to use these but if you can, they are a simple way to give a professional and appetising finish. Where: cakedecoratingstore.co.uk; 0845 6525 357 How much: £14.30 Glass Storage Jar 500ml You can shove bags of flour and sugar in cupboards but there's no doubt it's better to decant. Use these jars, which will look pretty on shelves and show what's left at a glance. Where: lifestyle-bazaar.com How much: from £2.75 for 160ml Wooden Spoons A vital utensil. This set has one regular spoon, one with a point for getting right into the corners and a spatula for loosening anything in danger of sticking to the bottom of the pan. Where: blisshome.co.uk How much: £7 Cook's Blowtorch For most of us this would just be for caramelising a crème brûlée, but as this is from Divertimenti I should also point out that you can use this to singe feathers off poultry. Where: divertimenti.co.uk How much: £25.95 Jamie Oliver Tilt and Mixing Stainless Steel Bowls Best for beating eggs as plastic attracts grease and glass is too slippy but steel will stabilise egg whites. You can attach cling film easily and they won't chip. How much: £60 Swift Stackable Cooling Racks If you have made a huge batch of cupcakes this will be useful but doesn't take up much room. Vital to allow air to circulate and prevent soggy biscuits. Where: pandjkitchens.co.uk How much: £10.50 Edible Gold Leaf This'll up the ante at the school cake sale - edible gold leaf which you attach with edible glue. You'll need tweezers and a steady hand but it will make the most sunken sponge look good. Where: cakecraftworld.co.uk How much: £2.98 Pyrex 12-Piece Storage Set Storing food in glass means you can cook and serve it in the same dish and then keep whatever is left in the fridge with the lid on top. The only food storage you'll ever need. Where: overstock.com How much: £35.34 Victorinox Palette Knife Delia has one so it's probably something we all need. They come in various sizes and have a multitude of uses, such as running round the edge of a cake to ease it out of its tin. Where: russums-shop.co.uk How much: £21.30 KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer The KitchenAid lasts forever and can be inherited by your children, provided we still live on more than freeze-dried powder cake by then. How much: £419 Marble Pastry Board This isn't absolutely vital , but if you make a lot of pastry it's a good idea to buy one as it keeps the dough cool. If you're not driving past your local stonemason's for an offcut then this one is perfect. How much: £30 Wmf Oven Thermometer Ovens differ widely. For baking it can mean the difference between a Masterchef souffle and a school dinner. This will solve the problem. Where: salamandercookshop.com How much: £13 Jigsaw Cookie Cutter You need sensible round ones for flans and pastry cases but these puzzle ones are fun for something more unusual. You will need a flat board to display them on for maximum effect. Where: coxandcox.co.uk How much: £4.50 Kitchen Craft Cake Tins Every well-stocked kitchen needs a cake and a biscuit tin. This set of two covers both and has a see-through lid so you can see who's been at it while your back was turned. Where: abbode-cookware.co.uk How much: £22.95 Procook Silicone Spatula Nothing licks a bowl clean as well as a small child or a labrador, but in the absence of either of those, you'll need one of these. Heat resistant and fine on non-stick surfaces. Where: procook.co.uk How much: £3 Panasonic SD-2501WXC Bread Maker You might occasionally have the time for kneading and proving and all that, but sometimes it's nice just to stick it in the machine. How much: £139.95 Arcoroc Glass Bowl This is made from tempered glass, making it five times more resistant than untreated glass. It has a flattened surface on one side of the base for vigorous beating and creaming. How much: £2.95 Bake-O-Glide Baking Set Non-stick reusable baking sheets. These do away with the need for greaseproof paper, silicone sheets or tin foil. Simply line the tin and when it's done, wash in warm soapy water. How much: £13.50 Multi-tiered cake pan If you have children you will sooner or later need the novelty cake tin. This site has lots but this tiered one is the best cheat's version. Where: cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk; 01524 389684 How much: £22.45 Eat Dessert First Set of Four Plates After all that hard work, it's time to sit down and eat the fruits of your labours. These pretty plates are perfect for a little spot of afternoon tea. Where: heals.co.uk How much: £35 Stainless Steel Solid Spoon Many recipes call for folding rather than mixing or beating and you must have a metal spoon to do it. You can also use it for serving and the hanging loop is handy for storage. Where: marksandspencer.com How much: £5 American Originals EK0874 Waffle Maker You can make really good egg-free waffles in this waffle maker which gives children with an allergy to eggs a chance to join in and do their own baking. Where: comet.co.uk How much: £14.99 Oxo Good Grips Measuring Cup 4 Cup All kitchens need measuring jugs. This one has an angled surface so you don't have to bend down to work-top level to see if you've got it right. Where: cookskitchenware.co.uk How much: £11.99 Greenpan TwinPan A clever idea - a feature mainly for pancakes but useful for all sorts of things. You are buying two pans but you can lock them together making it easy to flip pancakes and omelettes. Where: green-pan.co.uk How much: £80 Clear Sugar Diamonds These will add wow to any cake. Scatter these edible diamonds over icing (you can get pearls as well) and there'll be no need for any fancy piping work. The cheat's way to top decoration. Where: edible-glitter.com Miniamo Cupcake Tree Wire for 23 Cakes After baking you don't want to pile all your cakes up on a plate to be squashed. You can get a smaller one for 13 if you haven't made quite so many. How much: £24 Stay Cool Rolling Pin Fill the rolling pin with icy water and it will keep the dough cool and make perfect flaky pastry. Fill it with warm water and it's good for yeast dough. Where: whiskcooking.co.uk How much: £32.99 Bengt Ek Timer Some people prefer mechanical timers to digital ones (me), others like something they can take to another part of the house in case they don't hear the one on the oven (me again). Where: handymitts.co.uk How much: £11.59