As a cake baker, it’s crucial that you know how to ensure that the items you create are halal – which means avoiding ingredients such as animal fat and gelatin made with rennet that is forbidden in Islam as well as high fructose corn syrup, inflammatory oils and artificial flavourings that could be prohibited under Sharia law. Unfortunately, finding such ingredients may prove challenging when applied to food products and cosmetics alike.

Example of product labels showing ingredients which could potentially be non-halal: lipstick tubes and shampoo bottles can have long ingredient lists that can be confusing to understand, so when in doubt regarding whether something is halal it’s wise to consult an expert in Islamic law or conduct. Here, however, is some insight into whether coffee extract is considered halal as well as tips for how to identify such products.

Establishing a halal certificate for food and drink may differ from getting a kosher certification, but there are a few guidelines you can use to make sure all your baking or cooking ingredients are halal. This includes checking whether milk and butter contain no forbidden animal derivatives and making sure all decorations conform with Islamic Law standards.

Ghee is the primary ingredient of choice when it comes to halal baking ingredients, extracted through the sangrainya process to remove impurities such as worms and insects that might otherwise contaminate it. Unfortunately, finding certified ghee may not always be possible; in such instances it would be wiser to opt for vegetable-based spreads instead.

Other halal cake ingredients include baking powder and soda from trusted brands like Dr Oetker; leavening agents made with wheat flour and yeast are typically considered halal when purchased from certified halal suppliers; most popular UK chocolate brands and heavy cream are considered halal if manufactured from reputable producers, while any animal fat source must come from a slaughterhouse certified as halal-certified.

Vinegar is another halal ingredient, often used as a replacement for alcohol in sauces and dressings in various recipes. Furthermore, its natural preservative properties make it suitable for long-term storage of ingredients without intoxication resulting from mixing with others ingredients such as red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or balsamic. These types are readily available both over-the-counter in Europe and North America.

Vanilla and other flavoring extracts should also be checked to make sure they comply with MUI fatwa guidelines, which states that alcohol-derived ethanol cannot be used in halal food products; other forms such as grain-derived or synthetic source ethanol may be permissible; alcohol-free vanilla extracts from Nielsen-Massey are readily available both offline and online stores in the UK.