I love an easy, impressive dessert ... Make it for your partner’s birthday, friends dropping in for dinner, or a fancy spin on the king cake for your upcoming Mardi Gras party.

But the burning humiliation stayed with me, and I vowed to find an easy-peasy, sure-fire cake recipe that I’d be proud of. Related: 85 Best Birthday ... bottom of your elegant glass pedestal ...

This is a really easy birthday cake for kids of all ages. Dan Lepard shows you how to make it in a step-by-step video. For the cake, line the base of a deep 20cm/9in cake tin with non-stick paper ...