<p style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%">Baking has never been more popular than it is right now, with shows like The Great British Bake-Off seeing our interest in all things baked go through the roof. If you’ve been toying with the idea of learning how to bake but haven’t got around to it yet, here are five reasons why you should start.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%"><strong>Impress your Friends and Family:</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%">Imagine the look on a loved one’s face when you present them with a bespoke birthday cake. You’ll have people queuing up for some of your gourmet creations, and co-workers will never fail to be impressed with what goodies you bring to the office. People will see you in a totally different light, and they’ll always be happy to test out any tasty treats for you. All in the name of friendship, of course.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%"><strong>It’s a Fun Hobby:</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%">If you spend some evening or weekends at a loose end, baking will fill those empty hours. Baking a cake is a great way to get up and do something productive for a couple of hours, rather than flicking through the TV channels bored out of your mind! The best thing about baking is that there is a recipe to suit every time frame, so if you have an entire afternoon or just one hour free, you’ll be able to create something delicious.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%"><strong>You’ll Grow more Confident:</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%">Learning to bake is like learning any skill; you’ll make a few little mistakes along the way. No one is perfect, after all! After you have mastered that one recipe that you have always wanted to pull of successfully, you’ll be so proud of yourself. Knowing that you can make something delicious from scratch is a great confidence booster, and you’ll soon approach other tasks with the same attitude!</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%"><strong>Make an Impression at Parties:</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%">If you’ve been polishing off your baking skills for a while, why not throw a party to show off your creations? From a cute 1950s tea party to a cupcake tasting evening with some friends, you’ll be sure to impress those who turn up to sample some of your goods! Seeing people enjoy and praise your food will be the ultimate reward for all of those hours you have spent practising in the kitchen. You’ll soon be top of the guest list for everyone’s parties &#8211; as long as you bring along something scrummy, of course!</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%"><strong>More Money in your Pocket:</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%">We all know how treating yourself to something delicious can burn a hole into your pocket. We’re all guilty of it, after all. If you bake some treats yourself though, you can save yourself a lot of money. Making enough flapjacks or cupcakes to last a few days will certain be less expensive than a daily lunchtime dash to the supermarket. Another great thing about baking things yourself? You can make your creations as sinful or guilt free as you like, allowing you to indulge on your own terms!</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%"><strong>On your Marks, get set, Bake!</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;line-height: 150%">If you’ve been convinced to get baking now, great! There is a wealth of recipe books, baking lessons and internet sites out there to help you develop your skills and get inspired. You’ll soon be coming up with your own recipes and wondering what on earth you did before you put your apron on. So good luck, and happy baking!</p>
<p>Eloise Durrant is the Founder of The Gourmet Cupcake Company based in Chelmsford, Essex which offer a range of baking and decorating courses</p>

5 Reasons Why You Should Learn How To Bake
