Get your ovens pre-heated and your wooden spoons at the ready, The Great British Bake Off is back again on Wednesday (September 14) for the first EVER taste of Batter Week.

But if the concept of batter is completely baffling, and the thought of baking along to a technical challenge is enough to send you to tears, getwestlondon is here to help transform you into a master baker.

We've rounded up five really simple batter recipes that have stood the test of time for you to try at home. All of the deliciousness, none of the frustrated wailing.

So why not get back to basics, turn on the TV and make one of these super-simple batter recipes whilst watching GBBO? You never know, if you do them well enough, it might be you on the programme next year!

Tesco: Apple Batter Pudding (serves four)

Ingredients

175g of plain flour

One teaspoon of salt

Three eggs, beaten

300ml of cold full-fat milk

150ml of cold water

Four red apples, peeled, cored and each cut into eight wedges

One lemon, juiced

Four thyme sprigs, leaves removed

10g of goose fat or 15ml of vegetable oil

Method

1) Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the beaten egg, milk and water. Whisk until smooth. Pour the mixture into a jug. Refrigerate, covered, for one hour.

2) Place the apple wedges, lemon juice and the thyme in a bowl and set aside.

3) Preheat the oven to 200C. Place the vegetable oil or goose fat in a 23cm (9in) square baking tin and add the apple wedges. Place in the oven for 15 minutes.

4) Remove the tray, give the batter a final whisk, and pour into the tin over the apples, being careful not to overfill. Top with the thyme leaves and bake for 40 minutes or until the pudding has risen and is golden brown.

Strawberry Pancakes (serves two)

Ingredients

125g of plain flour

Half a level tablespoon of baking powder

Half a level teaspoon of caster sugar

150ml of milk

One large egg

15g of margarine, melted

Butter or oil for frying

Syrup and strawberries to serve

Method

1) In a large bowl, mix together the plain flour, baking powder and sugar, and make a well in the centre. In another bowl or jug, beat the egg and then add the cooled melted butter and the milk. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk until you have a smooth batter.

2) Leave to stand for about 20 minutes.

3) Heat a tablespoon of butter or oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. When it starts to sizzle, drop in generous dessertspoons of batter, giving them room to spread a little. Fry for about three minutes; they are ready to turn over when bubbles pop on the top surface. Flip the pancakes over and cook for another minute. Lift them out and keep warm in a low oven while you use up the rest of the batter.

4) Serve with maple syrup, honey, jam, butter or golden syrup, as well as fresh strawberries.

Tesco: Yorkshire Puddings (serves six)

Ingredients

175g of plain flour

One teaspoon of salt

Three eggs, beaten

300ml of cold full-fat milk

150ml of cold water

10g of goose fat or 15ml of vegetable oil

Method

1) Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the beaten egg, milk and water. Whisk until smooth. Pour the mixture into a jug and refrigerate, covered, for one hour.

2) Preheat the oven to 230C. Place a little fat or oil in each of the compartments of a Yorkshire pudding tray or a 12-hole cupcake tray. Put in the oven and allow to heat for five minutes.

3) Give the batter a final mix just before removing the tray. Carefully pour the batter into the compartments, being careful not to overfill. Bake for 25 minutes or until the puddings have risen and are golden brown.

Aldi: Pancakes with Caramelised Apples (serves four)

Ingredients

75g of plain flour

One egg

200ml of semi-skimmed milk

Two teaspoons of vegetable oil

One apple, cored and thinly sliced

One teaspoon of caster sugar

One lemon, finely grated zest plus juice

Method

1) Put the flour into a large jug or mixing bowl. Add the egg and milk and beat with a wire whisk or a hand-held electric beater to make a smooth batter.

2) Heat a pancake pan or non-stick frying pan. Add two to three drops of vegetable oil. Pour in a quarter of the batter, and tilt the pan so that it flows evenly over the surface. Cook over a medium heat for one to two minutes until set, then flip over to cook the other side. Make four pancakes in total, adding two to three drops of oil to the pan for each one. Keep the pancakes in a warm place until all of them are cooked.

3) Heat the remaining oil in the frying pan and add the apple slices, cooking them over a medium-high heat for three to four minutes, and turning often. Sprinkle the sugar over them and cook for another few moments until lightly browned. Add the lemon zest and juice, stir to coat, then remove from the heat.

4) Serve one pancake per person, topped with the caramelised apples.

Tesco: Churros (serves six)

Ingredients

400g of plain flour

Pinch of salt

One teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

400ml of boiling water

750ml to one litre of sunflower oil for deep frying

Caster sugar, for dusting

Hot chocolate, to serve

Method

1) Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Carefully pour in the water and whisk in until the mixture is completely smooth.

2) Pour the mixture into a saucepan and cook over a low heat, stirring constantly for two minutes. Remove from the heat, pour into a bowl and leave the batter to rest for one hour.

3) Heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat. Test the temperature of the oil by dropping in a teaspoonful of the mixture - if it turns golden brown within 30 seconds the oil is hot enough.

4) Spoon the mixture into a piping bag with a small nozzle. Pipe lengths into the oil and fry until golden brown on all sides. Do not overcrowd the pan, remove and drain on kitchen towel.

5) Dust generously with sugar and serve with hot chocolate.

Fancy trying some extra-special cake recipes? Find more here.