Autumn Love Bites

Hiya!

I haven't been baking much but I decided to do some baking today and as a trial and error it was a success especially with Z.

Ingredients:

- 225g Unsalted Butter

- 225g Self-Raising Flour

- 1 tsp Baking Powder

- 100g Golden Caster Sugar

- 100g Light Muscovado Sugar 

- 4 Large Eggs

- 1 Large Orange, Zest.

- Dark Chocolate covering

- Food Colouring paste, Red, Orange and Yellow

1. Mix the butter and eggs together in a bowl and leave to the side.
2. In a separate bowl mix the flour, sugars and baking powder together.
3. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and carefully fold them together.
4. Using half of the orange juice it into the mixture and add the zest.
5. Using a hand mixer, mix the ingredients together for a minute.
6. Separate the ingredients equally into 3 bowls and add your colour paste (about 2 drops each). 
7. Fold the mixture into the food colouring until it is fully covered.
8. Pour the ingredients into a tray alternating the colours and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
9. Rest the cake for up to 2 hours
10. Melt the hot chocolate covering either using the microwave or place a heatproof bowl above a pan of hot water.
11. Pour the chocolate over the cake and let it rest.
12. Once the chocolate hardens you can cut the cake into squares and ENJOY!!

I added an extra step as I used a cookie cutter and stamped out little love hearts for Z. It was small but still full of flavour. Z and S managed to finished the whole thing by the time I got out of the shower so that was the only picture which I had managed to take. Z left me 1 to try and I loved how it tastes! It reminds me so much of Autumn! Next time I will try and add some cinnamon to the chocolate to give a christmassy feel.

I hope you can try this recipe out

TC

xx

Valentines Day 2016

Hi!

So Valentines Day has come and gone and I hoped you all had a good Valentines weekend. S did an amazing job this year.

My flat is funny as you have to go down the stairs to get to my flat and he placed rose petals with tealights leading down to the living room which was very cute. 

I opened the living room to find the following picture..

I never knew he could be this romantic but it was a wonderful surprise. S had work so we didn't have a home cooked meal instead we got a Chinese take away.

We got a take away from Saikei in Greenwich. We normally go here for weddings and dim sum but we haven't had a take away from here before and I don't think we will ever again. Apart from the sweet and sour king prawns everything else tasted bland and greasy. The soft shell crabs wasn't even spicy nor was the ma por tofu. 

S didn't have time t get a dessert so I made a quick dessert whilst we sipped our champagne and talked. 

Click on the image above to see the recipe I used.

Hope you had a lovely Valentines Day 

TC

xx

Valentines Viennese Hearts

Hi!

I love my cups of tea but I cannot have a cup of tea without a snack. I decided to make Viennese fingers for the first time but I decided to make them heart shaped.

Ingredients:

125g Unsalted Butter (Soften)

125g Plain Flour

40g Icing Sugar

1 Medium Egg Yolks

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

100g Chocolate (Whichever you prefer)

Equipment:

Mixing Bowl

Hand Mixer

Baking Tray with a baking sheet 

Piping Bag with a Star Shaped Piping nozzle

1. Place the butter and icing sugar together into a mixing bowl. Cream together until its fluffy and paler in colour.
2. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract into the mixture and beat well.
3. Place the flour into the bowl and fold it into the mixture until fully combined.
4. Place the mixture into the piping bag and pipe out some hearts. 
5. Bake between 10-15 minutes or until golden on top.
6. Place the chocolate (I used dark chocolate) into microwavable bowl and microwave for 15 seconds until melted. Put back into the microwave for another 15 seconds if not completely melted.
7. Put the chocolate into a piping bag and pipe either a message or a chocolate heart in the middle to cover. 

I loved these as it was soft and crumbly and the dark chocolate worked well as wasn't too sweet. I placed chocolate in between 2 viennese hearts to make a chocolate viennese sandwich. You can be as creative as you want especially as Valentines Day is coming up.   

Hope you get a chance to try this recipe

TC

xx

Final Bakes of 2015

Hi!

I can't believe that 2015 is coming to a close and a new year is just around the corner! Eek! I thought I'd end the year with some of my bakes which I didn't manage to blog about from August - September 2015.

My goal for 2016 is to be able to upload at least one bake a month so wish me luck.

Anyways..

Hemp Surprise

Sponge: Vanilla

Filling: Vanilla Buttercream

Covering: Vanilla Buttercream 

Extra(s): Fondant Decorations

This cake was baked for S friends and it was his idea. I didn't manage to take the inside but it was a rainbow cake inside. I'm going to lie. I didn't taste the cake nor did the birthday boys because someone stole it! Someone decided that they need cake and stole the whole thing.  

