Flour, Cake and Pastry

Welcome back to our Christmas Bakes Series! If you missed our last post for Cranberry & Orange Chelsea Bun Trees, check it out here! So here is my second recipe, and to be honest you can't go wrong with these beauties. I LOVE brownies, and these will not disappoint. Packed full of chocolate truffles, amaretti biscuits and a couple of edible Christmas twists, they really do sell themselves... Christmas Brownies Ingredients 200g butter, cubed, plus extra for greasing 100g dark chocolate, chopped 100g milk chocolate, chopped 3 large eggs 300g golden caster sugar 100g plain flour 50g cocoa powder ½ tsp mixed spice To decorate 9 glacé cherries 1 egg white 2 tbsp caster sugar 9 chocolate truffles E dible gold spray 1-2 tsp icing sugar for dusting Chocolate buttons E dible silver balls Method Grease and line a 20cm x 20cm brownie tin. Heat your oven to 180C. Put the butter and both types of chocolate in a heat proof bowl and set ove...

In case you haven't realised, Christmas is like two weeks away...how crazy! Across the world families are decorating their homes, schools are practicing their nativities and soon thousands will visit their local theatres to watch a good old panto. But the best thing about the build up to Christmas? THE BAKING! Last year I shared a few of my favourite recipes, and this year is no different. Over the next two weeks I'll be sharing 4 delicious and unique recipes, some of which I've baked before and some I'll be trying out for myself this year! So without further a do, here is recipe number one... Cranberry and Orange Chelsea Bun Tree This recipe comes from the BBC Good Food website , and is delicious! I love Cranberry and Orange Chelsea Buns, so was incredibly happy to find this sweet tutorial on how to make a mini edible Christmas tree! Ingredients 275ml full-fat milk 50g cubed butter 450g strong white bread flour 7g sachet fast-action ...

H E L L O  D E C E M B E R ! Where has this year gone, it seems to be over in the blink of an eye! Last weekend I had the pleasure of making a cute guitar themed birthday cake which was vegan-friendly. And it was super fun to make! Here's my step by step guide on how to bake a delicious egg and dairy free sponge as well as decorating it for a perfect music theme! Ingredients 3.5 cups self raising flour 2 cups sugar 2tsp baking powder 0.5tsp salt 2tsp white wine vinegar 2tbsp vanilla essence 2/3 cup vegetable oil 2 cups cold water Icing 1 tub of Betty Crocker vanilla frosting Food colouring of your choice (I used blue) Black ready-to-roll icing Method Grease and line 2x8inch baking tins. Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Add all the wet ingredients to the bowl and mix well until all the lumps of flour have gone. Split the batter into the two tins, and bake in a pre-heated oven (180C), for 25-30 minutes or until a skewer inserted...

So I have a new found love of Granola. Served with vanilla yoghurt and some fresh berries, you can't really get a better breakfast in my opinion. The only downside is that supermarket bought Granola is RIDICULOULY EXPENSIVE. Like seriously. So here's my recipe for an incredibly quick homemade granola, that doesn't break the bank. In fact, you yield about four times as much in this recipe as you would with just buying a bag from the supermarket, and at just a fraction of the cost! Ingredients 3 cups of porridge oats 3tbsp. light brown sugar 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. salt 1/3 cup honey 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1 tsp. vanilla essence Optional Ingredients 1/2 cup small-dice dried fruit 1/2 cup coarsely chopped raw or toasted nuts or seeds Method Pre-heat your oven to 150C, and place a shelf in the middle of the oven. Mix together the oats, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the honey, vegetable oil and vanilla essence, ...

I was recently asked to make an egg-free chocolate cake, which can sometimes be a difficult task. I surfed the internet trying to find a recipe that left me with a moist chocolate cake, and eventually I found one! There are a million and one recipes out there, but not all of them will always work first time, but this one served me well, and it tasted delicious! You couldn't even tell it was missing eggs! Ingredients 280 grams plain flour 300 grams caster sugar 60 grams cocoa powder 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt 240 ml milk 240 ml water 120 ml vegetable oil 2 tbsp. vinegar 1 tsp vanilla extract Method Preheat your oven to 180C. Grease and line two 7 inch round cake tins. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt.) Add the wet ingredients (water  milk, oil, vanilla and vinegar). Whisk until smooth. Immediately divide the mix between your two tins and bake for 25 to 35 minutes until the top springs b...

