Tag: baking

Pumpkin loaf
12Oct

Pumpkin Loaf

I got a little too excited when I walked into the supermarket and saw the newly built mount of pumpkins of all sizes and shapes – especially all the shapes. So I bought one too many pumpkins, which gave me the perfect excuse to try to bake as much as I could with them! I immediately thought of baking a bread, much like a potato roll, but with puree made from roasted pumpkin, you will only use about a quarter of a small pumpkin to make this recipe, but it can be doubled. It took a couple attempts to get it right, adjusting for fat and sugar ratios, and the result was a super moreish loaf. I cut slices of the dough and lined them up in the tin before baking it as it meant you could pull apart the slices. It is best served fresh out of the oven but also great to make toast. Have your butter ready! Pumpkin loaf 200g roasted pumpkin 1 egg 70ml whole milk 50g butter, melted 500g strong flour 14g instant yeast 1 tsp salt 2 tbsp sugar 1 tbsp fennel seeds Olive oil to grease 1. Roast the pumpkin – I quartered
3 mins read
1690 Views
Marble chocolate cupcake
13May

chocolate marble cupcakes

What are we celebrating? Certainly *not* having a cold. Healing took a lot of Lempsip, saline spray, chocolate buttercream and sprinkles. Also binging on The Office. The marbled cupcake was a recipe I wanted to recreate as it brings me so many good memories. It was a favourite at my grandmother’s house. Hot, hazy afternoons with milky coffee and a slice of marbled bundt cake. This recipe seems long but it is very straightforward. The buttercream is vegan but you can substitute the plant based butter and milk with regular butter and milk. . Chocolate marble cupcakes (makes 12) 250g butter 220g caster sugar 3 eggs 220g plain flour 4 tbsp milk 1 tsp vanilla paste 1 ½ tsp baking powder 2 tbsp cocoa + 2 tbsp milk For the buttercream: 150g chocolate 60% cocoa solids, melted 250g Flora plant butter, softened 400g icing sugar 3 tbsp cocoa powder 50ml of oat milk . 1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line a muffin tin with paper cases. 2. Beat the butter and caster sugar together until the mixture is pale in colour. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. 3. Add the flour, 4 tbsp
3 mins read
2081 Views
Chocolate orange brioche rolls
07Jun

Chocolate orange brioche rolls

This recipe is a labour of love, with the dough needing to be prepared the night before. It is a recipe to be seriously considered, especially if you would like a different take on your average cinnamon roll. I always make this brioche recipe but for the rolls I have made an adaptation. At first glance it may seem like you have to jump through hoops to get this right, and the lengthy ingredient list looks daunting. But read the recipe once over before starting and it is not as difficult as it sounds. The result is a super pillowy, moreish bun. Chocolate orange brioche rolls 400g plain flour 1/2 tsp salt 2 tbsp caster sugar 7g fast-acting yeast 5 tbsp warm milk 2 eggs + 1 yolk, from large eggs 120g butter, at room temperature Filling: 60g butter, melted 3 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp cocoa powder 100g dark chocolate, grated Zest of 3 oranges, grated Glaze: 200g icing sugar 2 tbsp orange juice Method: 1. In a large bowl combine the flour, salt, sugar and the yeast. Whisk eggs, yolk and milk together. 2. Make a well in the centre of the dry mixture and add the egg
3 mins read
2749 Views
Pork and Sage hand pies
26May

Pork and sage hand pies

These pies have everything that you need in your hand (and mouth): pork, sage, mustard and Parmesan.
3 mins read
2807 Views
Mini raspberry choux buns with berries
10Feb

Mini raspberry choux buns

My husband and I don’t celebrate Valentines Day. Last year it fell on a weekday and I went to the gym after work whilst he watched a documentary. Romance for me is not about big gestures, heart shaped chocolate boxes or champagne filled dinners. These days my husband’s gift to me is cleaning the bathroom, doing the dishes and taking the dog for a walk when it is raining. Those are the little love acts that fills my heart, that makes me think I married a man that makes me want to be a better, kinder person. He has been suffering recently as I am on a diet and the only treat around the house is 85% dark chocolate so I thought of his thankful face whilst making these mini choux. It has been a long time since I have made choux pastry and I was really nervous to make it again, but these choux buns, also known as profiteroles, turned out so great I broke my diet big time! Mini raspberry choux buns (makes 15-20) For the raspberry cream: 120g raspberries Juice of 1 lemon 180g caster sugar 3 egg yolks 2 tbsp cornflour 1 1/2 tbsp butter 100ml
4 mins read
2877 Views
Apple oat muffin with chai icing
15Feb

Apple oat muffins with chai icing

  I am not the best at picking breakfast. It’s for sure my favourite part of the day, but sometimes I  wake up craving for something sweet and unhealthy to have with my coffee like…chocolate cake. In fact when I was a kid, while everyone was having cake for dessert, I used to save a slice in the fridge just so that I could have it for breakfast the next morning. Many people frown upon this practice, so as an adult I kinda made a connection that bran cereal or poached eggs for breakfast show a certain level of maturity. So here’s my compromise: a small muffin, naturally sweetened with bananas, apples and oats with a healthy (ahem) dollop of sugar and chai on top because…well mornings are tough and you should have something to look forward to on a Monday morning. So when you can spare an hour, whip up this recipe and keep it in an air tight container and it will last you for at least half of your week. Apple oat muffins with chai icing (yields 10 small muffins) 100g oats 100g plain flour 2 eggs 90g softened butter 80g golden caster sugar 1 banana, mashed
3 mins read
22331 Views