dense chocolate loaf cake

erm, yum? correct. having spent the evening at a friends watching her make this, I then immediatley commenced to bang* about in my kitchen at 11pm on my return home to create my own. This page has been bookmarked in How To Be A Domestic Goddess since its purchase and now was the time for my dreams to become reality, and what a glorious chocolatey gooey reality it is indeed.

*why oh why are kitchen cupboards designed to make it impossible to retrieve any item from said cupboard without having to remove the ENTIRE contents each time? And I always think no, no I do not need to take out every saucepan, gridlepan and fryingpan to extract one solitary loaf tin....this thinking almost always leads to the meeting of my toes and a delightfully heavy le cruset pan lid. darn, and double darn.

Anyhoo, the cake!

Ingredients

200g plain flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

100g dark chocolate (high % cocoa), melted & cooled

375g dark muscovado sugar

2 large eggs, beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

225g butter, room temperature

250ml boiling water

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 190C, grease and line a 9x5x3in loaf tin

2. In a large bowl using a hand whisk (my kitchenaid would put too much air in the batter), cream the butter and sugar

3. Add in the eggs and vanilla, beating well

4. Fold in the melted chocolate using a spatual, mix well but do not overbeat

5. Add the flour & bicarb, spoon by spoon, alternately with the water - mixing gently until you have a smooth and fairly liquid batter

6. Pour the batter into the prepped loaf tin and bake for 30 minutes

7. After this time turn down the oven temp to 170C and bake for another 15 minutes

8. Remove and allow to cool in the tin on a rack

Happily Ever After Cupcakes

Cupcake recipe...magnolia cupcakes vanilla & chocolate

Lemon Truffle Layer Cake

Lemons, lemons, lemons...the basis of this (birthday) cake was built on this solid premise...from this starting point I moved onto chocolate, blates. To create the sponge I wanted a cake that could take layering and what better than a classic 1234 cake, to which I added the zest and juice of 2 lemons. To fill I made a chocolate ganache, one third of which I stole away and mixed in lemon juice to make the truffles that would top the cake. I have to say I was most pleased with the result, the 1234 sponge is light enough but sturdy enough to take the lemon flavour and still stand out against the dark chocolate ganache. And the truffles? oh yes, I'll be making those puppies again.

The Cake

Ingredients

225g butter, room temperature

2 cups golden caster sugar

4 large eggs

3 cups self raising flour

1/3 cup milk

2/3 cup fresh lemon juice

zest of 2 lemons - or just add to taste as you like

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 177C/350F

2. Cream the butter until fluffy, about 3 minutes, with an electric mixer

3. Add the sugar and continue to beat for another 6-8 minutes

4. Add the eggs one at a time, making sure to beat well after each addition

5. Add the dry and wet ingredients alternately, starting and ending with the dry mix

6. Divide the batter between 3 8" greased/lined cake pans

7. Bake for 25-30 minutes in the centre of the oven, test at 20 minutes with a knife...the layers will be thin so do not worry, once stacked it'll be a mighty cake!

The Ganache

Ingredients

11oz dark chocolate - I use 75% cocoa solids

2/3 cup double cream

cocoa powder - for dusting

3 tsp fresh lemon juice

Method

1. Finely chop 8oz of the chocolate and place in a medium bowl

2. Bring the cream to the boil in a small, heavy saucepan

3. Pour the cream over the chocolate

4. Using a whisk, stir in concentric circles - do NOT beat - until the ganache is smooth...at this point I split the mixture and added lemon juice to one lot which I then made into truffles as below....the rest I used to ice the cake layers.

5. Let it stand at room temperature for about 1 hour

6. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper and empty out a shelf in the freezer

7. Using a piping bag fitted with a 3/8-inch tip, pipe the ganache into small mounds (about 3/4" high & 1" high)

8. Freeze to firm, for 15 minutes

9. Melt the remaining 3oz of dark chocolate in a small bowl over simmering water...set up a work station of truffles; melty chocolate, cocoa and fork, sieve over bowl & storage pot.

