Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes with Basil Syrup Injection

Another summer surprise. If only the British weather could make its mind up. This summer has just been the worst so far, honestly, it just cannot make its mind up. Last weeks bake was fitting of the weather, this weeks bake a little less so. It had to be done though. The fresh ingredients were sitting in the fridge staring at me, if they weren’t used a certain small person would of dived straight in and there would of been nothing left to bake with. That’s how things normally pan out in our house. Fresh fruit, gone in 60 seconds. Berries, definitely.

Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes with Basil Syrup
yields 16 standard cupcakes

I suppose a lot of people wouldn’t put basil and strawberry together, but then again, a lot of people would. Maybe not so much in a cake, but it does work. Basil syrup is amazing stuff, it’s also gorgeous with brownies. At a family meal this past new year me, my mum and younger sister wracked our brains for a good pudding. This is where basil syrup came from, although granted, it wasn’t our idea. We found it all over the Internet ‘for use in cocktails’. Yes, of course. But we can use it elsewhere. So we did. Brownies (baked by yours truly), basil syrup (made by yours truly) and mango ice cream (made by my little sister). It was the best after dinner treat ever. I’ve been itching to use the syrup since. So today I did. And it hasn’t failed!

You will need;
Weighing scales
A blender
A whisk
A large bowl
Cupcake tin
Cupcake cases
220g fresh strawberries
2 eggs
200g sugar
1tsp vanilla
80ml vegetable oil
200g plain flour
1tsp baking powder

First preheat your oven to gas mark 5 (190c). You need to start by blending your strawberries into a smooth purée in the large bowl, to this add 2 eggs, the sugar, vanilla and vegetable oil. Whisk until frothy and fully incorporated. To this add the flour and baking powder, combine and spoon into individual cake cases. Bake for 15 minutes until soft and springy.

For the syrup; add 1 cup water, 1 1/2 cup sugar and half bunch of fresh chopped basil to a pan and allow to simmer for 6-8 minutes until you have a thick syrup. Once cool inject into cupcakes using a syringe or cut a hole in cakes and spoon in.

I topped mine with a plain buttercream icing just to cover the basil overflow.

Pistachio & Rose Cupcakes

Hello summer. The weather was beautiful today, perfect for this flavour combination. I’m a lover of Turkish delight. Whoever isn’t is mad, plain mad. It’s amazing stuff. Pistachio and rose are my two favourite flavours, although its easy to find rose everywhere in the UK, I find it very hard to find pistachio flavour, why? Granted I don’t look very hard, I’m sure it’s here somewhere but I never happen to fall upon it in my not so distant travels.

When we were younger we travelled quite a lot, me and my younger sister now both agree with took this very much for granted. I’d love to do it all again now with my new found outlook on life. If I ever win the lottery, I’m travelling the world and showing my little girl all the things I never appreciated. Sorry mum and dad. Anyway, we once went to New Zealand. Of all things I remember Turkish delight being a part of this holiday – although I could be making this up or I could of dreamt it. There was this little hatch type shop, across from a Indian restaurant we had eaten at, it served Turkish delight cut straight from mammoth blocks right into a little paper bag, now that is my idea of heaven. I had to have it, and indeed I got it. Daddy’s girl, I am.

Pistachio & Rose Cupcakes
yields 16 cupcakes

This is like a cupcake made for a warm Arabian night. I got so excited by the smell of just the pistachio, let alone the cooking stage. I don’t think you can find a better match. They look perfect too. The flavours aren’t overwhelming, it’s a really delicate balance so that you can taste both flavours in there, you don’t want to drown out the pistachio with the rose. It can be easily done. I’d definitely say to anyone to give this a try, it’s a beautiful cake. Do let me know what you think if you try it.

