Chocolate Orange Marble Cake

It was my birthday last week and because of this, I decided to spend the day relaxing and baking (because if you can't do what you want on your birthday when can you?!) and this is what arose! Originally, I wanted to use orange Matchmakers for the edge instead of the chocolate orange segments, but I'm glad I did use the segments actually; they were the perfect size for the height of the cake!

I always find chocolate cakes a bit too sickly for my liking so instead of a typical chocolate sponge, I used a marble cake recipe. This just gives the cake a bit of a lighter feel and adds to the chocolate orange flavour! I decided to make the vanilla cake mixture into an orange flavour instead and they complement each other quite well!

Ingredients

Cake:-

225g butter

225g caster sugar

225g self-raising flour

4 eggs

3 tbsp milk

1 tbsp orange juice

Zest of one orange

2 tbsp cocoa powder

Decorations:-

Chocolate frosting

Aero Orange chocolate bar

Terry's chocolate orange segments

Recipe

1) Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas mark 4 and grease a 20cm cake tin.

2) Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until soft and fluffy.

3) Gradually add the eggs and milk with a tablespoon of flour each time.

4) Divide the mixture between 2 bowls and add the cocoa powder to one of the bowls, and the orange juice and zest to the other bowl.

5) Spoon two or three tablespoons of each mixture into the cake tin, making sure to create some layers.

6) Place a knife in the mixture and swirl around a few times to create a marbled effect.

7) Tap the tin against the worktop to remove any air bubbles then place in the oven for 1 hour. (It said on the recipe 45-55 minutes but I always find checking on the cake by sticking a knife into it the best option! If it comes out clean then it’s done)

8) Take from the oven and leave to cool on a cooling rack.

9) Smooth the chocolate frosting over the cake.

10) Place the chocolate orange segments along the outside of the cake.

11) Crush the orange aero chocolate and sprinkle over the top.

12) Enjoy!

Baklava

This is a bit of a fake post really because I haven't actually baked anything! I have, however, been in Greece for the past week and developed a love for baklava. I'm not a lover of nuts, but there is something about baklava that I absolutely adored. It's most likely the copious amount of syrup they are coated in but I just love the way the syrup mingles with the filo pastry and makes it quite chewy. Here is the baklava I fell in love with:-

I was complaining all week that I hadn't managed to try any and so on the last day I finally did and it tasted as good as it looked. So much so, that I regret leaving it until the last day and have decided to try and recreate it myself. Fingers crossed I can provide a dessert worthy of the baklava name in the near future!

Citrus and Sultana Scones

I've posted scones before but seeing as it is Yorkshire day, I thought I'd make some today to have with a nice cup of Yorkshire tea (the best hot drink ever known of course). I've never made citrus scones before so I thought I'd use some left over mixed peel in the cupboard and make them. I just decided to make one batch of scones then divide the mixture in two to make half sultana and half citrus scones.

I never used to like scones, I always found them really doughy and dry, but ever since I made them myself I've loved them! I much prefer these than the ones found in supermarkets and the recipe is really simple and easy to follow. These are being given as a bit of a gift so hopefully they will be appreciated with a cup of tea and some lovely jam alongside!

Ingredients

55g butter, cubed

450g plain flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp caster sugar

250ml milk

30g sultanas
30g mixed peel

Recipe

1) Preheat the oven to 220C/Gas mark 7 and grease a baking sheet.

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

3) Add the butter and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
4) Divide the mixture into two then stir in half of the sugar and the sultanas into one half, and the remaining sugar and citrus peel into the other half.

5) Add enough milk to the mixtures to form a soft dough.

6) Roll the doughs onto a floured surface to around 1 cm thickness.

7) Cut out the scones with a 6cm cutter and place on the baking sheet.

8) Brush the scones with a little milk then bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until golden and risen.

9) Leave to cool on a wire rack.

Carrot Cake with Orange Icing

I feel like it's been a while since I last baked, when really it was only last weekend! I apologise for being a bit MIA in terms of baking this holiday; I didn't expect to be so busy and admit my baking equipment is starting to feel a little bit under-appreciated. I still have a lot on for the next couple of weeks but in the meantime I'll leave you with this lovely carrot cake and promise to try and keep up with my baking attempts!

This is one of my favourite ever cakes and this particular recipe is the best one I've found. I tend to give this cake away as a gift and so far, everyone appears to have loved it so fingers crossed it keeps performing! The addition of the orange icing on top gives the cake a bit of extra oomph but it's still delicious without.

Ingredients

Cake:-

175g light muscovado sugar

175ml sunflower oil

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

140g grated carrots

100g raisins

Grated zest of 1 large orange

175g self-raising flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp grated nutmeg

Icing:-

50g icing sugar

2-3 tablespoons of orange juice

Recipe

Cake:-

1) Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4 and line an 18cm round cake tin.

2) Place the sugar, oil and eggs into a large bowl and mix with a wooden spoon.

3) Stir in the grated carrots, raisins and orange rind.

4) Sift in the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices and lightly mix. 

5) Pour into the cake tin and bake for 45-50 minutes. To make sure it’s done insert a skewer into the cake and if it comes out clean it’s ready. If not, place it back into the oven for another few minutes and keep checking.

6) Allow to cool in the tin for a few minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool fully before decorating.

Icing:-

1) Place the icing sugar in a bowl then gradually add the orange juice until the icing becomes slightly runny but still quite thick.

2) Drizzle over the cake.

White Chocolate & Raspberry Cupcakes

These are lovely summer-y cupcakes to go with the nice sunny weather we're getting at the moment in England! It does mean that you might get a bit warmer with the oven on and making the buttercream but it is definitely worth it. 

