Baking Bo

  Surprise! If you thought I was done with the festive bakes, think again! I couldn't resist making one extra BONUS Christmas recipe! Thank you Jonny for the suggestion - white chocolate and cranberry cookies!  Ingredients: 125g butter 100g light brown sugar  75g granulated sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract  300g plain flour 1 + 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1/2 tsp salt  200g white chocolate chips 100g dried cranberries Method: 1. Cream the butter and sugars together with a standing mixer or electric whisk. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix again.  2. Add the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt. Mix until it forms a cookie dough. 3. Add the white chocolate and dried cranberries and combine. 4. Divide into 8 large balls (or 12 smaller balls) put on a plate and pop in the freezer for 30 minutes or the fridge for an hour.  5. Preheat your oven to 200/180 fan. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper. Take the cookies out of the freezer and

Bake 12 - #12BakesofChristmas  The big day is nearly here and *in my humble opinion* I've saved the best recipe til last! I hope your presents are wrapped, your Christmas dinner planned and the festive specials you want to watch on TV already highlighted in the Radio Times. I thought for my final bake, I would share a perfect pud for Christmas Day! To be enjoyed whilst watching The Vicar of Dibley or something similarly brilliant. These are Ferrero Rocher inspired Profiteroles. Crispy choux pastry, filled with hazelnut cream, topped with chocolate and a sprinkling of nuts... Heaven!  I also just wanted to say a HUGE thank you. If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know I've never done anything like this before. It was a big undertaking but I have absolutely loved uploading all these bakes! I hope you've enjoyed seeing them and *hopefully* trying them as much as I have enjoyed making them and writing these blog posts! See you in 2021 for lots more baki

Bake 11 - #12BakesofChristmas  This recipe is a bit of a mad invention of mine. I wanted to combine the lovely fruity filling of a traditional Chelsea Bun, with the fun method of Richard Bertinet's Cinnamon Twist Buns. So I had a little play around and found that THIS is the best way to combine the two together! A perfect bake to rustle up or have ready in the freezer to bake fresh on Christmas morning!  Ingredients for the dough: 200ml full fat milk 2 eggs 600g strong bread flour 7g dried yeast 50g caster sugar 2 tsp salt 200g butter, softened  For the filling: 150g butter, softened 250g light soft brown sugar 2 tsp cinnamon zest of 1 orange/lemon 75g dried apricots 75g sultanas For the glaze: Apricot jam Splash of water  Method: 1. To make the dough, put the milk and eggs into the bowl of a food mixer then add the flour. Put the yeast on one side of the bowl. Then put the sugar, salt and butter on the other side. Mix on a slow speed for 4 minutes. Turn it up to a medium speed for

Bake 10 - #12BakesofChristmas  The big day is fast approaching... Father Christmas and his reindeer will be getting ready to make their big journey. If you want some inspiration for what little treat to leave out for them, here's an idea. Inspired by the traditional 'Carrot for the Reindeer,' here are my Carrot Cake Cookie Sandwiches! Ingredients for the cookies: 115g unsalted butter 95g light brown sugar 115g granulated sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract  195g plain flour  1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp cinnamon pinch of salt 55g oats 45g desicated coconut  1 large carrot (roughly 75g) grated  Ingredients for the filling: 115g cream cheese 60g unsalted butter, softened  200g icing sugar  Method: 1. Beat the butter and two sugars together with an electric whisk or standing mixer until light and creamy. Add the egg and the vanilla extract and mix again. 2. Add the flour, bicarb, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and mix again. Add the oats, coconut and

