Category: Baking

Baking

Oliver’s parsnip and maple syrup cake

Belinda

This is the most moist and delicious cake that my son Oliver regularly makes. All those who try it prefer it to carrot cake.

175g butter, plus extra for greasing
250g demerara sugar
100ml maple syrup
3 large eggs + 1 large egg yolk
250g self-raising flour
2 tsp baking powder (make sure it hasn’t expired)
2 tsp mixed spice (this is an English mix, so if you can’t find it see recipe below)
250g parsnips, peeled and grated
1 medium eating apple, peeled, cored and grated
50g pecans, roughly chopped
zest and juice 1 small orange
For the filling and topping
500g tub mascarpone
7-8 tbsp maple syrup
75 – 100 grams toasted chopped pecans for the topping

STEP 1
Heat oven to 350F/180C/160C fan/gas 4.
Grease 2 x 8″/20cm loose bottom cake pans and line the bases with baking parchment.
Melt butter, sugar and maple syrup in a pan over gentle heat, then cool slightly. Whisk the eggs into this mixture, then stir in the flour, baking powder and mixed spice, followed by the grated parsnip, apple, chopped pecans, orange zest and juice. Divide between the pans, then bake for 30- 40 mins until the tops start to spring back a little when pressed lightly. Sometimes it takes a little longer, like 45 mins.This cake doesn’t rise like a sponge, so don’t panic.

STEP 2
Cool the cakes slightly in the tins before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.
Just before serving, mix together the mascarpone and maple syrup. Spread over one cake and sandwich with the other. Spread the rest on the top and sprinkle the toasted chopped pecans over the icing.

Mixed Spice

1 Tbsp ground allspice
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground mace
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground Ginger

Blend all spices together, and store in a sealed jar away from light.

Baking · Breakfast · Dessert · Do-ahead · Holiday Food

Gold rush coffee cake

Belinda

Recipe from Ruth McKeaney’s lovely book, “Hungry for Home”

In Ruth’s words
“I make this coffee cake for every holiday and shower. It is adapted from Panera’s Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake recipe by Maris Callahan and is so good that my kids have asked for it in lieu of a birthday cake! So… what makes it such a standout?First off, it’s gorgeous. The streusel runs right through the middle. When you take a bite, you’ll think you’ve struck a vein of sweet, buttery, golden goodness. Secondly, it might be the most moist coffee cake I’ve ever had. This cake is not difficult on the baking scale and uses everyday ingredients you probably already have on hand. What’s more, it lasts on the counter for a few days (well… not in my house) and serves as a beautiful gift if you want to make something special for someone you love. Serve with strong coffee. And if you’re feeling extra decadent, dollop with thick homemade whipped cream.”

MIX YOUR STREUSEL

1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup lt. brown sugar, lightly packed 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Stir in the melted butter and then the flour. Mix well and set aside.

PREPARE YOUR BATTER

12 (1 1⁄2 sticks) tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1⁄2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups sour cream
2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9-inch round bundt pan.

Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer on high-speed for 4 to 5 minutes, until light.
Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs, one at a time. Then slowly add the vanilla and sour cream.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Slowly add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined.
Mix with a spatula to be sure the batter is completely mixed.
Spoon half of the batter into the prepared bundt pan and spread it out with a knife.
With your fingers, crumble half of the topping evenly over the batter.
Pour in the remainder of the batter and crumble the remaining half of the streusel topping on top. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean.
Cool completely before serving.

Baking · Holiday Food

Treacle spiced traybake

Belinda

This is such a wonderful Mary Berry classic recipe, especially good at Christmas as it fills the house with the smell of Christmas spices.
Don’t be too worried if the traybake dips in the centre – it means you were a little generous with the treacle.

MAKES 15–20 SLICES

225g (8 oz) butter, softened
175g (6 oz) caster sugar
225g (8 oz) black treacle
300g (11 oz) self-raising flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground mixed spice
1 teaspoon ground allspice
4 eggs
4 tablespoons milk
3 bulbs stem ginger from a jar, finely chopped

ICING
75g (3 oz) icing sugar, sifted
about 2 tbsp stem ginger syrup from the jar
2 bulbs stem ginger, finely chopped

Preheat the oven to 350F/180ºC. Line a small roasting tin about 30 × 23cm (12 × 9 in) with foil and grease well.

Measure all the ingredients for the cake into a large bowl and beat well for about 2 minutes until well blended. Pour into the prepared tin.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool a little. Lift cake in foil case out of the tin to cool completely.

To make the icing, mix together the icing sugar and syrup. Pour over the cake while still warm, and sprinkle with the chopped stem ginger. If preferred, dust with sifted icing sugar.