10. To coat to truffles; smear a small amount on a gloved hand and gently rub each chilled truffle with the chocolate

11.Toss the truffles in cocoa powder using a fork, then transfer to a sieve and shake gently to remove excess cocoa

12. Store truffles in the fridge

Assembly

Secure the base layer to a cake stand using a blob of ganache, then spread over a 3rd of the plain chocolate ganache and top with the second layer. Repeat the ganache layer, and add the final layer of cake, topping this with the remaining ganache and decorate with the lemon truffles.

dark chocolate and sour cherry cupcakes

sifting through the pile of dried fruits remaining from christmas I discovered two packets of sour cherries that I had totally neglected to put to festive use; and with a whole day to myself what better time to knock up a batch of cupcakes!

a cursory glance at my bible of a cupcake book secured me the below brownie-esque recipe...and lo what delights were in store!

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups golden caster sugar

100g dark chocolate, chunked

225g butter, diced

3/4 cup plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

4 eggs

3 tbsp cocoa powder

1 pkt sour cherries...which is 1/2 a cup!

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 177C

2. Melt the chocolate chunks with the butter, in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water

3. Add the sugar, stir well and let this mixture cool for about 10 minutes

4. Transfer to a cake mixer and beat for 3 minutes

5. Add the eggs one at a time, beating between each addition for a 30 seconds

6. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt, mix this in well

7. Fold in the cherries

8. Scoop into cupcake cases & bake for 25 minutes

9. Top with cream cheese frosting and a sour cherry!

apple custard tart

upon purchasing a new food processor (eep!) I was most looking forward to using it to make pastry, having never used anything but the old fashioned hand method - albeit to great success - and lo in but a few short hand-gunk free minutes lovely pate sucree did I have! awesome.

so, the apple custard tart, from the divine Joy of Baking, is pretty easy to make but has several different sections to it so only attempt this when you have some hours to burn (bake)...

the pastry - pate sucree

ingredients

210g plain flour

50g granulated sugar

1/8 tsp salt

113g butter

1 egg, beaten

method

1. sift the flour and salt together into a medium bowl

2. in a food processor, beat the butter for a few minutes

3. add the sugar, mix well, then add the beaten egg

4. add the flour and mix until a ball is formed

5. remove the pastry, flatten, cover & chill for 20 minutes

6. roll out to 5mm thick and line a greased, 8" loose-bottomed pie dish - prick with a fork and then return to the fridge for a further 20 minutes

7. line with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beads, pushing the beads to the edges to stop shrinkage...if you have no beads then use foil, which I used to use until Father Christmas came...

7. bake in a preheated oven at 205C for 20 minutes, remove and cool

the apricot glaze

ingredients

1/4 cup apricot jam

1/2 tbsp water

method

1. heat the jam in a small pan until boiling

2. strain into a bowl to remove any lumps

3. mix in the water and use to glaze the cooled tart shell

the custard

ingredients

1/4 cup plain flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

3/4 cup single cream

1/2 vanilla pod, split length ways

method

1. whisk the plain flour and granulated sugar together in a medium sized bowl

2. mix in the eggs and stir to a paste

3. heat the cream in a small saucepan with the vanilla pod until it is just boiling

4. remove the pan from the heat ad the pod from the pan, scrape out the seeds and pop them back into the cream (you can also rinse and dry the pod, and use it to make vanilla sugar)

5. add the cream to the flour/egg paste and whisk to incorporate, set aside

the apples

ingredients

500g apples, granny smith/braeburn etc

30g butter

3 tbsp caster sugar

method

1. peel and core the apples

2. slice the apples into 1/4" thick slices

3. melt the butter in a large skillet (thick flat bottomed frying pan)

4. add the sugar and stir in, let it melt a bit into the butter over a medium heat

5. add the apples and saute until they begin to soften, about 5-10 minutes

6. set aside to cool

the cinnamon sugar

mix together 1 tbsp granulated sugar & 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

the assembly

1. preheat the oven to 177C

2. place the cooled, glazed tart shell on a baking sheet

3. line the apples in concentric circles in the tart shell

4. carefully pour over the custard

5. sprinkle over the cinnamon sugar

6. bake in the centre of the oven for 25-30 minutes until set

now you have a choice either let it cool and bit then scoff it right down as we did for the hour was late ad the smell too tempting...or....

