Welcome to Kitchen Queries, where the nigella.com team will answer your cooking or food related questions.  We’d love you to submit some of your recipe problems, dilemmas or queries for us to get our teeth into!

Please note, we are only able to answer questions selected for publication and aren't able to enter into personal correspondence.

• Black Cake Frosting

  Hi, I want to make a birthday cake and to colour the frosting black.  I don't know how to make black frosting -  can you help please?

  Posted by amon. Answered on 12th Jun 2011 at 12.00

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• Using Butter Instead of Oil in Muffins?

  I have a lovely muffin recipe that works very well, and there is vegetable oil in it. I have been wondering if butter would work instead of oil, and if so, how much butter would I need instead of 125ml oil?

  Posted by st_owly. Answered on 11th Jun 2011 at 12.00

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• Soot's Flapjacks (Granola Bars)

  I tried to make Soot's Flapjacks from How to be a Domestic Goddess (p232), and I followed the recipe to a T. They baked till they were golden brown but they didn't set and now I have granola instead of flapjack bars. Any idea what could have gone wrong? Thanks!  

  Why is it I am able to make all sorts of cakes perfectly, but my flapjacks always crumble? I have tried adding extra syrup or extra butter, but they still refuse to stick together! Please help! MelGood

  Posted by Pretty. Answered on 10th Jun 2011 at 12.00

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