PREPARING AHEAD – Make up to 2 days ahead, and ice on the day. If you want to freeze, leave whole, un-iced, wrap in foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw for about 6 hours at room temperature, then ice and cut into 15–20 squares.

Accompaniments · Baking · Do-ahead · Holiday Food

The best cornbread casserole out there

Belinda

I found this recipe while watching a YouTube video of Hillside Farm in Pennsylvania, home of Ruth McKeaney. Oh my, what an idyllic home and garden. Her recipes and laid back approach to entertaining are wonderful.
This recipe produces the lightest, most delicious and moist cornbread I have ever had. Also, I prepped this the day before and put it in the fridge overnight before baking it.

“I like it a little sweet and very moist. You’ll never have to eat dry, crumbly cornbread again after making this recipe. For added deliciousness, I melt half a stick of butter and drizzle it over the freshly baked bread. Serve with ribs, chili, or pulled pork. For my family and friends, a BBQ is not the same without it.”

4 cups Bisquick
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp baking powder
2 cups whole milk
4 large eggs
2 sticks melted butter, plus another 3/4 stick melted butter for drizzling over top.

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Thoroughly mix the Bisquick, cornmeal, sugar, and baking powder together.
Add in the milk, eggs, and butter and stir to combine.
Pour into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan.
Bake for 40 minutes until golden brown.
Drizzle remaining melted butter over top.

PRO-TIP:
For added sweetness, mix honey into the drizzling butter.

Baking · Dessert · Do-ahead · Egg based

Betty Crocker baked custards

Belinda

These smooth and creamy custards are delicious and easy. I prefer to serve them cold and they’re great to make ahead, served with some stewed fruit.

3 large eggs, slightly beaten
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 – 1 tsp good quality vanilla extract
Dash of salt
2 1/2 cups very warm milk (120°F to 130°F)
Ground fresh nutmeg

Heat oven to 350°F.
In medium bowl, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt with wire whisk or fork. Gradually stir in milk. Pour into six 6-oz custard cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg.
Place cups in 13 x 9-inch pan on oven rack. Pour very hot water into pan to within 1/2 inch of tops of cups.
Bake about 45 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Remove cups from water.
Cool about 30 minutes. Unmold and serve warm, or (as I prefer) refrigerate and unmold before serving.
Store covered in refrigerator.

It’s lovely serving these with some stewed fruit.

Accompaniments · Baking · Do-ahead

Parmesan, rosemary shortbread

Belinda

Recipe by Rachel Conners

Total time: 30 MINUTES
Yield: 30 ROUNDS 1X
These Parmesan Rosemary Shortbread Rounds are quick and simple slice-n-bake crackers. Tender, buttery, and flavored with Parmesan cheese and fresh rosemary.

1¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (about 2½ ounces)
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1 small garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled (cut into ½-inch cubes)

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix flour, ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic, and rosemary in a food processor.
Add butter and pulse until dough begins to come together. Add milk and pulse until it forms a dough.
Remove from food processor and gather the dough into a ball. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a 12-inch log, wrap with plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour.
Once chilled, slice each log into thin rounds and transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment or a Silpat. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese over the rounds.
Bake shortbread rounds until tops are dry and bottoms are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer shortbread rounds to rack and cool completely.

Baking · Dessert

Persian-style Baklava

Belinda

Recipe from Food Blogger “The Delicious Crescent”
This Baklava is heavenly! It features flaky layers of pastry with toasted nuts, soaked in juicy syrup and infused with fragrant aromas of rose water, cardamom, and ghee. It’s not overly sweet and has a unique flavor. I’ll be sharing two ways to make it (quick method in notes).

Pastry
16 oz phyllo dough thawed, follow package instructions
12 oz ghee or clarified butter, unsalted, see notes
Filling
10 oz walnuts finely chopped, 300g
10 oz almonds pistachios or combination, finely chopped, 300g
¼ cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cardamom freshly ground from seeds
Syrup
1½ cups sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons rosewater