7. sift over a layer of icing sugar and place under a high grill to caramelise...then serve...

a series of festive bakings...

low-fat chocolate cupcakes -or- what to make when you have no butter but really want to bake

mmm low fat chocolate cakes? no. exactly thats what I think, but then when I found that my fridge was bereft of butter and not being up for going to the local shop in my pajamas (again) I found these to be a surprising triumph. Mainly because all they are is non-butter cakes; like lots of cakes...the low-fat title is rather misleading, yes, they are low in 'fats' but the volume of sugar more than makes up for that little diet factoid. Anyhoo, they are nice and here is how i did it...

Ingredients

300g plain flour

225g caster sugar

1tbsp baking powder

2tbsp cocoa powder

2 lightly beaten eggs

115ml sunflower oil

175ml skimmed milk

1tsp vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 175C and line a 12-cup muffin tin (you could use fairy cake cases to make more, smaller cakes)

2. In a medium bowl sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and cocoa.

3. In the bowl of a cake mixer combine the eggs, oil, milk and vanilla. Add the dry mixture to this and beat until just combined - do not overbeat.

4. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases - half fill the cases or you will get muffin tops (heh, a little low fat irony for you)

5. Bake for 20 minutes then remove and cool in the tins for 5 minutes; remove to a wire rack to cool completely and ice as you wish (thus negating the low-fattyness!)

scrummy chocolate swirl shortbread

another beautiful recipe from one of the best presents I ever got, these shortbreads are so simple to make and undeniably sublime to scrobble down to your belly place. They take only 20 minutes to prepare, but you have to chill the dough so they are not a super quick treat, but if you have a spare hour then they can be yours!

Ingredients

Shortbread 1

150g plain flour

1/2tsp salt

50g caster sugar

125g unsalted butter, room temp

Shortbread 2

125g plain flour

25g cocoa powder

1/2tsp salt

50g caster sugar

125g unsalted butter, room temp

100g dark chocolate, chopped into rough smallish pieces (I have used various chocolates, the green & blacks maya gold is especially lovely)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 150C and line two baking trays with greaseproof paper

2. To make the first shortbread sift together the flour, sugar and salt. Rub in the butter until the mixture combines, knead lightly, then place in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.

3. Make the second shortbread by following the same steps, but including the cocoa with the flour. Again place in the fridge to chill.

4. Roll out both doughs on a lightly floured surface, roll into equally sized rectangles about 1cm thick.

5. Place the plain shortbread onto a sheet of greaseproof paper and place the chocolate shortbread on top; scatter the chopped dark chocolate over the top.

6. Using the greaseproof paper, roll the shortbread like a swiss-roll, rolling with the longest side. Don't worry if it breaks or if the chocolate pokes through, all part of the rustic charm. Once you have it rolled into a log, roll it a bit more to make it longer, but not too much. Pinch in the ends to prevent the chocolate falling out.

7. If you are making this in the middle of summer, or if you have your heating on furnace settings, you may want to pop it back in the fridge to firm up a bit more...if not, proceed...

8. Using a sharp knife slice the log into 1cm thick slices. Place onto the lined baking trays and bake for 25 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack before scoffing lots of them with a cup of tea.

chocolate peanut butter cake

my cake day was looming at work, pondering my options I once again returned to the sublime smitten kitchen for inspiration. And this be the result...

