Hello!
That is me! I’m Sarah!
Who is Sarah?
I am 31 years old, and I currently live on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland, with my husband, daughter and our two pets. I work full-time for the NHS, although I spend most of my time thinking about cake (I mean, who doesn’t? Let’s be honest).
I have had so many jobs over the years. From waitressing to a civil servant, but I was always just obsessed with baking. I would make cakes, cookies, traybakes, pretty much anything and everything and take them to my colleagues every week. They would regularly ask for the recipe or for hints and tips on how to bake.
How did it start?
I have loved, loved, loved baking for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is baking fairy cakes with my mum, from a cookbook I still own today.
Over the years, I have baked as a hobby, following recipes from recipe books, chefs and bloggers. It was my escape from everyday life.
I have never had any formal training; instead, I learned how to crumb coat a cake from online tutorials, tried and tested recipes of my own invention or put my own spin on a published recipe. There have been so many disasters over the years. Including when I tried to add apple and caramel to pretzels, despite having never made pretzels before. That ended up a wet, soggy mess. Or the time I tried to copy a Princessstarta Cake recipe I had seen on The Great British Bake Off, but the cake layer was so thin it was basically invisible.
One thing I have never done, though, is give up trying. Okay, so the pretzels were completely inedible, and the Prinsesstarta Cake, despite multiple attempts, never looked as good as the bake-off contestants, but I still tried multiple times until they were at least edible.
All this trial and error means that I have built up a huge knowledge of baking. Whether it’s why your cheesecake hasn’t set, your cakes have sunk in the middle, or your chocolate ganache has split, I am able to help. This, as well as colleagues and friends asking for help and recipes, brought me to create A Spoonful of Vanilla.
“There’s nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with cake.”
What is A Spoonful of Vanilla
A Spoonful of Vanilla was born in 2020. Named because I literally add a spoonful of vanilla to everything I bake!
I wanted to create a space to share recipes that have created that can be baked and enjoyed in your home. Every recipe is tested multiple times to ensure that it comes out perfect. Each recipe post is also filled with lots of hints and tips to ensure that you have all the information you need to create something delicious.
I love experimenting with different bakes and flavours, and I hope to give you the confidence to try that too, no matter your level of experience.
A Spoonful of Vanilla is a place filled with delicious and fun recipes, whether you are baking your first-ever birthday cake or your 100th batch of cookies. Made using simple and readily available ingredients, I mainly focus on creating easy, accessible recipes. Whether it be a classic bake, like a Victoria Sponge, a twist on a classic like my Battenberg Cupcakes or something made using your favourite biscuit, like my Jammie Dodger Blondies. You will be sure to find something to bake.
Fun Facts
1
I lived and worked in the USA.
2
I studied Law at Univeristy.
3
My favourite season is Autumn.