Thaw and Prepare the Phyllo Dough
To thaw phyllo dough, follow the package instructions. I thaw it overnight in the fridge, then leave it on the counter for 2 hours to reach room temperature.
My phyllo dough had 28 sheets that measured 17 x 12, which can fit a 17 x 12-inch baking sheet or be trimmed to fit. If using 9 x 14 sheets, just make more layers in a 9 x 13-inch pan, and avoid using deep baking dishes.
Make Sugar Honey Syrup
Combine sugar, water, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Stir until the sugar dissolves and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add honey and continue to simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
Remove from heat, add rose water, and allow to cool to room temperature. The consistency of cooled syrup should be between that of honey and maple syrup.
Prepare the Nut Mixture
Pulse walnuts a few times in a food processor until finely chopped. Repeat with almonds. Chop larger pieces by hand.
In a mixing bowl, combine finely chopped nuts with sugar and ground cardamom.
Pre-Assembly
Keep the ghee/butter melted at all times, and warm it up gently if it thickens.
Unroll the phyllo dough and place the stack of sheets between two kitchen towels.
We will layer baklava in the following order: 10 sheets at the bottom, ½ of the nut mixture, 6 sheets in the middle, ½ of the nut mixture, and 12 sheets on top.
Assemble the Baklava
Preheat oven at 350°F.
Brush the bottom and sides of the baking sheet with ghee. Place one phyllo sheet in the pan and brush with ghee evenly. Repeat this process with 9 more phyllo sheets, brushing each layer with ghee.
Spread half of the nut filling evenly over the phyllo sheets.
Add 6 more phyllo sheets, gently pressing down each sheet and then brushing with ghee.
Spread the remaining nut mixture evenly on the phyllo dough.
Place the remaining 12 phyllo sheets, gently pressing down each sheet and then brushing with ghee.
Using a sharp knife, cut the pastry into 2″ strips, and then cut across diagonally to create diamonds shapes. Drizzle any extra ghee on top.
Bake and Serve
Bake the baklava in center of the oven at 350°F for 20 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 325°F and bake for another 40 minutes or until golden brown on top.
Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Pour syrup evenly over the baklava (both at room temp), and let it soak overnight for a pastry that stays crisp and flaky for weeks.

Tip: Alternatively, you can pour cooled syrup over warm baklava or warm syrup over cooled baklava, but the pastry may be softer.
Garnish the baklava with finely chopped or ground pistachios and cut through the layers once again before serving.

Make Ahead: Prepare the nut filling, ghee and syrup up to 4 days ahead. Keep phyllo dough in refrigerator up to a week in advance. Assemble the baklava and refrigerate or freeze before baking. Thaw the pastry to room temperature before baking.
Storage: Keep at room temperature for up to two weeks, lightly covered with a tea towel or a lid placed ajar. It can be refrigerated, but it will harden a bit. The baklava can also be frozen for up to two months.

Baking · Breakfast · Egg based

King Charles’ coronation quiche

Belinda

Want to make what King Charles is having for lunch on the big day?


A deep quiche with a crisp, light pastry case and delicate flavors of Spinach, broad beans and fresh tarragon. Eat hot or cold with a green salad and boiled new potatoes – perfect for a Coronation Big Lunch!

1 x  20cm (8″) Flan Tin

Serves 6

125g plain flour
Pinch of salt
25g cold butter, diced
25g lard
2 tablespoons milk
Or 1 x 250g block of ready-made shortcrust pastry

Filling

125ml milk
175ml double cream
2 medium eggs
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon,
Salt and pepper
100g grated cheddar cheese,
180g cooked spinach, lightly chopped
60g cooked broad beans or soya beans

To make the pastry…
Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl; add the fats and rub the mixture together using your finger tips until you get a sandy, breadcrumb like texture.
Add the milk a little at a time and bring the ingredients together into a dough.
Cover and allow to rest in the fridge for 30-45 minutes
Lightly flour the work surface and roll out the pastry to a circle a little larger than the top of the tin and approximately 5mm thick.
Line the tin with the pastry, taking care not to have any holes or the mixture could leak. Cover and rest for a further 30 minutes in the fridge.

Preheat the oven to 190°C.

Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper, add baking beans and bake blind for 15 minutes, before removing the greaseproof paper and baking beans.
Reduce the oven temperature to 160°C.
Beat together the milk, cream, eggs, herbs and seasoning.
Scatter 1/2 of the grated cheese in the blind-baked base, top with the chopped spinach and beans and herbs, then pour over the liquid mixture.
If required gently give the mixture a delicate stir to ensure the filling is evenly dispersed but be careful not to damage the pastry case.
Sprinkle over the remaining cheese. Place into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until set and lightly golden.

Baking

The best scones

Belinda

Recipe c/o recipe blog, “Sugar Spun Run”

2 cups all-purpose flour (250g)
¼ cup granulated sugar (50g)
2 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup very cold unsalted butter I like to place my butter in the freezer 15 minutes before beginning to ensure it is cold (113g)
½ cup heavy cream (120ml)
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup your favorite add-ins optional: frozen berries, chocolate chips, nuts, etc.
Additional heavy cream for brushing over scones optional
Additional sugar for sprinkling over scones optional