The Cake

2 cups plain flour

2 1/2 cups caster sugar

3/4 cup cocoa powder

2tsp baking soda

1tsp salt

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cups water

2tbsp white vinegar

1tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1. Preheat the oven to 175C. Line the bottoms of 2 (or 3 for super specialness, i have not three pans of the same size, I also do not have endless patience at 10pm on a wednesday...)

2. Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt into the bowl of a cake mixer (cough...kitchenaid...cough), whisk to combine them well.

3. Add the oil and sour cream, continue blending and gradually beat in the water. Add the vinegar and vanilla then whisk in the eggs until incorporated. Scrape down the bowl and beat again.

4. Divide between the prepared cake tins and bake for 30-35 minutes (longer and cooler if just two pans), or until a knife comes out almost clean when inserted. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 20 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks and allow to cool totally before removing the paper bottoms.

The Filling - peanut butter frosting

10 oz cream cheese, room temp

4 oz unsalted butter, room temp

5 cups sifted icing sugar

2/3 cup smooth peanut butter

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer beat the cream cheese and butter together until light and fluffy.

2. Gradually add the icing sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing well with each addition - scrape down the bowl often.

3. Continue to beat until light and fluffy, for about 4 minutes

4. Add the peanut butter and beat until fully incorporated

The Covering - chocolate peanut butter glaze (make after frosting the cake)

8oz dark chocolate, broken up

3tbsp smooth peanut butter

2tbsp golden syrup

1/2 cup half-and-half...not being american I used the following substitute: 2/3 cup skimmed milk & 1/3 cup double cream

1. In a bowl set over simmering water, combine the chocolate, peanut butter and golden syrup. Heat, whisking often, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth

2. Remove from the heat and whisk in the "half-and-half", beating until smooth. Use whilst still warm, yum.

The Assembly

1. Use half the peanut butter frosting to fill the cake between the layers, then cover the top and sides with a crumb layer. Put the cake in the fridge for about 30 minutes then use the rest of the frosting to coat the cake completely...pop this back in the fridge then make the glaze.

2. Put the chilled cake on some greaseproof paper and pour the glaze over the top of the cake. Use a spatula to spread it evenly over the top; if you want it to drip down all nice the spread just to the edges so that it drips down, I smothered it totally for ease of transport to work.

3. Chill the cake until about 1 hour before serving

red velvet cake

I have been wanting to find an excuse to make this cake since steel magnolia's, and finally an opportunity presented itself in the form of a halloween/birthday shindig! yes yes. what could be more ghoulish than cutting through pristine white icing to a blood red cake, that's right, not much!

I have spent a loooong old time googling red velvet cake recipes, well, all recipes really, but I think red v-cake has taken up a large portion of said google time. I eventually settled on the recipes posted by Smitten Kitchen, no idea how I come to choose recipes, perhaps it is the reassuring photos...? hmmm. anyhoo I forged ahead, one quick trip to the dreaded asda...who of course did not have any red food dye. I hate that stupid shop, they have no concept of stock taking. And so I braved the torrential rain that was upon brighton to run to the co-op where I bought their entire stock of red food dye, all five bottles, and returned triumphant to my kitchen.

Ingredients

Cake Batter

3 1/2 cups plain flour

1/2 cups cocoa powder

1 1/2tsp salt

2 cups canola oil – I substituted with vegetable oil to great success!

2 1/4 cups granulated sugar

2 large eggs

6tbsp red food dye

1 1/2tsp vanilla essence

1 1/4 cup buttermilk – if you can’t get this then use regular milk and add 1tbsp lemon, leave for 10mins

2tsp baking soda

2 1/2tsp white vinegar

Frosting

8oz cream cheese, room temperature

115g butter, room temperature – almost to the point of melty melty

3 cups icing sugar

1tsp vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat oven to 170C/350F, grease and line your cake tins. This recipe calls for 3x9” tins, but I used 2x8” then cut each in half to make a 4 layer cake If you do this then reduce the heat by 10 degrees and cook for 10-20mins longer.

