It was Mum’s 70th Birthday just before Christmas and she rarely has a Birthday cake as her Birthday is so close to Christmas. But as it was her 70th we had to do something special, so along with all the other Birthday surprises I made her an illusion cake based on a casserole pot and veg as cooking is still one of her favourite things to do. Click here to keep reading.
(more…)Archive for the ‘autumn’ Category
Stock Pot Illusion Cake
Posted in autumn, Celebration Cakes, Fruit/Veg, Iced Cakes, Nuts, Spices, Winter, tagged fruit cake, Illusion Cake, Stock Pot Cake on January 10, 2024| 2 Comments »
GBBO 2023 Technical Challenge No. 9 – Tarte Aux Pommes
Posted in autumn, Fruit/Veg, GBBO Challenges, Pastry, Puddings, tagged GBBO, GBBO Technical Challenge, Tarte Aux Pomme on November 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »
I can’t believe this series of Bake Off is almost over, we’ve really enjoyed it once again and loved trying the technical challenges each week. There has only been one savoury bake this year, and with both girls Birthdays and Rich’s Birthday too, we have eaten a lot of cake over the last couple of months! Click here to see how I got on with this challenge.
(more…)GBBO 2023 Technical Challenge No. 7 – Orange and Ginger Treacle Puddings
Posted in autumn, Fruit/Veg, GBBO Challenges, Puddings, Spices, tagged GBBO, GBBO Technical Challenge, Orange and ginger steamed pudding, Steamed Pudding on November 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »
I had just enough time on Sunday evening to attempt this weeks technical challenge and make these for pudding. A traditional steamed sponge and custard was definitely the perfect comfort food for this time of year. Click here to see how I got on.
(more…)GBBO 2023 Technical Challenge No. 5 – Dauphinois Potato and Caramelised Onion Pithivier
Posted in autumn, GBBO Challenges, Pastry, Winter, tagged dauphinois pithivier, GBBO, GBBO Technical Challenge, pastry on November 6, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Having been away for half term I am a bit behind with the bake off challenges! I didn’t have time to make this one before we left, so it was on my list of things to cook when we got home, perfect for this miserable autumnal weather. Click here to see how I got on.
(more…)Toffee Apple Drip Cake
Posted in autumn, Celebration Cakes, Fruit/Veg, Nuts, Other, Spices, tagged Autumn Baking, toffee apple drip cake on October 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »
It’s definitely starting to feel autumnal in the mornings now, my favourite time of year! I made this cake for Rich’s Birthday last year having seen the recipe and really wanted to try it out. I love all the autumn baking flavours – spices, nuts, caramels, apples, pumpkins etc, and this cake certainly had a great combination of these. Click here to read more.
(more…)Magical Toadstool Cake
Posted in autumn, Celebration Cakes, Chocolate, Figure Modelling, Fruit/Veg, Green, Iced Cakes, pink, purple, Spices, tagged Children n's Birthday Cake, christening cake, Magical Toadstool Cake, Toadstool Cake on November 8, 2022| 1 Comment »
On Sunday we finally got around to having Chloe’s Baptism, 2.5 years later than planned due to covid etc. But it was worth the wait, we had a wonderful weekend with family and Godparents. I wanted to make a really special cake and loved the cake I made for my niece Alice, so I decided to make something similar. Click here to see some more photos of this magical cake.
(more…)Plum and Almond Tray Bake
Posted in autumn, Fruit/Veg, Nuts, Summer, Tray Bakes, tagged Almonds, Autumn Baking, plum and almond tray bake, plums on October 26, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I love baking with plums, they are such an amazing colour and once cooked they are jammy, sharp and sweet all at the same time. Definitely one of my favourite fruits to eat and to bake with. So if you’re looking for a recipe to use up some plums, click here to keep reading and try this one out.
GBBO 2022 Technical Challenge No. 6 – S’mores
Posted in autumn, Biscuits, Chocolate, GBBO Challenges, tagged bonfire night, GBBO Technical Challenge, Halloween baking, s’mores on October 23, 2022| 1 Comment »
Halloween week might have been a week early on the GBBO, but we definitely didn’t mind and couldn’t wait to make the s’mores! Rich and the girls love marshmallows and I haven’t made any for ages, so perfect excuse! Keep reading to see how amazing these are.
(more…)Cheesecake Ripple Plum Cake
Posted in autumn, Fruit/Veg, Summer, Tray Bakes, tagged Autumn Baking, cheesecake ripple, Plum tray bake, tray bake on October 22, 2022| 1 Comment »
Time for another plum recipe! I made this some time ago and was thinking about the recipe the other day, it was really delicious and I am not sure why I haven’t made it again since – probably because there is always something new to try out! Keep reading to see the recipe and how easy it is to make.
The recipe was from a Waitrose recipe card and could easily be adapted for different fruits like peaches, apricots or even blackberries. It’s delicious on its own as a cake or warm with ice cream as a pudding, enjoy!
200g full fat cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
3 tbsp caster sugar
4 medium eggs
175g butter softened
175g dark muscovado sugar
200g self raising flour
400g ripe plums stoned and roughly chopped
1. Pre heat the oven to 180 C, gas mark 4. Grease and line a 28 x 18cm baking tin with baking parchment making sure that the paper come up high enough around the sides.
2. In a bowl beat the cream cheese till soft. Add the vanilla bean paste, caster sugar and one of the eggs, beat using a hand held electric whisk till smooth.
3. Place the remaining eggs, butter, muscovado sugar and flour in a separate bowl. Beat for 2 mins till pale and creamy.
4. Spread half the creamed flour mixture onto the base of the tin, then dollop over half of the cream cheese mixture, spreading an uneven swirl through the base mixture. Scatter with half the plums. Spoon the remaining creamed flour mixture on top and dot with the rest of the cream cheese.
5. Scatter with the remaining plums then bake for about 45 mins until risen and just firm to touch. Leave to cool in the tin before cutting into pieces. Serve warm or cold with ice cream.
Autumn Cupcakes
Posted in autumn, Cupcakes, Orange, Sugarpaste flowers, tagged Autumn Baking, Autumn Cupcakes, autumn leaves, hedgehog Cupcakes on October 5, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I made these last year for Emily’s Birthday for her to take into school. She wanted something with autumn leaves on and I had seen these on Pinterest and thought I would make some similar. Click here to find out more.
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