You will need;
Large mixing bowl
Weighing scales
Measuring jug
Small mixing bowl
Wooden spoon
Wire rack
Cupcake cases
Cupcake tin
150g plain flour
70g unshelled unsalted pistachios
2tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
100ml milk
1tsp vanilla extract
175g sugar
110g butter
2 eggs

Preheat your oven to gas mark 5 (190c). Start by bashing your pistachios into crumbs (I just stuck them in the small bowl and used the end of a rolling pin to crush them) leave some bigger for added texture. When you’ve done this add in the flour, salt and baking soda and stir together. In the large mixing bowl cream together your butter and sugar until light and fluffy then add the eggs one at a time until incorporated. In the jug mix together your milk and vanilla extract. Now your going to add all the ingredients together. Into the butter, sugar and egg mix you need to add the milk mix and dry ingredients in stages until its all come together. Spoon into your cases and pop into the oven for 15 minutes.

For the buttercream I did a standard buttercream, butter and icing sugar to the right consistency to pipe. Then added enough rose syrup for the desired flavour. As syrup strengths differ I can’t really specify what amount to use. I use KTC rose syrup, available in the world food section in larger asda stores. Of this I used around 2tsps for the right balance against the pistachio. If you continuously taste it, or have a cooled cake on hand to taste it with you should get the right balance fine.

Enjoy, I know I will.

Chocolate Coca-Cola Cupcakes

So… tomorrow is Fathers day in the UK. Bakers at the ready. I have memories of todays recipe, from childhood. I can remember the taste and having this before. A longterm friend of Mum must be the culprit baker. Regardless of how odd it may be it does work, genuinely. The recipe comes from deep within the pages of ‘how to be a domestic goddess’ by Nigella Lawson. Not sure if this constitutes becoming a domestic goddess – loading guests/friends/kids and the unannounced with the biggest sugar rush they will ever get from a cake – but okay!

For those that are new to such a concoction I introduce to you;

Chocolate Coca-Cola Cupcakes
yields 18 standard size cupcakes

I would recommend any baker looking for a seriously moist but not at all oily cupcake to give this a try. The chocolate flavour is barely there, I struggle with calling this chocolate at all infact but I know it’s in there, I put it there. It’s subtle caramel undertones expected from coke, not much sweetness – considering what your adding to the cake you expect it to be very sickly sweet. I’ve topped mine today with a Coca-Cola buttercream and a cola syrup. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.

You will need;
A large mixing bowl
A measuring jug
A heavy bottom pan
A sieve
Weighing scales
A wooden spoon
A metal spoon
Cupcake tin
18 paper cases
200g plain flour
250g caster sugar (white or golden)
1/2tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/4tsp salt
125ml buttermilk
1 egg
1tsp vanilla extract
125g butter (I always happen to use salted, but unsalted is fine)
2tbsp quality cocoa powder
175ml Coca-Cola

Preheat your oven to gas mark 5 (180c)
Firstly your going to sieve together the flour and bicarbonate, straight into the mixing mixing bowl. Next, add the sugar and salt. Over in your measuring jug beat the buttermilk, egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. Separately, get your pan warm on a low heat, melt the butter with cocoa powder and Coca-Cola. When this has all melted beat into the dry ingredients until smooth and velvety, do the same again with the buttermilk mixture from the jug. When all the ingredients are combined its ready to be poured into cupcake cases. I filled mine 3/4 and they came out perfect. Simply pop in the oven for 15-20 minutes and cool on a wire rack.

Decorate as desired. I experimented at this point, coming up with Coca-Cola buttercream by adding icing sugar and cola to 100g of softened butter until I reached the taste and texture I required to pipe. I also put around 100ml of cola and 40g of sugar into a pan and heated over a low heat, reducing to a thick toffee like syrup. On a few I drizzled over the buttercream (after cooled) on others I experimented further. Finding it hardened enough when swirled into water and quickly dried off to stand in the cupcake I did this on a few too.

