Tag: Baking

Tuesday Treat

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Orange & Cream Cake

This must be the ultimate orange cake. Not only is the sponge moist and full of fresh orange flavour, but it’s topped with the most delicious citrusy whipped cream. And, the real ‘icing-on-the-cake’ is that it’s naturally gluten-free. What’s not to like?!..

260g ground almonds

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

4 large eggs

120g caster sugar

60ml extra virgin olive oil

Zest of 2 oranges

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice

1 teaspoon pure orange extract

For the topping:

480ml double cream

70g icing sugar

1 teaspoon pure orange extract

Zest of 1 orange (plus more to decorate)

Orange slices to decorate (optional)

*You will need a 20cm round cake tin, greased and base lined with greaseproof paper.

  1. Whisk together the almond flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  2. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs and then whisk in the sugar, oil, orange zest, orange juice and orange extract.
  3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir together until the dry ingredients are incorporated. Be careful not to over mix.
  4. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and use a spatula to spread it out evenly.
  5. Bake in a preheated oven, 180’c fan, for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. The edges of the cake should be golden brown and pulled away from the sides of the tin slightly.
  6. Let cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  7. Meanwhile make the cream topping, add the double cream, icing sugar and orange extract to a bowl and beat together until stiff peaks form.
  8. Once fully whipped, stir in the orange zest.
  9. Top the cooled cake with the whipped cream and decorate with more orange zest and/or fresh orange slices.

Menu Mistress will by away over the next couple of weeks.

I’ll be back with new, delicious recipes at the beginning of June!..

Tuesday Treat

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Espresso, Chocolate & Chilli Cake with Coffee Cream

Chocolate and coffee – say no more!.. Yes, this is a recipe for keeps. The cake is wonderfully moist; it will sink a little as it cools, so don’t expect a pretty-looking cake, however, all is forgiven with your first, delicious bite! Don’t be put off by the mention of chilli, it’s not a spicy cake, the chilli just gives the chocolate flavour more depth. The addition of the coffee cream makes this cake exceptional (you may want to double the quantity of the cream!). Have I sold it to you?!..

3 tablespoons plain flour (gluten-free if required), plus extra for the tin

250g dark chocolate (I use Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate)

250g salted butter, softened and chopped, plus extra for greasing

1 tablespoon instant espresso powder

2 red birds-eye chillies, deseeded and finely chopped

¼ teaspoon chilli powder

6 medium eggs

4 tablespoons brown sugar

175g caster sugar

½ teaspoon cream of tartar

4 tablespoons ground almonds

Cocoa powder to serve

For the Coffee Cream:

300ml double cream

1 tablespoon instant espresso powder

  1. Grease a 22cm springform cake tin with soft butter and line the bottom with baking parchment. Shake a little flour around the buttered edges.
  2. Melt the chocolate and butter together over a pan of simmering water. Once melted, whisk together until smooth and add the espresso powder, chillies and chilli powder.
  3. Whisk the egg yolks with the brown sugar and caster sugar, either in an electric mixer or with an electric hand whisk, for 5-10 mins until thick and pale.
  4. In a separate bowl, using a clean whisk, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until soft rounded peaks form.
  5. Pour the chocolate mixture onto the beaten yolks and sugar, and gently mix until smooth. Add the almonds and flour and mix again. Spoon the egg whites into the chocolate mixture and gently fold together. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake in a preheated oven, 160’c fan, for 40-45 mins until the cake is set but with a slight jiggle in the centre. (If the cake is starting to brown too quickly, cover with a piece of baking parchment.
  6. Leave to cool in the tin – it will sink a little as it cools.
  7. Meanwhile, whisk the cream and espresso powder until soft peaks form.
  8. Remove the cake from the tin, slice and serve with a generous dollop of coffee cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.

Tuesday Treat

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Raspberry & Pomegranate Roulade

Any roulade is a favourite dessert of mine, however, this one is particularly good! The cream filling is cut with Greek yoghurt, in addition there’s the fresh zing from lemon zest and the tartness of raspberries and pomegranate seeds. With added ground almonds, the meringue roulade is slightly more cake-like but still very light. Like all roulades this is best eaten fresh!

4 large egg whites

225g caster sugar

50g ground almonds

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon cornflour

For the filling:

350ml double cream

160g strained full-fat Greek-style yogurt

Finely grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons icing sugar, plus more to dust

100g raspberries

130g pomegranate seeds

For the topping:

1-2 tablespoons shelled, unsalted pistachios, roughly chopped

*You will need a 30x20cm Swiss roll tin, lined with baking parchment (alternatively you could draw a rectangle, 30x20cm, on piece of baking parchment placed on a baking tray).

