Cake - first answer provided by every cook at the outset (6)
I believe the answer is:
eclair
'cake' is the definition.
(eclair is a type of cake)
'answer provided by every cook at the outset' is the wordplay.
'answer' becomes 'lair' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'provided by' says to put letters next to each other.
'at the outset' says to take the initial letters (the outset is the beginning).
The first letters of 'every cook' is 'ec'.
'lair' put after 'ec' is 'ECLAIR'.
'first' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for eclair that I've seen before include "Soft cream cake" , "Cream bun" , "Bakery item" , "Long, individual cake" , "Chocolate-topped, cream-filled cake" .)