Bake 9 - #12BakesofChristmas  I was on the hunt for some kind of twist on the traditional Christmas Cake for this challenge and my wonderful friend Emily came up trumps with this recipe which her family makes every year. She kindly shared it with me, to share with you so thank you Emily! This recipe, unlike a traditional Christmas Cake, is alcohol free, so perfect for all the family! A great recipe to make as a family as you can lovingly decorate the cakes however you like. I added these little iced decorations I found in Lidl, but you can use whatever you fancy!  Ingredients for the cakes: 175g butter 175g light brown sugar 3 eggs 175g self raising flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp ground mixed spice 115g mixed dried fruit 2 tbsp orange juice Ingredients for the icing: 115g icing sugar 1/2 tbsp hot water Method: 1. Preheat the oven 170.  2. Place the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder and spices into a bowl and beat with an electric whisk until pale and creamy. 3. Fold in the o

  Bake 8 - #12BakesofChristmas  Christmas is going to look a little bit different for all of us this year. But one thing will remain. We will all want to eat and bake our festive favourites. This Yule Log Roulade hybrid would be the perfect dessert to make ahead of time and just defrost on the day. I borrowed and adapted this recipe from good old Mary Berry ! Ingredients: 4 eggs 100g caster sugar  65g self raising flour  40g cocoa powder icing sugar, for dusting 300ml double cream  Method: 1. Preheat your oven to 200/180 fan. Grease and line a baking tray (roughly 23cmx33cm)  2. Whisk the eggs and sugar in a large bowl using an electric whisk or standing mixer until pale, light and creamy. Gently, add the flour and cocoa powder and carefully fold in using a metal spoon until fully incorporated.  3. Pour into the prepared tin and spread evenly into the corners. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until well risen and firm to touch.  4. Place a piece of baking paper on the work surface. Dust the pa

  Bake 7 - #12BakesofChristmas  Now, I know what you're thinking! What makes it "Christmas" Rocky Road? Well, I used Terry's Dark Chocolate Orange and dried cranberries to make this classic recipe more festive! Of course, Rocky Road is wonderfully versatile and can basically be made from anything you've got hanging around in the cupboards.  I would recommend making a batch of this, then wrapping all your presents (writing the labels and everything!) while you wait for these to chill and then enjoy a generous chunk as reward! But not before, or you'll get sticky, chocolatey fingers all over your wrapping paper!   Ingredients: 200g digestive biscuits 135g butter 1 Terry's Dark Chocolate Orange  100g dark chocolate 2 tbsp golden syrup 100g mini marshmallows 100g dried cranberries  Method: 1. Grease and line a 7inch square tin with baking paper. 2. Put the biscuits in a freezer bag and bash with a rolling pin until they are broken into pieces.  3. In a large p

Bake 6- #12BakesofChristmas  I first discovered this recipe a few years ago... A really unusual bake but perfect for this time of year. Absolutely ideal to take as a contribution to your Work Christmas Party! Wow your colleagues with these minty, chocolatey cupcakes! The combination of the light chocolatey cake with the sweet minty topping and frosting make these the perfect Christmas Cupcake!   Ingredients for the cupcakes 140g caster sugar 220g plain flour 45g cocoa powder 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 egg 130ml milk 60ml vegetable oil 1 tsp vanilla extract 120ml boiling water 100g chocolate spread a few drops of peppermint extract For the frosting 85g cream cheese 115g soft butter 350g icing sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla extract a few drops of peppermint extract For the decorations 12 mini candy canes Method 1. To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 200/180 fan. Combine all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. One by one, add the wet ingredients, mixin

Bake 5 - #12BakesofChristmas  If you're looking for the perfect present for a foodie friend then look no further! These traditional Italian biscuits make the perfect gift, just pop them in a jar or a gift bag! Perfect for any friends who are partial to a coffee (these are great dunked!) or wine lovers (these are traditionally served with Vin Santo as a dessert!) Traditionally, they're just made with almonds, but I am obsessed with hazelnuts so added some of them too! If you want to be traditional, use 125g of almonds.  Ingredients: 250g plain flour 165g granulated sugar 1 tbsp honey 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp lemon zest 1/2 tsp almond extract  2 eggs 65g almonds 60g hazelnuts  Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 160 fan.  2. In a bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together.  3. Add the eggs, honey, zest and almond extract and mix all the ingredients.  4. Once the mixture has come together and is crumbly and soft, add the nuts.  5. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Roll