I didn’t mention my daughter was assistant baker throughout the whole bake and made the biggest mess ever of the kitchen – flour clouds, sugar rain. But after, all I heard was..
“Mummy, I’m going to lick this bowl for about an hour, while the cakes cook”. Okay.
All in a successful bake for the special daddy in our house.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread

Shortbread. Among one of my favourites. Everything about it is a winner in my eyes, the simplicity, handmade charm, texture, buttery taste. It’s my biscuity weakness. Having said this, I have never even attempted to make it, ever. So today, I tried. From a few days research, reading other recipes I came up with my balance. This is something I always do, instead of copying recipes from around cyber space I find a few, take the differences, balance them out, change it around a bit and make them my own. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn’t but I don’t like to just read, copy and bake. To me there’s nothing in that. I have no creative freedom I suppose.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread

You hear a lot of stories about bad shortbread, it being hard to make. Mine was fine. Am I a natural? I can hardly believe this. I also find it hard to believe its hard to make. The key is cold butter, straight from the fridge. I also hear you should never use anything other than your hands to mix and rub in the butter. Shortbread should be made with love, as deserved. With this in mind, give it a go. It is so simple, you will wish you made it sooner.

You will need;
A large bowl
Weighing scales
300g Plain flour
100g Sugar
240g Salted butter
Chocolate chips as required
Baking paper
Cake tin

Set your oven to gas mark 4 (180c). Weigh out your flour and sugar straight out into the bowl and mix together quickly with your fingers. Next weigh out your butter cutting into 1cm cubes as you go, once weighed put into the bowl with the sugar and flour. Now your going to just get right in the bowl, squish and squeeze the dry ingriedients into the butter, keep going, until you end up with a nice crumbly mixture (exactly like you would want on top of your fruit crumble) not too fine though, I like it a bit rough and ready. Add your chocolate chips evenly throughout the mix. It is as simple as that, now just pour it out into a lined baking tray and press down gently to fit the tray. Pop in the oven for 20-40 minutes depending on the depth of your shortbread. Its ready when it’s turning slightly golden on top, don’t worry if it’s a little soft to the touch, it will firm as it cools. When still warm cut with a knife and leave to cool in the tray.

Enjoy with tea, perfect.

Dark Chocolate & Hazelnut Cookies

Hello friends! Welcome back me.

Firstly I cannot believe I’ve allowed myself to get sucked into not blogging since January. Oops! I made a pact with myself on the creation on this blog that I wouldn’t dwindle away, stray from blogging or just generally not blog for any time longer than 2 weeks. Yeah right, well.. I’m sorry inner conscience. People out there, take note of my perfectly named blog, for reality these last few months is the excuse for my absence. I’ve actually barely baked. I wanted to, I’ve thought up a million bakes in the depths of my mind and ill admit I’ve drooled over the bakes of many a blogger on WordPress – but that is as far as its gone. This makes me very sad! *Deep Breath* Diving in..

Dark Chocolate & Hazelnut Cookies
yields 12 cookies

I really wanted to bake some form of cookies with hazelnut. I’ve always been a nut and chocolate fan. Always. I needed simple and quick as my baker in training toddler was all hands on deck to get stuck in, of course. She wanted dark chocolate, yes she’s one of those kids. I think, given a line up, she would possibly now opt for the darkest chocolate she could over it’s milk or white variant. Shame her taste buds can’t opt for the grown up stuff at mealtimes but that’s a progressing work right there – in my flipping dreams!

You will need;
A Sturdy Bowl.
A Wooden Spoon.
A Optional Toddler.
A Whacking Instrument rolling pin.
Weighing Scales.
150g Softened Butter.
120g Light Brown Sugar.
30g Dark Brown Sugar.
1 Egg.
1tsp Vanilla Extract.
300g Plain Flour.
1/2tsp Baking Powder.
100g 70% Dark Chocolate.
100g Whole Hazelnuts.
Wire Cooling Rack.
Baking Sheet.

