Lovely Jubily Jubilee Cake

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Jubilee Cake 2012

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A multi-coloured cake with lemon icing in between the layers, royal icing with hand painted bunting, fresh cream and berries!

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There was certainly enough here to feed the street party!

Easter Biscuits

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Easter Biscuits 2012

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These are a really simple shortbread based biscuit with royal icing to top!

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Preheat Oven to 180.

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Ingredients: 

240g plain flour

175g margarine

115g caster sugar 

1 egg yolk

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Method:

Sift the flour into a bowl and rub in the butter until it looks similar to breadcrumbs
(I found this mixture a bit damp but keep going- don't worry if it is stickier than breadcrumbs!)

Add the sugar.

Beat the egg yolk in a separate bowl then add to the mix.

Knead the mixture: if it still feels sticky add a small amount of flour.

Roll out the dough and have fun with your cookie cutters

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Top Tip: I used easter themed cutters including easter eggs, chicks, rabbits (some not pictured above). I got my cutters as a multipack for 99p so check your local 99p stores! Use any shapes you like!

Note: After I used my cutters once I found I had to re-roll the dough up, knead it, and apply flour to the surface and rolling pin again as it was sticky

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Pop your cookies into the oven!

Depending on the thickness of your cookies they can take anywhere from 8 minutes to 25 minutes. 

Note: These cookies will not go golden, the dough will go firm and resemble shortbread.

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Once baked, leave your cookies to cool.

Once cool, mix icing sugar and water in separate bowls and add a different food colour to each bowl. 

Apply to cookies!

I then put them immediately in the fridge for the icing to set!

I then used a very thin paintbrush to add detail on after 

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These are great to keep kids entertained! 

For younger children pre-make and bake the cookies and once cool put in the centre of a table surrounded by icing, sprinkles, silver balls, and any other decorations you love!

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Have fun and prepared to get messy!

 

Hot Cross Buns- Take One

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It's that time of year again!

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I decided to try my hand at Hot Cross Buns for the first time, and I was distinctly unimpressed!

My other half quickly devoured them warm out of the oven, but my strongest critic wasn't too keen.

I've decided not to post the recipe here because I wouldn't recommend it, but don't despair I'm on the look out for a better one! 

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There will be more Easter treats to come! - Watch This Space!

Chocolate Fruit Basket Cake

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This has been the most fun cake to make in a while!

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The basis of this cake is just a two layer chocolate sponge with chocolate fudge icing! 

I covered the exterior of the cake in icing and applied mint chocolate fingers around the edges!

I used supermarket own brand chocolate fingers as they had a cool zigzag pattern on the edge, but you can also use Kit-Kats but place the undersides facing out so you don't have the logos showing on each finger.

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I then piled on my favourite summer fruit: strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

Top Tip: Pile on any fruit you like! Use a striking yet complimentary range of colours and flavours.

I added a couple chocolate stars and drizzled with melted white chocolate!

Two large strawberries at the front to finish... purely because I ran out of fingers! *Whoops*

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Surely the amount of fruit on this cake means its healthy enough to qualify for two slices...

Xbox Cake

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A favourite cake for most boys and/or men! It was certainly a hit with my 14 year old brother!

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The cake is a plain sponge with jam and covered in royal icing.

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The original idea for this cake came from Cake Fixation; although I adapted it to a single layer as there were only a few people to feed!

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Get baking and GAME ON!

Chocolate Strawberry Traybake

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The great thing about a traybake is that its quick, easy, simple, and can be adapted for any occasion!

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This traybake is a chocolate sponge with chocolate fudge icing. The decoration is chocolate stars, Maltesers, halved strawberries and drizzled white chocolate!

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Top Tip: Make it a gift! Buy a baking tray with a lid (such as the above from Lakeland). Bake your cake in the tray, let it cool, decorate, pop the lid on and then pop a ribbon on top!

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So simple- give it a go with any of your favourite toppings!

Summer Fruit Frangipane Tart

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Now that the temperatures are rising and the sun is coming out-albeit slowly- it is time we re-introduced summer fruits into our diet!

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My Summer Fruit Frangipane Tart is essentially a puff pastry case, filled with frangipane (more about that in a minute!), and blueberries and raspberries!

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Frangipane is essentially a filling made from eggs, sugar, butter, and almonds.

Beat the butter and sugar until soft and fluffy, gradually add the butter and lastly pour in the almonds.

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Line some individual cases with puff pastry and fill with roughly 75g of frangipane. Top with your choice of fruit and sprinkle with almonds.

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Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes on a low-medium heat

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Eat with cream, icecream, or on their own- enjoy!

Hunter Wellington Boot Cake

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I made this cake for my mum's birthday as she has recently discovered her love for Hunter boots and she is an outdoors fanatic!

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The cake is just a single layer lemon sponge with home-made fondant icing

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There was not a single slice left within 24 hours of blowing out the candles!

BEST OF 2011

Hi All!

It's time for a 'Best Of' from 2011!

That's the only problem with blogging-your old posts get hidden away!

 So here is a reminder for you all of the exciting play I get up to :)

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Wishing You All A Healthy and Happy New Year!

Spring Has Come Early

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With such a mild start to January 2012, what better way to welcome in my friends 21st birthday than with Floral Cupcakes!

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These are just plain vanilla cupcakes with fondant decorations!

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Bring on Summer 2012!