  1. Place the egg whites in a large bowl and whisk to soft peaks. Slowly add the sugar, whisking in a few tablespoons at a time until it has all been used up and you have stiff, glossy meringue. Gently fold in the almonds lemon juice and cornflour.
  2. Spoon the meringue into the prepared tin and use a spatula to smooth out.
  3. Bake in a preheated oven, 150’c fan, for 30 minutes, until firm on top and slightly golden.
  4. Meanwhile tear off another piece of baking parchment of the same size and lay it on a clean work surface – you’ll need this to roll the meringue when it’s cooked.
  5. Whisk the cream, yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla extract and icing sugar in a bowl to a thick cream. Place half the berries in a bowl and use a fork to mash, to create pools of juice.
  6. When the meringue is cooked, turn it out onto the fresh piece of baking parchment you prepared earlier. Gently peel off the parchment from the base of the meringue and leave to completely cool (this will take about 10 minutes).
  7. When the meringue is cold, spoon the cream over it, reserving a couple of tablespoons for decoration. Sprinkle over most of the pomegranate seeds, reserving 2 spoonfuls for decoration, and scatter over the whole raspberries and crushed berries, swirling the juices with the end of the spoon so that you have bright pink streaks running through it.

Tuesday Treat

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Banana Soufflés with Caramel Sauce (Serves 6)

Oh my, these are good!.. They are soft, fluffy and fruity; a super light dessert which will impress everyone. Soufflés have a reputation for being difficult to make, but believe me when I say that these are super easy. The soufflé mix can be made up to two hours in advance, just keep chilled in the ramekins and bake straight from the fridge. Meanwhile, the caramel sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance; keep chilled and reheat gently to serve.

*It’s important to get the size of the ramekins right to make sure that they rise up – I used ramekins with a 200ml capacity (9cm diameter) and they rose up perfectly.

20g butter, softened for coating the ramekins

100g caster sugar, plus extra for coating

75ml whole milk

2 large eggs, separated

2 tablespoons cornflour

1 large ripe banana, about 100g

1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Icing sugar, for dusting

For the caramel sauce:

20g dark muscovado sugar

1 tablespoon golden syrup

25g butter

150ml double cream

  1. Preheat the oven to 180’c fan and put a baking tray in the oven.
  2. Grease 6 ramekins (see note above) with butter and evenly coat the base and sides with a little sugar.
  3. Heat the milk until it’s just at a simmer then remove from the heat. Using an electric whisk, beat the egg yolks and 50g of the caster sugar together until pale, then whisk in the cornflour. Now, gradually whisk in the warm milk.
  4. Place the banana and vanilla bean paste in a food processor or blender and whizz until very smooth. Stir into the milk mixture.
  5. Using clean beaters, whisk the 2 egg whites until stiff, then gradually add the remaining sugar, whisking until shiny.
  6. Use a metal spoon to fold the banana mixture into the egg whites, a quarter at a time, until blended and mousse-like.
  7. Spoon the mixture into the prepared ramekins. Place on the hot baking tray and bake in the preheated oven, 180’c fan, for 12-15 minutes until risen and golden brown.
  8. Meanwhile, make the caramel sauce. Place the sugar, butter and syrup in a pan and heat gently, stirring, until smooth. Bring to a simmer then stir in the cream and cook gently for a further 2 minutes.
  9. Remove the soufflés from the oven dust with icing sugar and serve immediately with the warm sauce – it’s a good idea to make sure your guests are seated at the table so you can serve them the moment they come out of the oven so that everyone can appreciate them in their full ‘risen’ glory!

Tuesday Treat

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Flourless Sour Cherry and Chocolate Cake

This is the perfect Valentine’s Day treat!.. Growing up in the seventies the ‘Black Forest Gateaux’ was my dream dessert. So when I came across this recipe I couldn’t resist! It’s a modern take on my childhood dream and all the better for it; it’s rich with a gooey middle and there’s a hint of sourness from the cherries. However, because it doesn’t contain flour it has a lightness. You can choose to serve it with crème fraiche or in true ‘Black Forest’ style with a good dollop of whipped cream. Thanks to cookbook writer, Ravneet Gill, for this wonderful recipe.

300g 70% dark chocolate (I use Lindt), broken up

225g unsalted butter

5 eggs, plus 1 yolk

4g sea salt

200g golden caster sugar

200g pitted sour cherries, frozen or jarred

Crème Fraiche or whipped cream to serve

*You will need a 25cm round cake tine, greased and base lined with greaseproof paper.

  1. Melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water – make sure that the water doesn’t touch the bowl. Once melted take off the heat.
  2. In a bowl, beat the eggs (and extra yolk), salt and sugar until the mixture has tripled in volume, then carefully fold in the chocolate mixture, followed by the cherries.
  3. Pour the cake mixture into the prepared tin and bake in a preheated oven, 160’c fan, for 45 minutes or until it has started to set on top.
  4. Leave to cool, then turn out, slice and serve with crème fraiche or a dollop of whipped cream.