Christmas Gifts 2013

I'm a little late with this post but still so excited to use all of the fab gifts I received this Christmas!

My mum brought home the Martha Stewart Silpat that bloggers rave about from her trip to Boston! As well as my favourite chocolate chips- Ghiardelli! I was overjoyed when I saw the Bittersweet variety because, as every Irish baker knows, you can't buy these here!

Here's a mixed lot... A cake pop baking pan with recipes&sticks (I know, not the original cake pop method coined by Angie of Bakerella, but definitely looking forward to trying it!) 

Beneath that is a desk calendar that features a different cupcake recipe every day (I'm not sure how advisable this is for anyone looking to diet... Ha!)

The last Boston present is a set of icing tips which will undoubtedly come in handy during 2014! 

For my birthday my oldest bestie, Ali, gave me this amazing cake stand which has me all a flutter!

Here are the books Santa and co. brought!

I love the Australian Women's Weekly Decorating Cakes book- full of pastel fondant creations, it's drool-inducing! 

Santa also brought Nevin Maguire's latest publication- the savoury pages look just as good as the sweet! 

While Sarah gave me every chocolate lover's dream book from Next.

Although my boyfriend got me dozens of edible goodies (thanks James!), my aunt gave me these unusual gifts! On the right is a set with white, milk and dark hot chocolate mixes- perfect to ward off January blues!

While on the left is a chocolate block flavoured with a cinnamon crunch... I'm thinking of using the latter to enhance some baked goods but still haven't decided what to do with it! Any suggestions are welcome!

Did you get any baking products for Christmas? Let me know in the comments box below!

Stay sweet! x

Áras an Uachtaráin

Apologies for the major hiatus this month. You would think that finishing my Master's thesis (and college altogether) would bring some serenity but every day this month has been jam-packed! I've been to Northern Ireland for a residential camp, I've had job interviews, presented a paper based on my thesis at the International Committee of the Red Cross annual conference, and oh, I just visited the President, as you do... 

Since I was a member of Team Ireland at the First Aid Convention of Europe last summer, I was invited to attend a reception at Áras an Uachtaráin. (This also entailed wearing a not-so-flattering uniform, you've been warned!)

What exactly do you eat at the Áras? Well to start with a mini-pint of Guinness, a glass of wine, or orange juice cleanses the palette before aperitifs. The savoury nibbles were delicately assembled from bruscetta to miniature cones filled with pesto and olives to curry marinaded chicken on skewers. Everything was painstakingly arranged and presented on an artist's easel (very cute!)

I'll be honest, I didn't have many aperitifs- there were desserts to be had!Miniature scones were stuffed with clotted cream and a sheath of raspberry- afternoon tea at it's best!

Wafer-thin vanilla pod speckled shortbread was cut into leaf shapes. Wow! Definitely the best shortbread I have ever tasted!! It was so delicate but packed a serious punch- sublime!

My personal favourite had to be the teeny chocolate cups, piped full of chocoalte mousse, sprinkled with glittered lustre dust. So intricate and decadent!

Obviously tea was had (it is Ireland after all) in pristine fine bone China cups with the Irish Harp gilt on the edge, also emblazoned upon the napkins.

Here's a great shot with my sister and President Michael D. Higgins!

Sunflower Cake

It was my mom's birthday a few weeks ago and instead of the usual buttercream icing and HAPPY BIRTHDAY scrawled with an unsteady hand I wanted to create something a little more special than my previous cakes...
This sunflower cake was the answer! 

It looks complicated but really, it was tedious moreso than difficult. I've broken it down into the different elements below so you can re-create the look yourself.

1. Covering the cake

After crumb coating the cake (covering with a thin layer of buttercream) I allowed it to stand. I then rolled out white fondant and covered the cake.

    2. The Petals

I rolled out yellow fondant and used a large tumbler and a champagne flute to cut a large circle and a smaller one within the first. I removed the smaller circle and using an ordinary table knife cut out the petals freehand. (I'm sure there's an easier way of doing this, but it worked for me!) I did this twice so I would have loads of petals at my disposal.

