St Patrick’s Day Shamrock Chocolate Cake

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So this is a great chocolate cake recipe. It’s rich and has a great texture. It can be used for any occasion and I decided to bake it, cut out a shamrock shape x 2 and decorate with shades of green buttercream. It’s a fun thing to try and worked well because of the shamrock shape and colour variations.

I made the cake in two 8″ / 20 cm round tins. Then found a shamrock image on the web, sized it, printed it and cut it out of the cooled cakes. If you can draw freehand, go for it! I would recommend gel dye colour rather than a liquid one. Start with a small bit for the first shade, then increase the quantity to get a deeper colours as you go.

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Apple Tart Cookies – Gluten Free

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These Apple Tart Cookies are soft and chewy and there’s no shaping to be done before baking. They are full of delicious pieces of apple and you can add white chocolate chips for extra sweetness if you like.

I always think of just “pure comfort” when it comes to apple tarts and they are always such a big hit with everyone. To have them in cookie form is another lovely element without having to make pastry.  I love the fact these cookies don’t have lots of sugar in the ingredients and adding a glaze at the end just adds a nice touch of sweetness.

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Raspberry & Coconut Cupcakes

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A very simple, all in one bowl recipe which you can choose to decorate your way. Finish with a flourish and make the raspberry flavoured buttercream I’ve used here or make a simple icing to spread across cooled cupcakes. Whichever way you decide, they will be a big hit!

It’s great to be able to use frozen raspberries in this recipe. It means they are a great stand by recipe to use when visitors are expected.

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Cheesy Sundried Tomato, Walnut & Thyme Muffins

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You can make about 24 mini muffins or 12 average sized delicious servings from this recipe. They are totally yummy and it’s really nice to offer a savoury bake at the start of a Coffee Morning, Afternoon Tea or just as part of a buffet.

For a healthier version, I replaced the flour with Spelt Flour which is far less processed and easier for you to digest and it worked well.

The type of cheese you use is up to you but you do need a good strong tasting cheese to get that hit. I used fresh grated Parmesan and it worked so well with the sundried tomato and thyme. I’ve previously used Mature Cheddar also but I would suggest you increase the quantity.

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Gluten Free Flapjacks

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I love Flapjacks but the commercially baked ones are so high in processed sugar that they are a rare treat and sometimes just so sweet, they are not really a healthy choice.

This recipe is adapted from a Dove’s Farm original and as I prefer soft and chewy flapjacks, they are perfect for me. If you prefer yours crisp and crunchy, then leave them longer to bake. Simple!

The recipe is vegetarian and free from gluten, egg, soya, wheat and nuts so everyone should be able to enjoy them 🙂

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Fruity Apple & Almond Tea Loaf

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This recipe is a twist on what we would know as a traditional  Tea Loaf. It’s got ground almonds, grated apple and I swapped whole wheat flour in place of white flour for a healthier result. As I was using dried fruit which is naturally sweet, I could also reduce the sugar quantity.

The slices of apple dipped in tea and decorated on top give it a lovely rustic look and something to bite into. When I made it, I felt it was going to be very dense and dry but it worked out really nicely and perfect with a cup of tea any morning or afternoon.

By using whole wheat flour, the recipe is changed to a healthier version with more fibre and less processed flour, plus reducing the sugar quantity is always a bonus. Sprinkling a little brown sugar on top gives it a lovely caramelised finish.

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Traditional Scottish Shortbread

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This recipe is based on Mary Berry’s Traditional Scottish Shortbread Recipe. It’s perfect for making with kids as they will love the kneading that has to be done to bring the dough together. It’s wonderful in the simplicity of ingredients that produce such delicious, buttery, melt in the mouth results.

I made mine for Christmas gifts so that’s why there are snowflakes and bauble shaped shortbread biscuits but I also cut them into rectangles for a more traditional look.

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Brownie Christmas Trees

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These are just so sweet and make a real impact. They are all over the web so I can’t claim any right to them and certainly not my idea but everyone has their own little interpretation and this is mine.

You don’t need any electric mixer for this recipe. A good whisk, spatula and large spoon for the final bit and you’re good to go.

I make them in a 20cm square tin which should give you 5 trees measuring about 9cm x 6cm but it depends on your cutter. You do need a decent sized one otherwise once you try to cut them out, they will fall apart. Now if you’re handy with a knife then cut out triangles but as I’m totally useless, I rely on a tree cutter!

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Light & Delicious Ginger Cake

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So I know there seems to be an excess of ginger related recipes happening now but I have a tin of treacle that’s about to run out and a tub of bicarbonate of soda that has a “use before” date drawing near so I’m using them up with my ginger recipes. If you don’t like ginger, I apologise in advance 😉

This is a light and moist ginger cake which is just so delicious. It’s made in a brownie tin or you can make it in a 2lb loaf tin, with a few tweaks in baking time. Oh did I mention no mixer? Yes I love a recipe that just literally needs mixing and no equipment.

Oh the smell in the house! Seriously, the smell was heavenly and just full of comfort. It was like Christmas was bottled and let loose at ours.

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Spiced Fruit Biscuits

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I’m still on my biscuit baking drive and thought these looked perfect to have with my cup of tea. I love using spice in baking (and cooking) and was expecting these biscuits to be a spicy bite but instead I discovered a recipe that is very, very close to the traditional McVitie’s Fruit Shortcake biscuits. I kid you not! They are way too good and were a huge hit with everyone. Wrapped with pretty ribbon, they are a really great gift to give and will be very much appreciated.

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Raspberry Lemon Muffins

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Muffins must be one of the easiest things to make once you stick to the rules. It’s a basic method of dry ingredients whisked, then wet ingredients whisked, next add them together and here’s the key …. don’t over mix! That’s the one.  🙂

These muffins are probably a bit more for adult tastes as they are a low sugar recipe or kids who don’t like particularly sweet things (do they exist??). They’re not really sweet and the lemon adds a nice touch so if you are making them for little people, you could leave out the lemon and add some vanilla extract.

There’s no special equipment needed for these muffins. I love that!! Just my whisk and large spoon. Hurray!!

 

 

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