Everyone loves a slice of cake with a cup of tea, and the Battenberg is a British classic. We all know the usual pink and yellow version, but wouldn�t it be fun to choose your own colours and flavours?

Check mate To make your own Battenberg, use the bespoke Battenberg tin from Squires Kitchen and award-winning bakeware manufacturers Alan Silverwood. This bespoke tin measures 20cm x 15cm/8� x 6� and speeds up the process to make a perfectly-formed cake with minimum mess and wastage. The pan also comes with full recipe details that you can alter to make numerous �checkerboard� variations.

Chocolate and Mint Battenberg recipe Follow the recipe that is provided with the tin. When you come to split the mixture into two, add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder to one half, and to the other half add a drop or two of Squires Kitchen Peppermint Flavouring and colour the mixture green with a little Squires Kitchen Green Liquid Food Colour. Pour the mixture into the tin as described in the recipe.

Join the four pieces of cake together with apricot jam or chocolate spread. Instead of covering with plain marzipan, use equal quantities of SK Dark Cocoform and SK Marzipan and knead together to make a lovely chocolate marzipan.

Follow the instructions for rolling out the paste and covering the cake. To decorate, crimp the top edges and for an extra special touch, pipe a design on the top with chocolate and coloured icing. Store the cake in an airtight container for up to a week. It can also be frozen.

Bespoke Battenberg You can colour the cake to tie in with any special occasion; co-ordinate with a wedding colour scheme, pick the recipient�s favourite colour, or replicate your favourite sport�s teams colours! Your Battenberg cake can be any flavour and any colour, so have fun trying out different effects.

Cute Cube cakes Make extra mini cube cakes by baking your sponge mixture in the Battenberg cake tin. When cool, cut the long pieces of cake into 4cm (1��) cubes. Brush the top and sides with apricot glaze and spoon coloured SK Fondant Icing over them coloured with SK Liquid Quality Food Colours.

Battenberg Tin, �12.99 SK Peppermint Favouring, �3.65 15ml bottle SK Liquid Quality Food Colours (QFC), �1.49 for 20ml pot (10 colours in range) SK Dark Cocoform, �4.75 for 150g Bag SK Marzipan, �3.15 for 500g SK Fondant Icing, �3.99 500g

For more information, or to see more chocolate decorations, flavourings and colours; visit www.squires-shop.com, or look in the latest issue of Inspired by Food.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

1. For further information, please contact Natalie Chivers, PR Manager. Tel: 0845 22 55 671/2. Fax: 0845 22 55 673. Email: natalie.chivers@squires-group.co.uk.

2. Squires Kitchen Sugarcraft Ltd. is a division of the Squires Group:

�Passionate about all things cake� Established over 25 years ago, Squires Kitchen manufactures over 2,000 own-brand, high quality, innovative products for the cake decorating and sugarcraft market worldwide.

�High quality publications for the creative reader� B. Dutton Publishing publishes specialist cake decorating and craft books for readers with a passion for creativity.

�World class courses taught by leading tutors� Squires Kitchen International School is the leading independent of school of cake decorating and sugarcraft in the UK, welcoming students from around the world to attend our professional courses.

3. Office Hours: 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Our shop in Farnham is open 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Shop online 24 hours a day at www.squires-shop.com.

4. Product samples, hints and tips and digital images available on request.

Squires Group Tel: 0845 22 55 671/2. Fax: 0845 22 55 673. Email: info@squires-group.co.uk. Web: www.squires-group.co.uk. Squires Kitchen, Squires House, 3 Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8BB.