Cookies b4 Nooky!

Let's face it, food comes before most things and when you're spending Valentines alone, cookies are the best kind of date. 

Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Cookies!
Makes 20-30 (depending on dollop size)

What you'll need:
-150g butter
-150g light brown sugar
-1 egg
-1tsp vanilla essence
-300g plain flour
-1/2tsp baking powder
-100g dried cranberries
-100g milk choc chips

The Baking Of:
-Pre-heat oven to 200c
-In a large bowl: cream together the butter and sugar, beat in the eggs and add the vanilla
-Fold in the flour, cranberries and choc chips until they're all mixed in evenly and you've got gooey consistency. 
-Using a tsp, take small spoonfuls of the dough, roll with your hands and place onto a greased tray. Press down on them lightly and repeat. 
-Pop in the oven for approx. 12mins. Or until golden brown. 

If you're also on your own this year, don't worry about holding back - I'll never judge a fellow cake lover! 

HAPPY (slightly belated) VALENTINES TO YOU ALL! <3 

Cakes b4 Dates

Another year, another Valentines spent eating cake and working. Not a single Valentine in sight (excluding the one from my best friend). As much as I'd like to be wooed - yes, wooed, eating cake is so much easier. Plus, you know it's always going to be there; unlike the opposite sex. 

This year I did double baking; buns and cookies. Dead easy, but satisfyingly good. 

First up: Hazelnut & Chocolate buns.
Makes 12

What you'll need:
Sponge:
-4oz butter
-4oz caster sugar
-2 eggs
-4oz self raising flour
-2tsps of Starbucks hazelnut syrup (I must find out if there's a HN alternative!)
-And as much cocoa powder as you like
Icing:
-4oz icing sugar
-2-3tbsps hot water
-Even more cocoa powder

The Baking Of:
-Pre-heat the oven to 160c
-In a large bowl: cream the butter and sugar, beat in the eggs and add the flour. Stir in the syrup and powder. 
-Pour the mix into cupcake cases, whack in the oven and bake for approx. 20mins. Or until they spring back when prodded. 
-Whilst they're cooling you can get on with the icing: In a bowl, sift out the icing sugar, gradually add the water (until you have the right consistency) and then mix in the cocoa powder. 
-Once the buns are done, lather on the icing and for a finishing touch; add a Love Heart sweet. It's valentines after all!

Swimming in Pancakes!

Today was officially one of the best days in the British calendar: PANCAKE DAY! 

To those of you who don't like them, just leave for a while. But for those of you who do, come bask in the glory that is pancake. 

I'm a bit of lazy arse when it comes to my type of pancakes, I like them plain and coated it sweetie goodness. This year I made a proper attempt at making American style ones, purely because my friend doesn't like the crepe style. I'm glad I did it though. So fluffy and yummy, so good I had to eat four. In fact, my grand total for the day is seven; my other friend also made crepe style. 

Anyway, I know it's a little late in the day for a recipe seeing as Pancake Day is practically over, however you can never have enough pancakes. This is quick, simple and easy to add extra flavourings if you wish:

What you'll need

-135g plain flour

-1tsp baking powder

-1/2 tsp salt

-2tbsp caster sugar

-130ml milk

-1 egg

-2tbsp of butter, or olive oil (plus extra for cooking)

The making of

-In a bowl, mix together the: flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

-Melt the butter (cheat by popping in the microwave - don't burn it though!)

-Whilst the butters cooling: in a separate jug (i used the measuring jug), whisk your egg and milk. Then add the butter. 

-Pour the wet mix into the dry and whisk into a thick, creamy batter. Leave to sit for a few minutes.           

-Get your frying pan warmed up and well oiled (don't go over board, but use enough to get a couple of uses out of it). 

-Using a ladle, pour out one or two scoops of batter into the pan (depending on the size of the pan). It'll be thicker than the usual mix. Let them get fluffy, golden brown and then flip. Repeat until the mix is all gone!

Enjoy with many toppings! We had caramel drizzle and bananas but the world is your pancake and you can do with it what you want! 

Please excuse the poor picture, it was an after thought!

Skinny(ish) Chocolate and Hazelnut Muffins!

I want to eat my cake and be healthy too! Dieting generally sucks but if you balance your cake intake out with plenty of exercise it does't have to be all bad. So with that attitude I thought I'd try and make a healthier version of the delectable treats. 

