Large Bakes & Cakes

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

~ cozebakes ~ Leave a comment

When I hear a recipe has peanut butter in it, I tend to leave it as I feel it might taste too strong. Don’t get me wrong, I get a hankering for peanut butter on toast every now and then but maybe it’s those Reese Bites that have turned me off.

I saw this one on a US site and decided to give it a try as it’s gluten free too and a friend had given me a good few very ripe bananas and I just wanted to try something a bit different. I’m glad to say it was a hit and really nice. It freezes well and is perfect with tea or coffee when you want something just a little bit nice 😉

Continue reading →

Triple Chocolate Loaf Cake

~ cozebakes ~ 2 Comments

I made this cake in a loaf tin. It’s one of those lovely “stand by” cakes which are great to have for just in case moments or a “I fancy a slice of something nice” moment … you know what I mean. It’s quite dense bake but it’s still moist and full of chocolate yumminess throughout.

A good one to add to your baking repertoire!

Continue reading →

Apple & Cinnamon Bundt with Caramel Glaze

~ cozebakes ~ 1 Comment

I feel this is a really traditional style cake that could have been passed down from one generation to another. Making it in a bundt tin does just lift it to another level. Any cake looks so special in a bundt shape!

The cake itself doesn’t have any butter. It uses vegetable oil so if you leave out the caramel glaze, you can give to dairy free friends.

There’s a lovely simple caramel glaze over this cake but you could just as easily dust it with icing sugar.

This recipe makes a really tasty, soft and delicious cake and if you decided to serve it with vanilla ice cream, well you will be very popular!!

Continue reading →

Malteser Cheesecake

~ cozebakes ~ 2 Comments

Cheesecakes always seem to be a crowd pleaser. They look so impressive when revealed with the high cream cheese mixture sitting on a buttery base. I’m a fan of the no bake cheesecake. I prefer the texture and taste and they are great to make ahead and keep in the fridge till needed. What’s more, they are so easy to make and yet look so good!

This little beauty just raises the bar a bit with the a secret ingredient which lifts the delicious malty taste to another level. Is there anyone who doesn’t love Maltesers? Anyone?? No, didn’t think so 🙂

Continue reading →

Apple & Blackberry Loaf Cake

~ cozebakes ~ Leave a comment

This recipe for Blackberry & Apple Loaf Cake is like a pudding as well as a cake as it’s so moist. It feels like a dessert you would have sitting at your granny’s table with the option of some custard or cream on the side. It’s pure comfort and as it’s not particularly sweet, you don’t feel bad having a slice. I simply sprinkled the top with a little icing sugar but you could do a vanilla glaze if you wanted to dress it up a bit.

I’m still struggling with a top oven grill combi as my fan oven is kaput! I’m waiting for a new Neff one to be installed and will hopefully be flying once that’s sorted. It’s a bit of a guessing game with temperatures and tops burning at the minute!!

One word of warning, do NOT remove it from the tin until it’s out of the oven for at least 30 minutes, preferably even 45/50 minutes if you can leave it and do NOT try to cut it for at least another hour or more till it’s completely cooled. It will simply fall apart on you. I know I used capital letters so I’m sort of shouting but it’s that important 😉 

Continue reading →

Lemon Drizzle Cake

~ cozebakes ~ Leave a comment

This is a traditional Lemon Drizzle Cake with a crunchy top. I’ve made the original version and then adapted it a bit – delicious as it was, I felt there was something not quite hitting the mark. I’m delighted with the second version too so I’ll write up both and it’s up to you which you make.

The first one is a light, moist sponge with a nice tangy, slightly crunchy topping – the second, ingredients in the brackets, will give you a light, very lemony sponge with a tangy, crunchy topping. As usual, I’ve reduced the sugar substantially and it’s still perfectly lovely 🙂

Continue reading →

Coconut, Almond, Lemon & Blueberry Cake

~ cozebakes ~ Leave a comment

This delicious cake is full of superfoods and as I’ve reduced the sugar content by 70% from the original recipe, it’s practically healthy! You have to make it!