Red Velvet Cake has quickly become a firm favourite in the UK, and it's not hard to see why...a moist, flavoursome chocolate sponge, with a lightly whipped sweet cream cheese filling and topping, what's not to like? So for a cake that really needs no introduction, here's the recipe (adapted from The Hummingbird's Bakery cupcake recipe)! I decorated mine with a dark chocolate cage too, which makes it look really cool! Ingredients 120g softened butter 300g caster sugar  2 eggs  40g cocoa powder 6-8 tbsp. red food colouring (depending on the strength of the colouring 1 tsp vanilla extract  240 ml buttermilk  300 g plain flour  1 tsp bicarbonate of soda  3 tsp white vinegar  600g ...

Hello! So Summer is over (although I don't think it really began in the UK), and it feels like we may have already skipped the majority of Autumn and gone straight to Winter. However, some Summer berries are still trying their hardest to last in this nippy weather, and strawberries are one of them. These turnovers are GORGEOUS. I love them. We had a million strawberries in the fridge, that I probably wasn't going to eat before they past edibility. I also had like no time to actually bake anything complex or long, and so I needed something quick, simple and reasonably healthy to squeeze in to my free Sunday morning. I used the recipe from Gringalicious , you totally need to go and check out their recipes and hints and tips, they're amazing! Makes 15-20 turnovers Takes 1 hour Ingredients Strawberry Filling 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, diced 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 2 tbsp cornstarch Pastry 1 tbsp. sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 cups plain flour 1/3...

So summer is coming to an end, and what a summer it has been. Holidays, weddings, and summer socials have kept my ever busy calendar even busier. Today's recipe celebrates all summer is made to be, and is something I used to make with mum all the time. Maids of Honour! These beauties are basically a mix between a jam tart and a Victoria sandwich, and boy do they taste good. We use Yorkshire Black and Blueberry Jam which tastes AM-A-ZING, from Lewis and Cooper's in a little town called Northallerton. Mum used to live off the stuff when she was younger! So without further a do, here's the world famous Be-Ro recipe for these summer beauties! *Makes 15* Ingredients 225g plain flour 100g margarine 2tbsp. cold water 25g caster sugar   2-3tbsp. jam 50g margarine 50g caster sugar 1 egg 50g self raising flour  Method For the pastry, rub together the plain flour and margarine, and then mix in the caster sugar. Add the cold water and mix to form a dou...

Hello! It's been a while, hasn't it? However FC&P is back with a couple of new recipes to get your summer started! So although it'll soon be Monday, these yummy cookies should help to get your week off to a scrumptious start. This base recipe is from my baking bible...the Be-Ro book, however you can add whatever flavourings you like! I split my batch into half a dozen chocolate orange, and half a dozen fruit and nut. Two classic chocolate flavours packed into 12 gooey biscuits! Ingredients 225g self raising flour 100g caster sugar 3tbsp cocoa powder 100g margarine 5tbsp milk 1tsp vanilla essence (if not adding any other flavourings...check out my flavour ideas at the bottom of this post) Method Pre-heat your oven to 190C, and grease two baking trays. Sieve together the flour, sugar and cocoa powder into a mixing bowl. Mix these together until they're combined, and then rub in the margarine. Add the milk and vanilla essence (leave this out i...

So it's the most wonderful time of the year once again...that's right, its World Chocolate Day! Chocolate lovers across the globe are making the most of the day when anything goes, and we can eat as much chocolate as we like...right? So today's recipe celebrates the finest ingredients and the finest chocolate, plus its egg, dairy AND gluten free; happy days! I'm so happy I came across this recipe on The Metro website, it's honestly so delicious, the brownies come out perfect every time...chewy, gooey, salty and so moreish! If you're constantly looking for vegetarian and vegan recipes, check out Sneaky Veg , her recipes are to die for! It may sound completely mental to include black beans in this recipe, but they are what makes these brownies vegan friendly. The beans replace the flour, and the liquid from the beans replaces the eggs! Not so crazy after all! Read on for the recipe... Ingredients 1 x 400g tin of black beans 60ml black bean aquafaba (t...