What you'll need:
Makes 6
-1tbsp cocoa powder
-100g self-raising flour
-50g caster sugar
-1/2 tsp of bicarbonate soda
-1 egg
-100ml skimmed milk
-2tsp Starbucks Hazelnut syrup (perks of the job)
-Chopped nuts (this was a last minute choice and I only have brazil nuts, but I'd say hazelnuts are the better option)

The Baking Of:
-Pre-heat your oven to 170c
-In a large bowl mix together your dry ingredients (flour, b.soda, cocoa & sugar)
-In a separate jug beat together the wet ingredients (milk, syrup, egg & oil). Then mix the two together to make a creamy batter.
-It's a wet batter, so you may want to put the mix back into the jug and pour it out into muffin cases. 
-Before you pop them in the oven, sprinkle over the chopped nuts. Whack 'em in and bake for approx. 15-20mins. 

I know they're skinnier than normal cakes, but that doesn't mean you have to eat them all at once! 

Enjoy!

Mocha Buns!

Hi all! It's been a while...I've definitely been slacking on the baking front. But today I thought, it's about time I rendered this. 
Today's little treat comes in the form of Mocha Buns! A nice and simple recipe, that hits all the right spots. Working at Starbucks definitely helps on the idea front. 

What you'll need:
*Makes 12*
-2 eggs
-4oz butter
-4oz sugar
-4oz s/r flour
-cocoa powder
Icing: Butter, icing sugar, coffee + hot water

The baking:
-Pre-heat your oven to 160c
-In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, add the flour and mix. Pour in the cocoa powder until you've reached your preferred chocolate level. 
-Pour the mix into bun cases, pop into a tray and bake for approx. 20mins. Or until they spring back when prodded!

Whilst they're cooling you can then crack on with the icing. I've not provided measurements because I think it's all down to personal preference. Just don't use too much water!

-In a large bowl: mix the coffee and water (as if making a very strong coffee), add the butter and icing sugar and whip together. Keep adding until you're happy with the outcome. I used approx. 4oz butter & sugar. Once your buns are cooled you can slap that butter icing on! Dust with cocoa powder and there you have it! 

Try not to eat them all at once, but do enjoy. 

An Ode To Cake

As you may know, I enjoy cake. Cake is a girl's best friend, not diamonds. One day I plan on opening my own little cake shop - somewhere quaint, kitsch and filled to the brim with cake. But for the mean time, I thought I would show my dedication and get myself a wee tattoo. 
The tattoo shop was so lovely, I actually got a cup of tea in a cup and saucer! I think I might use it as inspiration for my future shop. 

My cake was fresh from the oven when I took this, hence the not-so-pretty finger. But, Et Voila! 

Ooh, you little Tart.

Admittedly this isn't the most "out-there" recipe, but I was bored yesterday and had very little in. Plus, I got to use some of my Chocolate Jam I made at Christmas. 
Jam Tarts make a great tea-time treat, and they're not very big, so you even when dieting they're totally acceptable. 

What you'll need:
(This makes 12)

-4oz butter
-8oz plain flour
-pinch of salt
-Two or three Tbsp of water
-1 tsp of vanilla essence

The Baking Part:
-In a large bowl, crumb together your flour, salt and butter. 
-Start binding the mix together by gradually adding the water. You want it to be a soft dough. If you add too much water, just balance it out with a bit more flour.
-Whilst binding, add the Vanilla. Alternatively, you could use other flavourings, it's just to add a bit of sweetness to the pastry. 
-Once you've got it in a neat ball, wrap it up in cling film and pop in the fridge for 15-30mins. Whilst it's in there, get the oven warmed up. Set to 140c. You can also grease up the baking tray (a bun tin will do nicely).
-Roll out the dough - not too thin though. Using either a cutter or a glass, cut out 12 circles and pop into the baking tray. Fill the bases up with a tsp of jam-don't get carried away otherwise it will burn in the oven. 
-With the leftover pastry bits you can get creative and decorate the top. 
-Once they're done, pop them in the oven for approx. 15mins, or until golden brown. Et voila, easy peasy! 

This week, I plan on baking something a little more challenging. So keep your eyes peeled :)