First off, set your oven to GM5/180 Celsius. You need to start by creaming the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, followed by the egg until fully incorporated. Next add the vanilla extract and give it a little mix. At the point you need to set the bowl aside. Now this is where the optional toddler has fun, and becomes frankly armed and dangerous. Pop your 100g bar of finest quality dark chocolate and all the hazelnuts into a sealing freezer bag, pass the rolling pin (or such whacking instrument) to the toddler and tell them to let loose. Anger management! Allow toddler, or yourself 2 minutes of fun until you have your desired chunk sizes. I had crumbs, boulders, whole nuts, half nuts, slabs of chocolate. Prize said whacking instrument out of the hands of the user and calmly put away. Enough is enough. Chuck the bags contents into the bowl of mixture along with half the flour and the baking powder. Once it’s all combined add the remaining flour until that too has become engulfed in the batter. Spoon desert spoon size dollops onto the baking sheet and bake for 12-15 mins. Leave to cool. Enjoy!

Unexpected awards!!!

Last month. Late I know. I was unexpectedly awarded 3 awards for my blog by a fellow baking blogger over at SugarCravingBaker so first and foremost thank you very much to her. Go and have a browse around her blog, I do, often. It’s nice to explore the community over here and literally travel the world of baked goods through your electronic device. Please refrain from too much dribbling though, if you think you will, it’s about time you bought a raincoat for your browser..

Drumroll please

THE AWARDS

1. The Sunshine Award

The rules:

Include the award logo in a post or on your blog
Answer 10 questions about yourself
Nominate 10-12 other fabulous bloggers
Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs letting them know they have been nominated
Share the love and link the person who nominated you

Ten Questions

Favourite Colour: Green
Favourite Animal: Pig
Favourite Number: 3
Favourite Non alcoholic drink: Anything with passion fruit or coffee
Prefer Facebook or Twitter: Facebook
My passion: Errr BAKING!
Prefer getting or giving presents: Both
Favourite pattern: Difficult – anything retro, bold, in your face and retro again, yeah.
Favourite Day of the week: Sunday, when everyone is home.
Favourite Flower: Lily

2. The Versatile Blogger Award

The Rules:

Thank the person who gave you this award.
Include a link to their blog.
Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly.
Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.
Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.
In the same post, include this set of rules.
Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

Seven Things About Me

I am a fully trained breastfeeding counsellor, and must be one of the youngest in the UK.
I have never let go of the prospect of owning a pig as a pet since being about 4 or 5. One day..
I am an apple (not the fruit) addict!
I cannot survive without my morning coffee.
I really want to become a midwife, but I’m an emotional wreck at births and I hate education.
I met my partner 1,112.7 miles from home, in Ibiza. Aged 17.
My biggest ambition in life is to build my own house from the ground up.

3. The ABC Of Me Award

The rules are simply to share facts about yourself using each letter of the alphabet before sharing the award along.

Absailing – I conquered my fear of heights aged 11 absailing 150 feet from a bridge

Baking – couldn’t get more obvious

Cooking – as well as baking I love cooking

Design – I love design, since school. In a lot of shapes and forms

Endometriosis – for which I am a sufferer

Frogs – me and my sister used to to fancy ourselves as quite the little frog catchers

Greece – my favourite place in the world – that I’ve visited

Halloumi – connected to Greece, one of my favourite cheeses

Intelligent – that’s me

Johnnie – the name of my brother and one of the only boys born into my entire family

Kind – one of my qualities

Lilybug – the nickname given to our daughter

Mum – something I love being

Normal – something I’m far from

Orange – another of my favourite colours

Pisces – my starsign

Quirky – something I like

River Thames – something I’ve always lived in proximity to

Save The Last Dance – one of my favourite films

The Great British Bake Off – a show I love, and also enter in for this year

Underestimated – that’s me too

Volkswagen – golf, a car I’ve always wanted to own

Wedding – something I will never be a bride at but have been a bridesmaid at once

X-files – a strong childhood memory of watching with my dad

You – should appreciate this, it’s been difficult haha

Zebra – an animal I’ve never seen

“Now I know my ABCs next time won’t you sing with me”

That was sooooo difficult but I did it. I did it. I did it. Now you try.