Hello! So here we are (three weeks late...) at our final Berry Bonanza Instalment! This week sees recipes using raspberries and strawberries, to get you in that summer mood. What's even better is that Pick Your Own farms now have these berries ready for you to go and pick-so you really can't get much fresher! Raspberries Everyone loves cheesecake...and everyone loves cupcakes, so why not combine the two whilst using up all those leftover raspberries you have lying in your fridge! This recipe comes from the BBC Food website, they have so many scrummy recipes to feast your eyes upon, so its definitely worth having a look round! Without further a do, here's a yummy recipe for Raspberry Cheesecake Cupcakes ! Ingredients 8 white chocolate cookies 45g melted butter For the filling 300g cream cheese 1tbsp plain flour 90g caster sugar 1tsp vanilla extract 1 egg 1 egg yolk 3tbsp soured cream 100g raspberries Lightly whipped double cream, to serve ...

Ola! So at home we're trying to eat a little healthier, and get in some extra veggies wherever we possibly can. So I came up with these super scrummy Egg Muffins....think of a quiche minus the pastry, and you're on the right lines. What's great about these is that you can literally add any veg you want to! Just remember that you may need to cook your veg before hand depending on what you're using! Ingredients 6 eggs, beaten 1/2 cup milk 1 pinch salt 1 pinch black pepper 1 pinch cayenne pepper 1 large mushroom, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped 100g cheese, grated Method In a jug, whisk up your eggs and add in the milk and seasoning and beat well. Pop in the fridge whilst you prepare everything else. Chop the mushrooms and the onions (or whatever veg your using), into small chunks. Place a tsp of oil in a frying pan and allow it to heat up. Once hot, add in your veg and cook until just softened. If you'd rather have a bit of a crunch, then that...

Hello again! So today is the second instalment of our Berry Bonanza series, and today we've got recipes celebrating Cherries and Mixed Berries...each super sweet, super summery and super simple to add into your bakes! Without further a do... Cherries So I feel like there's a bit of a love/hate feel about cherries in the UK...some people love them and some loath them. I think I'm somewhere in the middle...it all depends what they're served with. But for me, there's nothing sweeter than a freshly baked wedge of cherry pie served with vanilla ice cream... Ingredients For the Filling 150g good-quality black cherry jam 100ml water 750g fresh red cherries, stalks and stones removed For the Pastry 250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting 175g cold unsalted butter, cubed 1 tbsp caster sugar, plus 2 tsp for topping 1 large egg, beaten 1 tbsp cold water Method For the filling, heat the cherry jam and water in a pan over a low heat, stirring c...

Morning! So as summer is well under way, people across the country are starting to tuck in to British Berries, we just can't resist! Over the next three weeks I'll be sharing 6 recipes using 6 of my favourite summer berries that you can find being grown right here in the UK over the next few weeks and months! Blackcurrants Kicking us off is the humble Blackcurrant. Blackcurrants taste their best when cooked with a little sugar and a splash of water, it really brings out their flavour. They bring an essential base note to so many summer cakes puddings or a lightly cooked compôte. Blackcurrant jam is another firm favourite here in the UK! Blackcurrant and Peppermint Macaroons These delicate macaroons are flavoured with blackcurrant and mint. The two flavours really compliment each other. Fresh blackcurrants are juiced to give a powerful taste punch. Perfect for those summer nights sat in your garden soaking up those last few hours of sunlight! This re...

Hello! Today's recipe is a basic chocolate chip cookie mix, made with ingredients you pretty much always have in your cupboards...you don't need to go and buy some brown sugar or any special flavourings, and if you want them minus the chips, then feel free! Ingredients 225g caster sugar 300g plain flour 200g melted butter 1tsp vanilla extract 1tsp baking powder 1 egg 100g chocolate chips Method Pre-heat your oven to 160C. Add the sugar and melted butter in a bowl and mix together with a wooden spoon. Sift the flour, baking powder and vanilla together in another bowl and then add to the sugar and butter. Add the chocolate chip mixture at this stage if you're making chocolate chip cookies. Mix together using your hand. Once you get a dough texture, add the egg and knead again using your hand. Spread some butter onto a baking tray to prevent the cookies sticking during baking. Take some of the dough and roll into a ball, then flatten a little. Keep them on...