Preheat your oven to 375F (190C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the basin of a food processor and pulse to combine.
Cut butter into Tablespoon-sized pieces and scatter over flour mixture, pulse until butter is cut up into the flour mixture and butter pieces are no longer visible.
Combine the heavy cream and vanilla extract in a measuring cup and pour heavy cream over your flour mixture.
Pulse until dough begins to clump together.
Scone dough in food processor
Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and (handling lightly, as you don’t want to over-work this dough) add any add-ins at this point, gently working them into the dough. Fold the dough in half over itself and use your hands to gently flatten layers together. Rotate the dough 90 degrees and fold in half again, repeating this step 5 times and taking care to not overwork the dough.
Form the dough into a smooth disk about 1″ thick by 6″ round.
Cut the disk into 8 wedges, pressing the knife straight down with each cut.
Scone dough shaped into disc, cut into 8 pieces
Transfer wedges to prepared baking sheet and place about 2″ apart. Brush lightly with heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar.
Bake on 375F (190C) for 14-16 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn golden brown. Don’t over-bake your scones or they will be dry and tough.
Allow scones to cool on baking sheet before serving and enjoying.

Food Processor
If you don’t have a food processor you can make the scones by whisking together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with either a pastry cutter, box grater, or pair of knives. Whisk together heavy cream and vanilla and pour over and stir until well-combined. The dough will be very dry but will come together with some effort. If absolutely necessary you can add a bit more cream, a splash at a time.
Storing
Scones are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. See the FAQ section in the post for instructions on freezing scones (before or after baking).
How to Make Lemon Scones
Add 1 Tbsp of fresh lemon zest into the scone batter with the butter
Once scones have cooled, dip in a simple glaze made of 1 ¼ cup (160g) powdered sugar, 1 ½ Tablespoons (20ml) lemon juice, 1 ½ teaspoons of water, and ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Baking · Chocolate · Dessert · Gluten Free · Holiday Food

Flourless chocolate, prune and Armagnac cake

Belinda

Recipe c/o the wonderful, fail-safe Delia Smith

For the cakes:

6 large eggs, separated
150g golden caster sugar
50g cocoa powder, sifted

For the filling:
400g pitted prunes, soaked overnight (or longer if possible) in 120ml Armagnac
1 level tablespoon crème fraîche

To finish:
150g dark chocolate (75 per cent cocoa solids), broken into pieces
1 level tablespoon crème fraîche

Pre-heat the oven to 350F/ 180°C. Grease 2 x 8″ (20cm) loose-based sandwich tins, 1.5″ (4cm) deep and line the bases with baking parchment.

Place the egg whites in a large, clean, grease-free bowl. Put the yolks in another bowl, along with the sugar, and whisk them until they just begin to turn pale and thicken – be careful not to thicken them too much; they need approximately 3 minutes’ whisking. After that, gently fold in the sifted cocoa powder.

With a clean whisk, beat the egg whites until stiff but not too dry. Using a metal spoon, fold a heaped tablespoon of the egg white into the chocolate mixture to loosen it up a little, then carefully and gently fold in the rest of the egg white, slowly and patiently trying not to lose any air.

Divide the mixture equally between the prepared sandwich tins and bake near the centre of the oven for 15 minutes. They won’t appear to be cooked exactly, just set and slightly puffy and springy in the centre, so when they’re taken out of the oven they will shrink (but that’s normal, so don’t panic). Leave the cakes to cool on a rack in their tins, then slide a palette knife around the edges, gently invert them on to a board and carefully strip off the base papers.

To make the filling for the cake, first of all set aside 10-12 of the largest prunes, then place the rest, plus any remaining soaking liquid, in a food processor, along with the crème fraîche, and whiz to a purée.

Place one of the cakes onto a serving plate and transfer the purée straight from the processor on to one half of the cake, then spread the purée out carefully and place the other half of the cake on top.

For the chocolate topping, place the broken-up pieces of chocolate in a large heatproof bowl, which should be sitting over a saucepan of barely simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Keeping the heat at its lowest, allow the chocolate to melt slowly – it should take about 5 minutes to become smooth and glossy. Then remove it from the heat and give it a good stir, then let the chocolate cool for 2-3 minutes.

Take each one of the reserved prunes and dip it into the melted chocolate so that half of each one gets covered. As you do this place them on a sheet of parchment paper to set. When all the prunes are done, stir the crème fraîche into the chocolate, then use this mixture to cover the surface of the cake.

Spread it over carefully with a palette knife, making ridges with the knife as you go. Decorate the cake with the chocolate prunes. Cover the whole thing with an upturned, suitably sized bowl or cake dome, and keep it in the fridge until about an hour before you need it.

NOTES:

Because the cake is flourless, it is good for coeliac guests, but apart from that it has a wonderful texture – not so much cakey as almost mousse-y. The Armagnac-soaked prunes mean that the cake is never too sweet and has a very definite grown-up feel to it, and it does look spectacular when it arrives at the table. I don’t think it needs to be served with anything, but if you insist, I would serve it with a little creme fraiche.