2. Sift the plain flour, cocoa and salt into a large bowl and set aside.

3. Place the oil and sugar in the bowl of a mixer and blend at a medium speed until well combined.

4. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well to combine.

5. With the machine on a very low speed carefully add the red food dye then the vanilla.

6. Finally add the dry mix alternately with the butter milk in three batches; scrape the bowl down and beat again to combine.

7. Place the baking soda in a small dish and add the vinegar, stir and add immediately to the batter, beat for 10 seconds.

8. Pour the batter into your prepared cake tins and place in the centre of the oven, bake for 40-50minutes – or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted.

9. Carefully remove the tins to some cooling racks, leave for 20mins then turn out the cakes (I have invested in some decent sprinform pans that make this so much easier!), peel off the baking paper and leave to cool completely whilst making your frosting.

10. Place the cream cheese and butter in a mixer bowl and beat until light and fluffy and well combined. Add the sugar and vanilla. Beat on a low speed to combine, iff too soft then pop in the fridge to harden for 15mins. Add more icing sugar if you want it to be sweeter.

Frosting Tips: If you have made two big layers then slice these in half, if not then just proceed…If you have the time then it may be a good idea to chill the cake in the fridge before frosting, it is then easier to brush off the crumbs. When icing a multi-layer cake put less icing on the bottom layers, and leave a large gap at the edge of the cake as the weight of the other layers will push the frosting outwards, and we don’t want too much oooooze now do we?! I made less frosting and then covered the cake in white fondant icing, but this is up to you!

happy halloween!

iced sugar cookies

these little beauties are incredibly simple to make and lend them selves to a variety of shapes and icing formats. And in what format did I bake them for my market stall? well...I halved the dough and did one batch of simple iced circles and stars, and the other half as hearts iced with a lemon glaze and pink sugar edging.

the dough has to sit in the fridge for at least an hour before rolling out so don't forget to work this into your timing if you are making them last minute...I have a number of recipes for these cookies, but the one I have used the most is from Joy of Baking, which makes 36 cookies.

Ingredients

490g plain flour

1/4tsp salt

1tsp baking powder

227g unsalted butter, room temperature

300g granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2tsp vanilla extract

Method

1. In a large bowl sift together the flour, salt and baking powder

2. With an electric mixer or hand mixer cream the softened butter and add the sugar, beat for a further 3 minutes

3. Add the eggs ad vanilla gradually and incorporate fully

4. Slowly add the dry mix on a low speed and beat until you have a smooth dough - it may seem quite sticky, this is fine, leave it for a minute then halve it and wrap in cling film, chill in the fridge for at least one hour. If you have time then you can make the dough a day in advance a leave overnight.

5. Preheat the oven to 176C/350F...though as mine is craaaazy hot I put it at 170C, with the racks in the centre of the oven. Line two baking trays with baking paper (I just bought two silicone baking mats, which are awesome! and save me soooooo much paper, and I am a tree fan)

6. Remove one half of the dough from the fridge, and on a lightly floured surface, roll out to just under 1cm (I do mine about 5-8mm and they are fine, I find 1cm a touch big).

7. Using your cookie cutter of choice cut out shapes from the dough, if you flour the cutter you may find this easier, and transfer to the baking sheets.

8. Bake the cookies for 10mins - or until just starting to lightly brown on the edges - then transfer to a cooling rack. Once all the first half of the dough is used, get the second out and repeat - this keeps the dough all nice and cool while you do the first batch.

9. Ice the cookies as you wish...For the market I made up some simple red and blue icings; icing sugar, a few drops of dye and then dribbles of water til it reaches a decent spreading consistency. For the hearts I made an undyed icing with icing sugar and water, the rolled the edges of the hearts in pink granulated sugar (just drip a drop of dye into some sugar and mix it all about!)...

and for halloween, little pumpkin shaped goodies for the mini-trick or treaters that visit each year...

coffee and doughnut cupcakes

as inspired by the amazing chockylit, I think these are possibly the most outlandishly awesome cupcakes ever. The trick is in the eating (isn't it always?)...dipping the mini doughnut in the creamy icing, scoffing that down and then slowly consuming the intensely coffeesome cupcake...mmm, hmmm..delish!