I would now like to pass all of these awards on to some very deserving bloggers out there:

Food++
The Faux Martha
Baking Therapy
Butter
Cut The Cookie
Maggiesonebuttkitchen

There are many others out there, I’m coming to find you. I love reading each and every one of the above blogs and I hope you do too. Please visit them!

Rose & Vanilla Triple Layer Cake

If you have an occasion coming up this is a amazing cake to turn up with. Today Im spending all day in the kitchen to produce a knock out cake for my daughters 3rd birthday tomorrow. I was going to do a tortoise cupcake cake, no need to slice just pull an individual cupcake from the design, ingenius. She decided against that idea but instead opted for a pink cake, typical! Although I think to myself how boring, I came up with a cake that will taste sensual and will look fun. I decided on a 3 layer cake first off! Secondly I thought about flavours, rose popped into my head straight away, I’d been waiting to use it since new year, this was my chance. Finally! So Rose, got that, but what else? How about a different flavour, I instantly thought of a vanilla layer centered in the middle of the 3 layers. Beautiful. So 3 layers consisting of rose flavoured ‘pink’ sponge on top and bottom, with a layer of vanilla sponge in the middle, but what about icing? Vanilla icing? Rose Icing? Possibly even Raspberry? I opted for a pink tinted vanilla buttercream, decoration hit me straight away. Flumps, the barratts marshmallow twists (unsure of their availability in the US or worldwide but they are definitely still avialable in the UK) they are the perfect colour to dress my cake. Topped with pink and white pearls. We should of had glitter too but it was unavailable in my supermarket much to my disappointment.

Im excited for this cake, I am sure its going to look and taste amazing. Votes in tomorrow. If you have an upcoming occasion why not come back and try this recipe. Its adapted by myself from various flavoured sponge cakes across the web, as with most of my recipes unless stated. Would make the perfect alternative wedding cake with its delicate rose flavouring and scent (I hope).

Rose & Vanilla Triple Layer Cake

You will need;

Basis-
400g of unsalted butter.
400g of caster sugar (Once again I use half brown half white)
400g self rasising flour.
8 medium eggs.
2tsp of baking powder.

Vanilla sponge-
1.5tsp of high quality vanilla extract.
2tbsp of milk.

Rose sponge-
3-4tsp of rose syrup (available in the world food section of large supermarkets)
0.5-1tsp of red food colouring (depending on the depth of colour you wish to achieve)
1tbsp of milk.

Vanilla buttercream-
650g icing sugar
200g butter
.05tsp red food colouring
1tsp vanilla extract
3tbsp milk

Tools-
17inch cake tin with loose bottom.
Wooden spoon.
2 large bowls.
Measuring spoon.
Weighing scales.
Electric mixer.
Baking Paper.

To start, preheat oven to gas mark 4/180 celcius. Cream butter (at room temperature) and sugar together until fluffy, then your going to add 2 eggs with 100g of flour each time until incorporated into the mixture, with the last 100g of flour add the baking powder and blitz. At this point I removed 1/3 of the mixture into a separate bowl. Into the 1/3 of the mixture I added the ‘vanilla ingriedients’ as listed under vanilla sponge until incorporated. Now go back to the bowl containing the 2/3 mixture and add the ‘rose ingriedients’ as above until incorporated fully. I’m using one cake tin for this, so I’m cooking in 3 seperate batches but you dont need to do this if you have 3 of the same tin. Wet the inside of the tin slightly to help the baking paper stick neater, you want it sitting as flat to the sides and bottom as possible. Fill each with 1/3 of the mixtures and bake for 25-30 minutes (rose cake will need up to 50 minutes) until a cake tester comes out clean or when touched the sponge springs back. While the cake is baking get started on your buttercream (feel free to use the provided recipe, or your go to buttercream) all you need to do for this is mix butter and icing sugar and your chosen flavour until you form a thick paste suitable for spreading. Your going to need a lot to cover the whole cake outside and between each layer so be prepared. After each cake comes out leave to cool on a wire rack until completely cooled then remove the baking paper and place on the surface you will be using to carry the cake. It will be quite hard to move from one surface to another after iced and decorated. I want to achieve the flattest ‘stack’ with the cakes so I start with one rose top down, then vanilla top down, finally the other rose top down. With a layer of your buttercream between each. Each layer of buttercream should just overflow a little, you then need to start to cover the whole cake (there are good tutorials for this on youtube if you havent done this before), when finished decorate with whatever you wish, its entirely upto you at this stage.

