Three of the best spring baking recipes to try this weekend From a simple honey loaf cake to a towering lemon Victoria sponge, bake up a storm for a seasonal sweet treat Violet eclairs Credit: Karen Thomas There are few things as enjoyable as spending time in the kitchen making a cake or a few scones. The simple act of baking engenders a sense of happiness. Over the years, I have cooked in many different kitchens, from the cool Victorian rectory kitchen of my childhood, with its huge painted dresser and north-facing windows, to my current urban basement kitchen, all German minimalism with clean lines and soft light. In between, I’ve experienced everything from gleaming stainless-steel restaurant kitchens to bedsits with little more than a Baby Belling, kettle and sink. No matter how small the space, I step into another world when I bake – a sensation that I suspect is familiar to many cooks.