Hello! Today's recipe is a makeshift one. I fancied making some scones, but wasn't too sure what type or what shape to make, and so I ended up picking some fresh rosemary from the garden, and pairing it with some cracked black pepper and sea salt flakes. They turned out pretty scrummy! Ingredients 2 cups plain flour 4 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp sea salt flakes, plus a little extra to finish 1 tsp sugar 1 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. freshly chopped rosemary (or 1 tsp of dried) 1 cup milk (I didn't use the whole cup full, but you can use the remainder for washing before baking.) Method Pre-heat the oven to 220C. Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl, and rub in the butter. Add the rosemary, and mix again, before adding the milk. Combine with your hands to form a soft dough. Roll out on to a floured board to 1.5 inch thickness and cut into either rounds or squares. I also shaped some of mine into a doughnut shape by rolling out a section of the dough into a long thin ...

Ola! So I had a million blueberries left in my fridge this week that needed using up, but were slightly past their best. And what better way to use them up than to make some cupcakes? You could use any berries you like, or why not add some bananas and make them banana bread style? The choice is yours, but now you can use up those aging berries instead of throwing them! Ingredients 4oz self raising flour 4oz caster sugar 4oz softened butter 2 eggs 1 drop vanilla essence A handful of any left over berries Method Pre-heat your oven to 180C, and line a muffin tray with 12 cupcake cases. Put all the ingredients except for the berries in a bowl, and beat together well until all the ingredients are combined. Add in the berries and fold them in to the mix, until just combined. You need to go careful to not burst the berries, so just fold them in extremely lightly! Spoon the mix into the cupcake cases, and fill them approximately three-quarters full, this will give the mix cha...

Happy St George's Day! In honour of our patron saint, here are 2 yummy dishes to get your Sunday dinner off to a patriotic start this weekend. Steak and Ale Pie Steak and Ale Pie is certainly a British classic. Filled with chunks of slowly cooked beef, and partnered with your favourite ale, this is not one to miss. Ingredients For the rough-puff pastry 225g plain flour, plus extra for rolling out ½ tsp fine salt 250g unsalted butter, cold but not rock hard 150ml ice-cold water 1 free-range egg, to glaze For the filling 1 kg braising steak, chunked 3tbsp plain flour 3tbsp olive oil 300ml brown ale 2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped 2 onions, roughly chopped 250g carrots, roughly chopped 2 sticks celery, roughly chopped 1 bay leaf Handful fresh thyme sprigs 300ml beef stock 1tbsp tomato purée 1tbsp balsamic vinegar 500g chestnut mushrooms, halved Knob of butter Salt and black pepper, to season Method For the pastry, sift the ...

Hello! Happy Friday, and most importantly, happy National Tea Day. Here in the UK, we love our tea. Our lives can't function without it. In fact, in an average British person's lifetime, they will consume 17,000 cups of tea! So today's recipes all revolve around tea, from the best biscuits and scones to a yummy tea loaf, why not try baking some of these to enjoy with your freshly brewed cuppa. Tea Bread Loaf This recipe, from Nigella , is probably the easiest Tea Bread recipe you'll find. Its delicious both warm or cold, plain or spread with lashings of butter, and super simple. Ingredients 250ml cold black tea 227g mixed dried fruit 227g self-raising flour 113g caster sugar 1 beaten egg 2tbsp orange marmalade Method Place the fruit in a small bowl and pour the cold tea over the top. Leave this to soak overnight if possible, or long enough so that the fruit swells. Grease and line a 675g loaf tin. Preheat your oven to 180C. In a separate b...

It's Good Friday! Easter, like Christmas, is one of those times where you can eat as many sweets, cakes and chocolates as you like and no one really questions it. However if, instead of buying Easter eggs, boxes of chocolates and bags of Haribo, why not try making your own sweet treats? Below are 5 of my favourite Easter sweets and treats, so give them a go and have a truly scrumptious Easter weekend! Crème Egg Brownies Crème Egg Brownies are super popular, and they scream Easter. It's the only time of the year where you can enjoy a yummy gooey Cadbury's Crème Egg (unless you're super smart and stock pile them for the rest of the year), so what better way to enjoy them than in an equally gooey brownie! These brownies are made with a mix of melted dark chocolate and cocoa powder, so they are super chocolatey. They're also really versatile, so why not add different flavourings? From cherries, to chocolate orange, to coconut, anything goes in the world of chocolat...