Bake 4 - #12BakesofChristmas  I know! I finally posted a savoury recipe! These pastries, sometimes called Elephant's Ears, are a lovely savoury snack. Great to pop out if you have people coming over or just want to reward yourself after finishing writing that huge stack of Christmas cards!  I had these for the first time when I went to my boyfriend's Mum's for Christmas four years ago and now she makes me a batch every year for Christmas (and for my birthday) because she knows I love them so much! A quick and easy bake for those without a sweet tooth!  They could easily be adapted to be suitable for vegetarians, just add more cheese instead of ham, or maybe some sun dried tomatoes (haven't tried this one yet but sounds like a lovely combination!)  Ingredients: 1 pack all butter puff pastry 1 pack Parma ham (around 5 slices) 1 block of Parmesan cheese  Method 1.Roll out puff pastry in a rectangle shape to about 3-4 mm. 2. Lay slices of Parma ham to cover the rectangle. 

  Bake 3 - #12BakesofChristmas  Happy Saturday! There is nothing better, at this time of year, than a rustic, lovingly made Mince Pies. A festive favourite. They won't look as perfect and uniform as the ones you buy from the supermarket. But I think there's something really charming about a slightly scruffy homemade Mince Pie. I can't think of anything better to do on a cold Saturday afternoon in December than whip up a batch of Mince Pies to enjoy while watching Strictly under a blanket... Heaven!  Ingredients: 200g plain flour 100g butter, cold and cubed pinch of salt  2 tbsp water  mincemeat  splash of milk pinch of caster sugar icing sugar, to decorate  Method: 1. To make the pastry, put the flour in a bowl with the butter and salt and crumble together until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the water and use a palette knife to bring it together in rough dough. (Add as little water as you can to bring it together so it stays nice and short!) 2. Knead (briefly!) into a smoot

Bake 2 - #12BakesofChristmas    As the majority of us will be buying most of our gifts online, these Vegan Millionaire Shortbread would be the perfectly ironically named treat to enjoy while virtually Christmas shopping. My wonderful Yoga teacher Louise shared this recipe with me last Christmas, so thank you Lou!  Ingredients for the base: 150g walnuts or almonds 120g dates 1 1/2 tbsp nut butter (you could use cashew, peanut, almond or hazelnut nut butter) 1 tsp vanilla essence Ingredients for the filling: 70g coconut oil 110g tahini paste 50g maple syrup 1/2 tsp salt flakes Ingredients for the topping: 200g vegan chocolate  Method: 1. Blend all of the base ingredients in a food processor & press into a 20cm square tin lined with baking parchment 2. In a pan, gently melt all of the filling ingredients until combined. Pour on top of the base & place in the fridge. 3. Melt the vegan chocolate. Once it has cooled a little, pour the chocolate on top of the filling. Leave

Bake 1 - #12BakesofChristmas  Welcome to The 12 Bakes of Christmas! Every alternate day in December, I will be posting a festive recipe, perfect for you to make for your friends, your family or yourself.  We are kicking things off today with Bake #1 - Iced Gingerbread Stars! I make these every year without fail.  Whether it's for my colleagues, for my friends, my theatre company or my family. I absolutely love spending time icing all the biscuits and coming up with different designs for each one. Taking the time to lovingly decorate a biscuit and then share it with someone I love... it's just the best! These biscuits would be the perfect snack to enjoy while decorating your Christmas tree! Christmas Music is compulsory whilst decorating!  Ingredients: 350g plain flour 1 tbsp ground ginger  1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp mixed spice pinch of salt 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 175g unsalted butter  150g dark muscovado sugar 4 tbsp/60ml golden syrup royal icing Method: 1. Mix the flour