Update: Cake was amazing, cut beautifully and the rose was lovely and delicate. Winner all round, definitely worth a try. Just disappointed I didn’t decorate it different now, oh well, next time.

Black Cherry Bakewell Cake

Me again. Baking alot? I think so. I’m been waiting with excitement for this bake to land on my sideboard. Literally cannot contain myself. Bakewell tarts are amongst my favourite, EVER! So here we have a twist on the tart, it’s a cake!! The idea comes from the BBC good food site, once I saw it in all it’s glory it got added to my baking queue (yes, I have a one!)

Black Cherry Bakewell Cake

A gorgeous almond cake, filled with black cherry conserve, topped with a thick smooth icing and toasted almonds. Could you ask for anything more? I couldn’t! I love almond, they bring childhood memories right back, even just the taste. Come on, try it, you know you want to.

You will need;

Electric mixer.
Sturdy mixing bowl.
2 – 20cm round cake tins.
Baking paper.
200g of softened butter.
200g of golden caster sugar, I use half white half brown.
4 eggs.
100g ground almond.
100g self raising flour.
1tsp baking powder.
1tsp of natural almond extract.
For the icing;
100g of icing sugar.
6-8 tbsp of water.
Half a jar of black cherry conserve (for the filling).

Preheat oven to gas mark 4/180 degrees. Cream your butter and sugar until light. Add 2 of your eggs with half of your flour and beat until incorporated, then repeat with remaining flour and eggs. Mix in your ground almonds, extract and baking powder followed by a pinch of salt. Line your baking tins and spoon mixture evenly between each tin. Put in middle of oven for 25-30 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool in tins for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. While waiting for the cake to cool mixing you icing sugar and water until you form a thick paste, but that will run slightly. When cakes are completely cool, put one cake top side down and spread with a generous amount of jam (I use half a jar) and position next cake on top, do this whichever side is going to give you a nice level top. Spread the icing to the sides of the cake and allow to drip down the sides as it wants to before sprinkling with toasted almonds. Your done! Voila!

Enjoy mid afternoon with a cup of strong tea. Just a suggestion. This would make the perfect occasion cake to enjoy with family, or by yourself. It’s just that nice. Enjoy and check back soon for more bakes. Thanks for looking. Please follow, and tell your friends.

Blueberry Marshmallow Cupcakes

I think I dreamt about these last night, during the tossing and turning, added to the toddler kicking me after howling to get in our bed early morning *yawn*. To keep her entertained today we baked – together. She always loves to get involved where blueberries are concerned. I’m suprised she hasnt turned into a blueberry, the rate she gets through them. Im also suprised there were some left in the fridge to do this bake. What a suprising day! Wish I could call these muffins, but im afraid that would be baking fraud. The rise and texture isnt in keeping with a muffin although you rarely seen fruit in a cupcake. But im not going to commit a crime and call this a muffin, maybe a muffin recipe to follow in the coming weeks. To bake this yummyness, follow the steps below..