The petals should be shaped like the image below [which I found on Google Images, credit to owner] so if you have a shaky hand you could use this as a template.

    3. The Stamen (Middle)

For this, I used the tumbler to cut a disc from rolled brown (chocolate flavoured!) fondant. I poked holes in it with a flower tool I had, but a toothpick/cocktail stick would work just as well. This added some texture to the stamen.

   4. The Grass

I rolled some green fondant and cut out a long rectangle. I then cut a zig-zag line down the middle of the rectangle, without cutting through the rectangle outline. I separated these and voila, two strips of grass!

Adhering these pieces was easy, I just dabbed some buttercream onto the cake. I placed all of the petals in a circle (overlapping some to add texture) and placed the stamen in the centre.

To make the cake shine I took a pastry brush and rubbed some vodka over the different elements. As always, I finished the cake by piping "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" with gold piping gel from International Home of Cooking in Brussels.

I hope you enjoyed going behind the scenes in my latest foray into the world of fondant! Apologies for the lack of photos, I was under pressure to produce this! ;) But was it tasty? What do you think?...

Fancy hosting a sunflower-themed party? This fab dessert table will definitely inspire you!

I guess this cake is really a last hurrah of summer. Today for the pulsating All-Ireland Hurling Final I made a lovely Autumn cake that I'll share with you soon... Just in time for the replay! REBELS ABU!!! (For the non-Irish check this out!)

Stay sweet! x

Ory's Oreos

Oh yes, you thought it couldn't get any better than Marshmallow Malteser Cookies? You thought wrong!

These are amazing, much tastier than the real deal! It's always a good sign when the dough tastes amazing raw!

This is super fast to make, and so easy to do! It only takes the bowl in your mixer so there's less washing up to do as well! 

I used a shot glass as a cookie cutter (classy!!) But be warned the yield here is four dozen cookies plus! So if you're not feeling Oreos that much, keep some cookies back and I'll show you what to do with them tomorrow! :)

Let me know what you think of these bad boys! Very messy bad boys it has to be said!

You will need:
Cookies
1 cup Butter (softened)
1 cup Icing Sugar
1 cup Cocoa Powder
11/2 cup Plain Flour
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Buttercream
1 cup Icing Sugar (sieved)
Knob Margarine
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 tbsp Boiling Water

1. Beat butter until fluffy.
2. Add icing sugar and mix until combined.
3. Add vanilla and cocoa powder, mix until combined.
4. Sieve in the flour and mix until combined yet crumbly in texture.
5. Cover with cling film and chill for 20 minutes in the fridge.
6. Line three baking trays with baking parchment.
7. Preheat the oven to 175degrees Celcius.
8. Lightly flour a worktop and rolling pin.
9. Knead the dough twice to loosen up.
10. Roll out to 1/8inch thick.
11. Cut out with cookie cutter/shot glass.
12. Bake in oven for ten minutes (centre will have risen but the edge will be baked, do not judge on colour because these bake the same colour as they are when raw!)
13. Allow to cool while you mix all buttercream ingredients together with a hand mixer.
14. Sandwich together.
15. Enjoy!

If you run out of buttercream, save the cookies! I'll be back tomorrow with another use for them! ;) 

I love this meme! #YOLO
Stay sweet! x

Vanilla Chocolate Swirl Cookies

The Week of Cookies continues, today with an eye-catching cookie that's so impressive looking but only requires minimum effort!

I just finished reading The Great Gatsby, and although I detailed how to host the greatest Gatsby party here, I think these monochrome treats would look fab in a 20's themed party!

I sliced these cookies up using unflavoured dental floss, major trick of the trade! It's quick, pain-free as there's no chance of chopping a finger off, plus you get uniform slices. Just put the dough on top of the floss, drag the two ends of the floss to meet at the top of the log, overlap them and pull! Et voila!

Confession: When I made these cookies I found the chocolate part to be overly bitter, so perhaps using your personal favourite chocolate biscuit recipe would be advisable... I've included this one from Mary Berry's Baking Bible below nonetheless.