It’s a versatile cake which is just as nice at room temperature as it is heated and served with some cream. No equipment other than a whisk and large spoon needed along with your bowl and prepared tin. It’s made in a 23cm tin so easily feeds 10-12 people.

Continue reading →

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

~ cozebakes ~ 1 Comment

A totally delicious recipe that offers just the right amount of sweetness with the lovely warmth of cinnamon in every bite and a cinnamon flavoured slightly crusty top drizzled in a glaze. If you prefer, you can leave the glaze off..

I’ve adapted this recipe from a US magazine to grams and changed some  ingredients to try and make it a little healthier than in it’s original form. It’s made in quick time with only a spoon to mix, no special equipment needed. Ticks lots of boxes!

Continue reading →

Meringue Roulade – Gluten Free

~ cozebakes ~ Leave a comment

A great dessert recipe that’s always a big hit any time of the year and this one uses ground almonds which gives it a really nice texture. It’s so easily adaptable to any flavours you like and also for each season and your imagination is all that will stop you!

A meringue roulade is much quicker than it’s cousin the Pavlova and can be made on the day it’s needed. It takes about 20 minutes to get into the oven, 30/35 to bake and the same to cool and then you can keep it wrapped in the fridge till needed or dress up for serving.  I’ve never known anyone to refuse a slice of roulade when presented, so it’s a great one to have in your baking repertoire. Please don’t be worried about rolling it. It’s far more difficult in your head than in reality!

meringue roulade, cozebakes, gluten free, desserts, gluten free desserts, meringue, roulade Continue reading →

Gluten Free Light Fruit Cake

~ cozebakes ~ 1 Comment

I have another lovely fruit cake recipe here on cozebakes and I’ve used it for a Christmas Cake before. It’s very fruity and a lovely traditional fruit cake. It’s a 7″ square cake which can be cut to make 2 gift cakes or keep all for yourself!

This is a new recipe I tried and it’s also a lovely bake, probably a little spicier than the Fruit Cake and will work really well for a Christmas cake also. It makes an 8″ / 20cm round cake though I made it in a 6″ as requested and used the leftover for a mini trial cake. There has to be a cook’s treat!!

My advice? Read both recipes and decide which rings your bell. I can stand over both as delicious and impossible to tell the difference from a regular non gluten free cake. Here’s a link to the other recipe for you to check out: https://www.cozebakes.com/2016/11/09/fruit-cake-gluten-free/

Continue reading →

Sticky Gingerbread Bundt Cake

~ cozebakes ~ 1 Comment

A spiced, sticky ginger cake which is one of my favourite! This very simple bundt cake recipe is flavoured with ginger and cinnamon and has a wonderful sense of the festive season about it. I do have a bit of a thing for bundt tins but you can use a standard 20cm instead 🙂 

I decorated it with white dripping icing and pomegranate seeds as it was made originally at Christmas, but as the season changes, you could make a coulis from raspberries and pour it over while saving some whole ones to decorate. Once it gets closer to summer, using Passion Fruit to drizzle over would make a great taste combination and the colour would look fantastic. 

Continue reading →

Chocolate Courgette Cake

~ cozebakes ~ Leave a comment

We all love something a little sweet with our morning or afternoon break; maybe when we have friends over for Afternoon Tea but don’t want to go the full OTT or just because it’s a Sunday!  The fact you’re going to include one of your required 5 a day is a bonus?!

Adding courgette to this lovely light chocolate cake gives it added moistness as chocolate cakes can sometimes turn out a little dry. Spelt flour is used also for easier digestion and those with a high wheat intolerance and finally agave syrup for sweetness instead of refined sugar …. sure it’s positively healthy! 😉

chocolate courgette cake, cozebakes, healthy baking, courgettes, chocolate cake, spelt flour, baking with spelt flour, spelt flour recipes, courgettes in cakes Continue reading →