I used the cupcake recipe from chockylit, and found a yeast-free doughnut recipe for the mini toppers...making these was hilarious, there were quite a few mutants at first as I tested out sizes and volume but in the end I pressed out little rounds with the large end of a piping nozzle (about 1.5cm diameter) and the cut out the middle with the smaller end, then pushed the dough over the nozzle to make a larger hole. Success!

Ingredients

Cupcakes - makes 19

170g unsalted butter, at room temperature

375g caster sugar

3 large eggs

1tsp baking powder

1/8tsp salt

1tbsp coffee grounds - I blitzed these up a bit more, and used a very strong roast

1/2 cup (4 floz) strong brewed coffee - I have a stove top espresso maker and used this, so it is pretty strong

1/4 cup (2 floz) and 2 tbsp milk

Topping:

6 floz double cream

2 tablespoons caster sugar

Doughnuts - makes about 30 mini ones, or 19 and some mutants

250g plain flour

125g caster sugar

1tsp salt

1tbsp baking powder

1/4tsp cinnamon

1/8tsp nutmeg

30g butter - melted

1/2 cup (4 floz) milk

1 egg - beaten

lots of oil for frying

cinnamon & caster sugar mixed and in a shallow dish, to toss the doughnuts in - optional, but nice!

Method

Cupcakes

1. Beat the butter until soft and creamy, then gradually add the sugar and continue beating for about 3 minutes until light & fluffy

2. Add the eggs one at a time, making sure to beat until well incorporated between each addition

3. In another bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and coffee grounds

4. Add the milk and cooled, brewed coffee together so you can add them combined

5. Add the dry ingredients alternatively with the milk/coffee mix, ending with the dry mix and beating well to incorporate with each addition

6. Fill the cupcake cases about 3/4 full and bake in a preheated oven at 175C for 20-25 minutes (until a skewer comes out clean when inserted), remove and cool on a rack

Topping

1. Whisk the cream until thick, add the sugar then beat again until the cream is able to form very stiff peaks

2. Pipe onto the cooled cakes in swirls using a star tipped nozzle

Doughnuts

1. Heat oil in a deepish very thick frying pan, or deep fryer to 375F/180C...I do not have a thermometer, so I just let it heat up and did a test blob of dough...

2. Sift the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and spices into a large bowl

3. Mix in the melted butter with a knife, then add the milk and egg, stir in again

4. Using floured hands, knead the dough lightly - you may need to add more flour, just add a bit at a time until you are happy that the dough is not too sticky

5. Turn out onto a well floured surface and pat to a 1/4 inch thickness

6. Cut out using a floured cutter, or piping nozzle!

7. VERY carefully drop the doughnuts into the hot oil, a few at a time, and fry - turning once - for about 3 minutes or until golden brown

8. Toss in the cinnamon sugar and place on kitchen roll to drain

9. Place on top of the piped topping and serve!

the merchant market or a work based bake off!

a market was announced at work, so I thought a nice wee cake stall of delights and delectations would go down well...and so it did! I spent 1 1/2 days baking, which I loved loved loved! hah, so much better than sitting at a computer all day...I was surrounded by yummy smells and ingredients, listening to plays on radio four in my kitchen all day...knackering but brilliant!

I made a variety of treats for sale; coffee & doughnut cupcakes, boston cream pie & coconut cream pie cupcakes, iced sugar cookies, flaked almond cookies, gluten free spiced shortbread, orange butter biscuits and dark chocolate ginger cookies, chocolate macaroons....and....rocky road!

I also started promoting my Christmas Treat Boxes, which I hope to get some orders for - everyone likes a nice home baked cookie at crimble time don't they? Hope so!

The recipes will be forthcoming...