You will need:
For the Vanilla Biscuit-
2oz Butter (softened)
1oz Caster Sugar
1oz Cornflour
2oz Plain Flour
1 Small Egg
A few drops Vanilla Extract

For the Chocolate Biscuit-
2oz Butter (softened)
1oz Caster Sugar
1oz Cornflour
2oz Plain Flour
1 Small Egg
1/2oz Cocoa Powder

1. Line 2 baking trays with baking parchment.
2. Mix ingredients for vanilla biscuits in a stand mixture to form a soft dough. Wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30 minutes.
3. Repeat step 2 with ingredients for chocolate biscuits.
4. Flour your worktop and roll out both pieces of dough to oblongs about 10x7inches.
5. Place vanilla dough on top of chocolate dough and roll together to form a kind of sausage shape.
6. Wrap in clingfilm and chill again for 30 minutes.
7. Preheat the oven to 180degrees Celcius. 
8. Using a sharp knife, or tooth floss, cut the roll into about 20 slices and place on baking trays.
9. Bake for 20 minutes until the vanilla is lightly golden.
10. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
11. As my chocolate section was quite bitter I melted some white chocolate in a double boiler and drizzled (well smothered!) over the top, bellissimo!
12. Enjoy!

Let me know what you think of these pretty pinwheels in the comment section below! :)

Stay sweet! x

Easter Treats

I was totally overwhelmed with college work this weekend so I didn't get to make any Easter treats... I haven't even cracked open an Easter egg yet! It's shocking!!

Anyways, in case you're having an Easter party tomorrow, why don't you try a Peter Rabbit themed party?? Check out the show to hear more! 

Let me know in the comments box what you think! :)

Happy Easter everyone!!
Stay sweet! x

After Eight Cupcakes

I love, love, love St. Patrick's Day! It's an excuse to indulge (as if I need any!) and you can be as tacky as you like with decorations and food colouring!

St. Patrick's Day = Green

Green = Mint

Mint + Chocolate = Win!

Although I stayed fairly calm with the flavours here, I used shamrock green cupcake cases which looked so cute and festive! 

Also, a 150g box of After Eights was the perfect size for these cupcakes, no need to buy a big box.

I used a chocolate batter, with a hidden After Eight baked inside, and kept the peppermint flavouring and green colouring for the icing. 

The results were delicious! Just like an After Eight in cupcake form!

Ingredients- Yields 12 Cupcakes

6oz self-raising flour

4oz caster sugar

4oz margarine

3 eggs

2 tablespoons cocoa

12 After Eight Mints

1. Preheat oven to 180degrees Celcius.
2. Line baking tray with cupcake cases (I used cute green polka-dot ones from Sainsburys)
3. Mix all ingredients except for the After Eights until combined.
4. Spoon half of mixture into cake tins.
5. Place a whole After Eight on top of batter in each case.
6. Cover each After Eight with more batter.
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cupcakes are springy to touch (don't try the skewer test here!)
8. Cool on a wire rack.

Icing:

About 1/2 a bag confectioners sugar

3 drops green food colouring

3 drops peppermint essence

2 knobs margarine

2 teaspoons hot water

6 After Eight mints

1. Mix all ingredients, except After Eights until smooth.
2. Add more green colouring or peppermint essence, to taste.
3. Slice mints diagonally.
4. Ice cupcakes, I used a small spatula and worked in a circular motion, picking up the icing from side to side and finishing in a small peak in the centre of the cupcake.
5. Place the After Eight firmly into the cupcake, apex upwards.

Enjoy these beauties with a cup of tea in front of War of the Buttons!  

Let me know what you think of them in the comment box below, honestly, they're probably my favourite thing I've ever baked!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Have a great one and see you back here next week!

Stay sweet! x

Egg and Spoon

Cadbury's Crème Eggs. I can never get over how delicious they are!! I know they're a real love or hate sweet but really, how can anybody resist?? I always dreamt when I was younger about getting an Easter Egg filled with the Crème Egg inside. Thankfully Cadbury's never invented such a creation, and I have not yet delved into a sugar coma. 