I love raspberries; I personally think they're better than strawberries just because they're so lovely and juicy and definitely a summer fruit so this buttercream is perfect for some summer baking. Raspberry and white chocolate is also a perfect combination so I couldn't resist these.

I'm not coping very well in the heat, but these only go in the oven for 20 minutes and at quite a low heat so it doesn't warm you up too much! And you should have some left over raspberries to munch on while you make them!

Ingredients

Cupcakes:-

115g salted butter

115g caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 medium eggs

140g self-raising flour

1-2 tbsp milk

Raspberry buttercream:-

150g unsalted butter

225g icing sugar

7/8 raspberries depending on flavour required

White chocolate buttercream:-

150g unsalted butter

225g icing sugar

1-2 tbsp hot water/milk

Grated white chocolate

Recipe

Cupcakes:-

1) Preheat oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4 and line a 12-hole cupcake tin with cake cases.

2) Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

3) Add the vanilla essence, egg and 1 tablespoon of flour.

4) Mix until well combined then gradually add the remaining flour, mixing well and adding the milk if the mixture is dry.

5) Divide between the cake cases and bake for 20 minutes until risen and golden.

6) Allow to cool on a wire rack.

Raspberry buttercream:-

1) Beat the butter until light and fluffy then beat into the icing sugar in small batches. Don't worry if the mixture looks dry as the raspberries will add some moisture!

2) Place the raspberries in a wire sieve then crush gently with a spoon to push the juice through into the buttercream. If you don't want a really strong raspberry flavour then add a couple less, or for an extra strong taste a couple extra!

3) Mix the juice into the buttercream thoroughly then place in the fridge for a few minutes before icing the cakes.

White chocolate buttercream:-

1) Beat the butter until light and fluffy then beat into the icing sugar in small batches with the hot water or milk.

2) Grate the white chocolate into the mixture, adding as much as required for your personal tastes.

3) Place in the fridge for a few minutes before icing the cakes.

To decorate the cakes, use a small star nozzle and a piping bag to cover the whole of the cake. If you want to dollop it on, go for it! I much prefer a bit of a messy buttercream decoration! Then sprinkle the raspberry buttercream cakes with grated white chocolate and place a single raspberry on the white chocolate buttercream cakes.

Chocolate Profiteroles

So I managed to have a pretty busy couple of weeks, meaning it's been over two weeks since my last post! I had a lovely time on holiday and finally graduated (after 4 years!) from university last week so I've been a bit preoccupied. Also, the lovely summer sun has made an appearance in England for a change so I'm afraid I've been lapping it up instead of baking!

I did however managed to make some lovely chocolate profiteroles. This was a joint effort between me and the other half, so this is a bit of guest post because he is a bit of an expert at making them now. Thankfully this does mean that they are very yummy!

They're surprisingly easy to make really; it seems quite complicated to make the choux pastry but it is really easy and they are perfect for a summer dessert as they are served cold. And as I mentioned when we were making them, everyone loves chocolate and cream! This recipe makes really large ones so these can easily feed 4/5 people quite nicely.

Ingredients

Pastry:-

60g butter, in cubes

150ml water

75g plain flour

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Filling:-

300ml double cream, whipped

Chocolate ganache:-

150g plain chocolate

150ml double cream

Recipe

Pastry:-

1) Preheat an oven to 220C/Gas Mark 7. 

2) Place the butter in a saucepan with the water and heat until the butter melts. Bring the mixture to a boil but don't burn the butter.

3) Take the saucepan off the heat and sieve the flour into the mixture.

4) Stir the mixture vigorously until the it forms a soft ball, then allow to cool slightly.

5) Gradually add the eggs, beating well between each addition to form a smooth, shiny paste.

6) Butter a baking tray then sprinkle with water.

7) Place 12 spoonfuls of the pastry onto the tray, spacing well apart.

8) Bake at 220C for 10 minutes then reduce to heat to 190/Gas Mark 5 for another 20 minutes.

9) Poke a hole in each profiterole then allow to cool on a wire rack.

Filling and ganache:-

1) For the chocolate ganache, gently melt the chocolate with the double cream in a bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring until smooth and shiny.

2) Pipe the whipped cream into each profiterole then place in a large dish or individual bowls and drizzle with the chocolate ganache.

Triple Chocolate Muffins

Unfortunately, this will be my last post for a week or two because I'm going on holiday next week! I've already bookmarked some lovely looking cake shops to try though so I might attempt to feature a couple of them on here when I come back. Until then, I decided I needed fuel to pack and organise all of my holiday things, so chocolate muffins made an appearance.

These are really tasty but not too sweet, which is normally what puts me off chocolate muffins. Using melted dark chocolate instead of cocoa powder gives quite a nice marbled effect in the cake and makes them less rich than standard triple chocolate muffins.

The melted chocolate also makes sure they're quite moist, especially with the milk as well. These are definitely a bit of an indulgence bake but perfect if you need some energy for packing like I did!

Ingredients

100g dark cooking chocolate

300g self-raising flour

1 tsp baking powder

100g dark muscovado sugar

250ml milk

50g melted butter

2 eggs, beaten

50g milk chocolate chips

50g white chocolate chips

Recipe

1) Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas Mark 6.

2) Break the dark chocolate into a bowl and heat over a pan of simmering water until melted.

3) Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl, then in a separate bowl, mix the muscovado sugar, melted chocolate, butter, milk and eggs.

4) Carefully fold the wet mix into the dry mix then stir in the chocolate chips.

5) Spoon the mixture into a lined 12-hole muffin tin and bake for 20-25 minutes.

6) Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.