Blueberry & Marshmallow Cupcakes

You will need;

A large mixing bowl.
A wooden spoon.
Weighing scales.
A toddler – optional.
12 deep muffin cases.
12 hole baking tray.
250g of salted butter.
250g of caster sugar.
220g of self raising flour.
1 tbsp of pure vanilla extract.
4 tbsp of milk.
blueberries – preferably fresh, but frozen would be fine id imagine – amount optional
mini marshmallows – amount optional
a few pinches of dark brown sugar

To start preheat your oven to gas mark 4/180 celcius. In your mixing bowl cream your butter until smooth, then beat in the sugar until fluffy and fully incorporated. Mind toddler fingers (!), if using, they like to dip and lick already. For the next stage I like to add 1 egg and 1/4 of the flour together and incorporate in batches, repeat until youve added all your eggs. After measure out your milk and vanilla and gently fold into the mixture. Add the desired amount of blueberries and marshmallow and set bowl to the side. Be quick here, if using optional toddler, they will take handfuls when your back is turned. Place each muffin case in the allocated slot for baking. Fill each one 3/4s full, allow a little space for a rise. WARNING – dont be a spoil sport, allow the toddler to get its head in the bowl and clean it for you! My daughter told me off for using all the mixture in all the cases and demanded some was put back into the bowl. Beggar! Sprinkle each cake with a pinch or 2 of dark brown sugar for a nice crunchy top and golden colour. Throw in the oven for between 30-40 minutes until risen and golden, or until cake tester comes out clean. Leave to cool for 15 minutes or so and enjoy with a nice cup of tea, I like earl grey with blueberry, lovely!

Hope youve enjoyed todays bake, I know we have. Try it, its beautiful. So beautiful infact they probably wont last very long at all, even in a household of 2 or 3. I might even suggest doubling the measurements for a household of over 4, they deserve it! Please feel free to follow, comment and share on..

Honey Chocolate Oat Cookies

Today’s bake is simple, my cupboards are lacking anything interesting as my daughters birthday is just around the corner. My budget is stretched, so my baking is stretched too! This bake is simple, even for the most unorganised, or amateur baker. Most ingredients are lingering in your cupboards, I bet you. You may have to take a trip to the back, but I’m sure every household has the required ‘staples’ here goes..

Honey & Chocolate Oat Cookies!

I love the odd cookie bake, I don’t do it often. Both my partner and daughter love a good homemade cookie, the bigger the better of course, but they get what they are given. I never force a cookie to be something it doesn’t want to be. For this reason they never let me down. Plus this one is a tad healthy. Follow me..

You will need;

A sturdy bowl.
Weighing scales.
A wooden spoon (although I prefer a electric mixer for a quick bake).
Wire cooling rack.
50g of butter.
50g of sugar (I use half brown half white).
1 egg.
50g wholemeal flour.
1tsp baking powder.
80g of oats.
3tbsp of honey.
2tbsp of maple syrup.
A pinch of sea salt.
80g of smashed up 74% chocolate.

Preheat your oven to gas mark 4/180 degrees. Start by creaming your butter and sugars until light, add the egg, mix until incorporated. Then mix in your flour and baking powder, followed by the oats. Indulge in your honey and syrup, and add your chocolate (you can use nuts, fruit, raisins if you prefer, I would of added raisins but they don’t go down well with the cookie monsters. Huff!)
Using a dessert spoon, spoon dollops of mixture onto a baking tray covered with greaseproof paper. Make sure to leave about 5cms between each cookie to let them have space to spread their wings if they do wish, remember don’t force them! When done pop into the oven for 15 minutes, I don’t like a crunch with this cookies, they are quite soft. If you wish for a crunch cook for longer until they start to brown, although be warned they won’t be very crunchy as the recipe is rather moist. Cool on a wire rack! This recipe and quantity will yield 12 cookies.

Hope you enjoy, please, as always check back soon for more recipes. Don’t eat them all at once although we probably will. Bakes around here don’t tend to last after a few hours, if that! Happy baking x