Pimp That Snack is an epic website where people even more obsessive than me actually make these giant desserts!!! It's a dangerous website, but soooo worth a troll. Have a look at my favourite, the home-made giant Crème Egg.

Anyways, I've finally accepted the fact that this will probably not become a reality for me, so I turned to a new product... Cadbury's Egg and Spoon!

The chocolate isn't as thick as the Cadbury Crème Egg, but that isn't to say that they aren't as heavy! This was the white chocolate mousse version and wowzers were they filling!! But oh so tasty! I could eat them all day every day! Definitely store them at room temperature because the filling solidifies in the fridge (it'll soften after a few minutes, but who wants to wait that long??)

Creamy, comforting, chocolatey and cute these are fab! You tap off the top of the egg and then dive into the filling! Adorable! I really was pleasantly surprised by them and they'd be great for a girly night or a snack with someone special! 

Be warned they only come with two spoons- encouraging us to be fatties maybe! They also are quite pricey but a few stores are selling them at a special introductory price at the moment so if I were you, I'd scoop some up now while you can! :)

Stay sweet! x

Nutella Cupcakes / Cheat's Lava Cakes

For St. Valentine's day I baked these in heart-shaped moulds and served these beauties hot from the oven, with strawberries, ice-cream and other tasty treats! They looked fab on a platter (made to share!) and even better when matched with little bowls of lovehearts, Hershey's kisses and Haribo hearts.

These heart-shaped moulds from Lidl, at under €4 were perfect for Valentine's baking! 

I greased them as recommended but apparently they will be non-stick hereafter, fingers crossed!

They were so simple to make and oh so delicious! The smell of chocolate from these cakes is almost delirious- treat with care! The soft centre makes these cakes so versatile, if served warm they are the easiest lava cakes but can be eaten cool as cupcakes- it's a win-win situation!

The recipe is from odlums.ie 

Makes approx 12 cupcakes.

Ingredients:

6oz self-raising flour

4oz Caster sugar

4oz Margarine

3 Eggs

2 tbsp Cocoa Powder

1/2 Jar of Nutella

1. Preheat the oven to 190degrees Celcius. 
2. Line cupcake tray with cases.
3. Put all of the ingredients (EXCEPT the Nutella) and beat until smooth.
4. Spoon half of the mixture into the the prepared cases.
5. Place a teaspoon of Nutella into the centre of each case.
6. Cover with a spoon of mixture on top of the Nutella.
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until springy to touch. NB the knife test won't work with this recipe as the centre of the cupcake is supposed to be gooey!
8. Serve immediately as lava cakes or allow cool on a wire rack for cupcakes.

Stay sweet! x

Friday Fave: 3 Ingredient Nutella Cookies- Plus White Chocolate Buttons!

Here are five reasons to bake these cookies.

1. You only need an egg, flour and Nutella- the white buttons are a decadent extra.
2. The take less than 20 minutes to bake.
3. They kick your chocolate craving without having to go out and buy 70% cocoa chocolate.
4. They taste amazing.
5. It's Friday!

 These were fantastic Christmas gifts, and tasted amazing with a glass of milk!


The cookie recipe which consistently cropped up throughout an internet search was brilliant and easy. The white chocolate buttons are not really even necessary but they look so cute, I couldn't resist! Even with this addition there are still hardly any ingredients!

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1 cup Nutella
• 1 cup flour
• 1 packet white chocolate buttons

1. Preheat oven to 180degrees Celcius.
2. Beat together egg, Nutella and flour.
3. When just about combined, add the buttons and mix at a gentle speed.
4. Spoon onto baking parchment-lined baking tray.
5. Bake for 7-8minutes.

For a more uniform cookie, flatten with the bottom of a glass before putting into the oven and bake for 6-8 minutes. However, I like the mountainous look of these, especially if munched during a Lord of The Rings movie night! :)

Stay Sweet! x