Apple Strusel Sponge Cake

Yes, this is the last one from my recent baking batch - pictures aren't that great as the cake didn't last very long. It was just TOO good. It was a vanilla sponge base, with apples on top and a lovely crunchy sweet crumble topping - had with cream this was pretty much my favorite thing in the world. Not too sweet like the rest of the cakes, and honestly by this point in the baking we had to make something 'healthy' because we literally could not face any more chocolate!

Plus, one of your 5 a day - how could it be bad?

Again, apologies for pictures - and the jacket potato in the back ground!

Oh dear.. I think I need to make another!

Recipe to follow!

Sam
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Chocolate and cheesecake brownie tray bake thing!

Yes, another baking blog. This is the 2nd to last one for now so enjoy!

Again, recipe will have to be brought to you at a later date, I've put my book somewhere... clever... and can't find it.

Blog about what I've been up to recently will be up shortly. I promise. It's kind of fun! (In my eyes)

nothing could prepare you for how good this tased. It was chocolate brownie, with cheesecake mixture on top, with chilled chocolate brownie pieces scattered on top... it was fulfilling in every way! God, I need it now!

Sam
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Peanut Butter and Chocolate pie

AKA. The devils pie.

Let me tell you, when we made this we had no idea what we were getting into. The book didn't have a nice display picture so we were baking blind, if you will. I have never baked anything so sweet and bad for you as this pie is... but it was also SO good. The pictures didn't come out the best. I was going to pop a picture of a slice of it on a plate so you could see all the layers etc. but... well.. the slices didn't last long. It was destroyed quickly, what with my lovely siblings only scooping the layers they liked, and not taking full peices! Gotta love em!

The pictures come first so you can see what it is we were dealing with :P
I'll pop the recipe below!

If you're diabetic, look away now!

Quick note - I'll have to post the recipe later... I've misplaced my book! oops!

Sam

Boston Cream Cupcakes!

Yes, that's right. True to my word I actually took pictures of something I baked. And what a treat I made.

I got another Hummingbird bakery book a month or so ago and have been dying to try one of the new recipes. I decided the (almost) first thing I wanted to make were the Boston Cream Cupcakes. I won't bore you with all the details of how I ended up covered in icing sugar and cocoa powder... or how I managed to make about 25 cupcakes with a recipe that stated it made 12-16... What I will do is tell you what the recipe is for these delish vanilla cupcakes, which have a custard filling and chocolate frosting... try not to drool!

Cupcakes:

240g plain flour

280g caster sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

a pinch of salt

80g unsalted butter, at room temperature

240ml milk

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

Method: Just do what I do. Whack it all in a bowl and mix it together with an electric mixer! :P

Custard:

250ml Milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 egg yolks

50g caster sugar

1 tbsp Plain flour

1 tbsp cornflour


Method: boil the milk in a pan with the vanilla. Whisk other ingedients together in a seperate bowl. When the milk has boiled remove from heat, pour a little bit into the mixture in the bowl so that it becomes all runny - then add that mixture into the pan of mix and boil again for about a minute. You'll be able to tell when it's done because it will turn thick, like custard! Next, put it in a bowl and cover with clingfilm, leaving it until its cooled.


Frosting:

400g Icing sugar

100g cocoa powder

160g Unsalted butter

80ml Milk

Method: mix the icing sugar, cocoa powder and butter in a bowl, when its all breadcrumby, and sandy texturised gradually add the milk. IMPORTANT NOTE: this made A LOT of mixture.


After you've done it all - and the cupcakes have totally cooled - you get to start the fun bit!


You cut some holes in the tops of the cakes, scoop some custard into them, trim the top which you cut out so it fits back on and squidge it down (see pictures below for help!) - then you whack some of the amazing chocolate icing on and voila! Boston cream cupcakes!


Perfect for any occassion - I found they went very well with a movie (scarface) an a cup of coffee!

Pictures for all below: