Slow Cooker Chocolate and Hazlenut Cake by Scarlett Age 5

Our first dessert in the slow cooker.  It called for a 5L which I guess not everyone has, but if you do it was wicked, and lasted from Sunday through to the following Saturday.


Ingredients

250g plain flour
250g caster sugar
1 tbs baking powder
50g cocoa powder
500ml milk
180g melted butter
4 eggs lightly beaten
150g chopped dark chocolate
75g chopped hazelnuts

Topping

200g brown sugar
30g cocoa powder
400ml hot water

Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, cocoa powder and a pinch of salt into a bowl.   Add milk, butter and eggs and stir until smooth.  Fold the chocolate and hazlenuts through, then pour the mixture into the slow cooker.

Combine the topping ingredients in a bowl then sprinkle over the pudding mixture.  Pour 400ml hot water over the top.  It looked a mess, but it's self saucing and ended up being fab.  Cook on high for around 2hrs.

Serve with ice-cream.


Enjoy!
Annie x

Simnel Cakes Recipe - Easter Baking with the little ones :)

When I met @mydaddycooks on his Radio Show on BBC 3 Counties, he showed us his recipe for these Simnel Cakes, so I thought I'd give them a whirl with Jasper and Scarlett.

Having looked up the tradition, if you make a whole cake you are supposed to put 11 marzipan balls around the outside, to represent the disciples, with Judas having been removed.  Often Jesus is represented by a marzipan ball in the middle.   

These are similar but as individual muffins.  The recipe makes 10-12 Irrespective of the religious element of course, they are simply delicious, like a fruity spicy cake with an almond surprise :)

Ingredients:
100g Butter
100g Caster Sugar
2 eggs
150g Plain Flour
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp grated Nutmeg
250g Chopped Dried Mixed Fruit (I used tropical)
Finely grated zest of half a lemon
100g marzipan rolled into 12 large balls


Method:
Preheat Oven to 180C/350F
In a food mixer or bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and lemon zest, until it is light and fluffy.
Add the two eggs.
Mix in the flour and spices.
Add the fruit.
Grease your muffin in if using, I used my silicone muffin cases, and spoon mixture in.
Sink a marzipan ball into each cake, making sure it is covered in mixture.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, but keep an eye that the cakes do not overcook on top!
Take the muffins out of the tin as soon as they come out of the oven.
Leave them to cool before eating (though mine simply couldn't wait of course)!

 


Enjoy, and thanks again to Nick Coffer for sharing :)


Annie x

PTA Cake Sale, Good Old Fashioned Fairy Cakes

When Jasper was in Reception, I encountered my first Cake Sale for the school, the idea being that mummies made cakes to be sold after school, with proceeds going to the PTA.  Fab idea.
I trawled through my cookbooks and decided I try my hand at millionnaires shortbread.  I bought all the ingredients and spent hours lovingly making said fayre.  I happily handed over the cakes next morning.

After school however I watched in horror as the cakes were sold for around 20p each, and all the kids were fighting over fairy cakes and gingerbread shapes.  I slunk away as mine were still milling around at the end.   Big hmmmmf!

No longer the rooky, with Jasper in Year 2, we have another Cake Sale today, so last night we knocked up some wicked fairy cakes :)

Ingredients:                                                                  Icing (optional)
100g (4oz) softened margarine                                      175g (6oz) icing sugar
100g (4oz) caster sugar                                                2 tbs warm water
2 eggs                                                                         sweets to decorate?
100g (4oz) self-raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
18 paper cake cases

Preheat oven to 200c/400f/Gas 6.
Place 18 paper cases in a bun tins or on a baking tray.
Put all ingredients in a bowl and beat well until thoroughly blended and smooth.
Half fill each paper case with the mixture.

Bake them in the pre-heated oven for about 18 minutes, until well risen and firm to the touch.
Put them on a wire rack to cool.

We iced ours and topped them with sprinkles, I have a happy Jasper this morning, who of course had to try one after breakfast, just to be sure ;)

The finished article

Go on, whip some up with the kids today, it's Friday after all, they'll love them :)

Enjoy x