Chiffon Fruit Cake

Sponge: Vanilla Chiffon 

Filling: Fresh Cream and Fruits

Covering: Fresh Cream, Chocolate Fingers, Malteasers

Topping: Fresh Fruit, Chocolate Heart Shaped Lollipop

Fruit Cupcake

Sponge: Chocolate

Covering: Vanilla Buttercream 

Topping: Fresh Kiwi, Fresh Strawberry dipped in Chocolate

I made these for my friend's niece. A traditional Chinese Birthday Cake is made from a chiffon sponge so I attempted it and it was a success as it had risen well and tasted yummy.

Mini Fruit Cake

Sponge: Vanilla

Filling: Fresh Cream, Strawberry Jam, Fruit Cocktail

Covering: Fresh Cream

Topping: Dark Chocolate Ganache, Fresh Fruit

I made this for S birthday cake. I used the Wilton Rainbow cake pan and was so disappointed. The cake was so small but it was just about enough for 5 people. The cake tasted just right as I didn't add icing sugar to the fresh cream due to the sweetness from the fruit cocktail syrup and strawberry jam. 

Chocoholic

Sponge: Nutella Chocolate

Filling: Dark Chocolate Ganache, Nutella Butter cream

Covering: Nutella Buttercream, Chocolate Fondant

Topping: Fondant Flowers

This was my first time making fondant flowers and I was so proud of what I had achieved even though it wasn't perfect in my eyes. I made this to go with 50 Nutella Cupcakes for a wedding reception. I was told that the colour theme was purple so I used 2 different hades of purple. I originally had 3 but it didn't work well so I used white flowers with some purple food colouring painted on.
The bride was shocked and overwhelmed by the cake; the guests loved the accompanying cupcakes and they had an amazing reception.

Thank-You for reading about my baking ventures

TC

xx

Baking Addict!

Hey!

So lately I've not been eating out as much but I've been baking more! Hooray!!

Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes

Sponge: Chocolate

Filling: Ferrero Rocher

Covering: Nutella Buttercream 

Topping: Roasted Hazelnut, Dark chocolate, Ferrero Rocher

Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes 

Okay I ain't too fuss about weight and calories as I feel life is just to short to be counting how much I eat etc. This cupcake contains 2, YES TWO! Ferrero Rocher's and a very tasty Nutella buttercream finished off with a hazelnut border.. dribbles.

Oreo Cupcake

Sponge: Chocolate

Filling: n/a

Covering: Oreo Buttercream 

Topping: Oreo 

Oreo Cupcakes

I'm not a fan of Oreos but this is amazing! The Oreo took away most of the sweetness which made it less sweet. I added an Oreo at the bottom of each cake to give it a bit of a crunch.

Mocha Celebration

Sponge: Mocha 

Filling: n/a

Covering: Nutella Buttercream

Topping: Chocolate Flake, Rainbow Sprinkles

I baked some cupcakes for my sister's friends birthday. She explained that she doesn't have a sweet tooth so I added some instant coffee into the cake mixture to lessen the sweetness.  

TC

xxx

25th Birthday Cake!

Hello!

I know I haven't been up to date with my posts but I have been lazy. I'm sorry!!

So alot has happened and I am now 25!! EKKK!! Lol

Here is my yummy birthday cake from my amazing little sister although I had to design my own cake LOL

Chocolate Celebration:

Sponge: Vanilla

Filling: Fresh Cream and Fruit Cocktail

Covering: Fresh Cream with Dark Chocolate Ganache 

Topping: White Chocolate covered Strawberries, 

Border: Pipped Fresh Cream with Half cut strawberries

Extra(s): Chocolate Champagne Bottle  (Bought from Thorntons)

This cake was very light as I asked for a vanilla chiffon sponge, the layer of cream was just enough to balance the dark chocolate making it less bitter and the fruit cocktail was not thick but just right.

I am very blessed 

TC

xxx

Here is a simple Chiffon Cake recipe if you wish to try it

https://en.cookpad.com/recipe/1472541

May Bakes 2014

Hello !!

So sorry for not updating as often as I would love but I have been extremely busy; not only am I having to go through the terrible twos but I've just started a college course but still found time to bake ;)

It was my mum's birthday the other day and thus another reason to mess up the kitchen and create alot of cleaning was due for LOL

Fruit Birthday Cake with Chocolate Wafer

Fruit Birthday Cake with Chocolate Wafer:

Sponge: Vanilla

Filling: Fresh Cream and Fruit Cocktail

Covering: Fresh Cream

Topping: Strawberries, Mangos, Kiwi, Peaches and Blueberries

Border: Chocolate Wafer Biscuits 

Extra(s): White Chocolate Plaque (Handmade)

This cake is just as lovely as my amazing mother :) It tasted good and is so pleasing to the eyes but I do think that we should of cut the wafer into the same length as it does look messy *sighs*

Anyways...

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I have recently started to experiment with baking cupcakes and it has been so fun. Below are recent cupcakes I've made for the first time.

I saw a recipe online for Ferror Roche Cupcakes and decided to have a go. I didn't follow the recipe through 100% as I didn't want it to be too sweet nor did I want a chocolate overload!
Summers here so I have to watch my weight lol..

Ferror Roche Cupcake with Nutella Butter Icing

I really liked the taste of the Nutella Butter icing but I was dissappointed in the Ferroro Rocher in the middle.. The wafer bit had become soggy and not as crisp but the nuts gave it a lovely texture and luckily I didn't make it a chocolate sponge as the butter frosting was so sweet.

Here's the recipe I kinda followed http://cookiescupcakesandcardio.com/?p=4742.

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Chocolate Cupcakes with Oreo Butter Icing

I'm not a big fan of Oreo cookies (or any type of cookie xD)  but my friend asked me to teach her how to bake Oreo Cupcakes for her boyfriend and so we did.. lol

The recipe I was meant to follow had a cream cheese frosting but I didn't have any so I made it into just butter icing with crushed Oreo biscuits.

I loved the taste of them as the bitterness of the Oreo's made the butter icing less sweet but I had so much trouble piping the icing on as some of the crushed Oreos would get stuck in the nozzle ¬¬ 

Here's the recipe I kinda followed: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/user/1871966/recipe/oreo-cupcakes

Chocolate Surprise Cake

Welcome!!

Well I did promise more home-made cakes and here is our latest one :)

Chocolate Surprise Cake!! 

Chocolate Surprise Cake:

Sponge: Chocolate
Filling: Chocolate Cream with Roasted Hazelnuts&Almonds
Covering: Dark Chocolate Ganache
Topping: Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and Honeycomb flavoured Matchsticks Chocolate
Border: Roasted Hazelnuts&Almonds
Extra(s): Home-made White Chocolate&Dark Chocolate Plaque

This cake is NOT for anyone on a diet because its just full of chocolate!!! It was so yummy and I was so surprised at how well the vanilla balls came out! :)
If I was to redo this cake I would like to make other shapes once you cut into it but experimenting is the only way forward lol

Inside of the Chocolate Surprise Cake

I will post more cake pics soon but for now

Thank-You for reading

TC x

P.S. I will tweets pics of food on my twitter so check it out at XsumBubz

2014!!

Hello!

WOW! Its 2014 now and tbh I gave up blogging but thought why not keep to it so this will be my new years resolution.
To blog atleast once a week! LOL

How have you lovely readers been? Hope you've had a great start to the new year if not here is some lovely homemade cakes that me and my sister Judy made for my friends birthday!! YUMMM :P

Fruit Birthday Cake with KitKats and Banoffee Minion Cupcakes!!

Fruit Birthday Cake:

Sponge: Vanilla

Filling: Fresh Cream, Strawberry Jam and Fruit Cocktail

Covering: Fresh Cream

Topping: Mango, Strawberry, Blueberries, Kiwi, Peaches and Grapes

Border: KitKat 

Extra(s): Chocolate Plaque (Bought but hand written)

The fruits we placed on the cake was sour due to it not being rip (learnt from that mistake, lol) but it looked amazing! As a first attempt me and Judy are very proud of it even though it got a little mashed on the way to the venue xD

Banoffee Minion Cupcakes:

Sponge: Banana Sponge

Filling: Caramel

Topping: Caramel Buttercream

Decorations: Hand made minions and Gru's Logo 

Ok.. I admit the minions don't look like minions but I'm still pleased with my first attempt at using icing! I didn't realise how hard it was to shape stuff from fondant icing. I tried using a youtube video but that didn't help much as I couldn't keep up so in the end we gave up and made our own xD 

The taste: OMG! the caramel hardened inside of the cake aswell as the caramel buttercream so it was more of a banana cupcake *sighs* 

But as people say, "Try and try again and you will succeed!"

Lets hope so... (Fingers Crossed) 

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Half&Half Fruit Cake!!

Half&Half Birthday Cake:

Sponge: Chocolate(Top) and Vanilla(Bottom)

Filling: Fresh Cream and Fruit Cocktail

Topping: Kiwi, Grapes, Blackcurrants, Cherries, Strawberries and Raspberries covered in Strawberry Fruit jel

Border: Milk Chocolate Fingers and White Chocolate Fingers

Extra(s): Homemade "23" Milk Chocolate plaque

I call this the surprise cake as you don't realise that its half chocolate and half vanilla until you cut into it. This cake is definitely an improvement as it tasted so much nicer (no sour fruits so lesson DID learn!). 

I must also admit that the Strawberry jel ruined the appearance of the cake but it was needed in order for the fruits to stay fresh as the venue was in a club! It was a fun night.. .. .. From what I could remember lol..

Anyways I will post new cake updates when we make them (lol)

Thank-You for reading 

TC x