chocolate

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
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5 ingredient Nutella pie
24Mar

5 ingredient nutella pie

Easter is around the corner and you frankly can’t miss it over here, the mountains of chocolate eggs in the supermarket are overwhelming. Every year they bring more flavours, I swear! Sure I got the ol’ faithful bag of mini eggs, but when it comes to chocolate nothing brings me as much joy as a spoonfull (or two) of Nutella straight out of the jar. And if you’re reading this, you probably one too. And whether you eat it out of the jar or strictly spread it on toast, get on this because I bet you have most of these ingredients in your kitchen right now. Only 5 ingredients!!!! Death by chocolate does not get easier than this. 5 Ingredient Nutella pie (serves 6) 200g of white cake such as madeira (a couple of days old is best) 2 tbsp cocoa powder, plus extra for suting 50g melted butter 400ml double cream 150g Nutella 1. Lightly butter a 18cm loose-bottomed tart tin, and set aside. 2. Place cake in a food processor and blend it until you get fines crumbs. Add cocoa powder and melted butter, and continue to mix until all ingredients have combined. 3. Tip cake mixture into
3 mins read
1425 Views
Loaded rocky road with cake and nuts
13Feb

Loaded rocky road

Rocky road is one of my husband’s favourite bakery snacks, he often has a slice with takeaway coffee  when he thinks I am not looking. I thinks it is really important not to be wasteful when it comes to cooking and baking and I love to incorporate leftovers in new recipes, so in this loaded rocky road version I have added leftover cake (vanilla with blueberries) which I had made a couple months ago but it came out of the oven looking a little bit sad with a big sink hole in the middle. I chopped it (whilst still a little frozen so as not to crumble too much) to add a soft texture to the rocky road slices, together with mini marshmallows, which are a must! The crushed biscuits and nuts bring in the crunch – add salted roasted nuts for an explosion of flavour, snicker-y in nature. The beauty of this recipe is that you can add almost anything you have in your cupboard: dried fruits, candy, pretzels, seeds, the list goes on! Just remember to keep the additions proportionate to the amount of chocolate used. Loaded Rocky Road 550g of dark chocolate 70% solids is best 220g
3 mins read
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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
3110 Views
chocolate praline crepe stack
03Mar

Chocolate praline crêpes

Pancake day is imminent. A day where you are overwhelmed with the towers of Nutella and ready-mix packs as your enter the supermarkets. I have never made pancakes, the American style. In both England and in Brazil they are called pancakes but are made à la French, much thinner. The English tradition is to add lemon juice and sugar to your pancake, but I am partial to a crunchy praline. I am embarrassed to say I make praline waaay too often. At one point I had a huge jar in my cupboard and would sprinkle it on everything – from yoghurts to cakes. This praline cream game is strong and has definitely become a favourite. Chocolate praline crêpes (serves 5-6) For the praline cream 150ml whole milk 100ml double cream 3 egg yolks 3 tbsp cornflour 2 tbsp plain flour 100g mixed nuts 100g sugar 1. Line a baking tray with baking paper – i used a silicone mat. Cook sugar in a pan, stirring, for 5 minutes or until sugar has dissolved. 2. Once sugar has turned into an amber colour add nuts and stir to cover them with sugar. Pour onto prepared tray and allow to cool 3.
3 mins read
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Soft cinnamon pretzel with mocha dip
22Dec

Soft cinnamon pretzels with mocha dip

As teenagers our constant evening snack were soft pretzels. My mum used to make two flavours: pizza and cinnamon sugar. My parent’s home is always the central hub at Christmas for all of the sibling living far away. For us Christmas is not only about spending time in the kitchen but also trying new foods. Yep, Turkey is rarely the main dish for Christmas dinner, this year we are making steak with port sauce. But there is always space for the golden oldies and I am so glad that I tried this recipe when we were all together Even though my dad burst my bubble when he pointed out that my knots were a bit weird (a quick Google search showed that he was 80% right… however some people do knot like I do) it was so nice to hear my brother say that taking a bite of the pretzel took him back to 20 years ago. Isn’t that what every baker wants to hear? Soft cinnamon pretzels (yields 20) 300g plain flour 30g melted butter plus more for greasing 1 1/2 tsp of easy yeast 1 tsp salt 140ml warm water Cinnamon and caster sugar ( I used a
3 mins read
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