Large Bakes & Cakes

Malteser Cheesecake

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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 🙂

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Apple & Blackberry Loaf Cake

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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 😉 

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Lemon Drizzle Cake

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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 🙂

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Coconut, Almond, Lemon & Blueberry Cake

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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.

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Cinnamon Swirl Bread

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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!

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Meringue Roulade – Gluten Free

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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!

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Gluten Free Light Fruit Cake

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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/

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Sticky Gingerbread Bundt Cake

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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. 

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Chocolate Courgette Cake

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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! 😉

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Halloween Surprise Cake

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There are so many fun ways to bake at Halloween and this surprise cake featuring a hidden pumpkin is one of them.

There are 2 cakes to be made; one coloured and one plain. You need to plan ahead as they can’t be made at the same time. I tend to make my coloured one in the morning, get my jobs done and then get the second one made later in the day. It can be decorated the same or next day.

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Battenberg Cake

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There’s something very special about those pink and yellow squares when you cut into a Battenberg that brings you back to being young. It was such a treat to get and always felt like a special occasion when a Battenberg was produced on the table.

It feels like a lot of work but honestly, it’s not. The cutting and joining of coloured sponges can be a little sticky and rolling out the marzipan a little messy but the result is definitely worth it and always impresses when it’s homemade!

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Spiced Apple Cake – Gluten Free & Low Fat

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This delicious and low fat cake comes from the Hairy Bikers. It contains low fat milk and sunflower oil so no butter and for a large 23cm cake, only uses 100g of demerara sugar which you could substitute for an organic variety which is less refined.

I converted it to a Gluten Free version so everyone at home could enjoy it and it worked really well. The other bonus of this lovely recipe is that it freezes well so you can cut in half or in slices and keep for when you desperately need a slice of cake to help sort out the woes of the world. Defrost thoroughly and heat up in a low oven or in the microwave. It’s perfect served hot or cold and will keep fresh for several days once you wrap it in tin foil.

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