My love of baking is legendary but what you may not know about me is that I love politics. Before you click ‘unfollow’, hear me out: I’m not going to share my politics with you, nor bore you with stats. I just find elections exciting and the democratic process fascinating. Plus there’s always a cake stall for which I undertake a marathon baking effort. Continue reading
Hands up if you love coconut and chocolate together? It is one of my very favourite sweet combinations – always has been. I love the contrast of the crunch of coconut with the lux mouthfeel of dark chocolate. Continue reading
This is such a speedy, easy and fun recipe that you have no excuse for not making it this Australia Day!
Many Australians mark Australia Day with a barbecue at a friend’s house, a picnic, or a day at the beach. These easy inside out lamington cupcakes would be a hit at any Oz Day celebration. Staying home for a quiet one? A batch of these cupcakes would be the perfect companion! Continue reading
Everyone loves a cute cupcake and Christmas is the best time to get all ‘squee’ with your baking.
I have been baking for friends, family and neighbours as long as I can remember and these mini Rudolph mini cupcakes are always a hit.
This year Misses 8 and 10 took over baking and decorating duties for the neighbours as I attended to last minute Christmas duties. They were gratefully received by everyone, and after delivering them the gals came home clutching a giant box of chocolates
And aren’t the tins adorable? My friend from work, Stephen, frequents op shops and always stocks up tins for me. I use them to package up baked goods.
These cakes best made on the day of serving, or you can bake then freeze the uniced cakes. Bring to room temperature before decorating.
GATHER:
1 cup self-raising flour
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup marsala
125g melted, cooled butter
2 heaped tablespoons sifted cocoa
2 eggs
red M&Ms
choc bits
coloured M&Ms or choc drops for eyes
pretzels, broken in half, for antlers
LET’S DO IT:
Line 2 mini muffin tins with mini muffin wrappers, pre-heat oven to 175C.
Add all ingredients into bowl of an electric mixer and mix on low speed until combined. Increase speed to high and beat for three minutes.
Spoon into wrappers, bake for 15-ish minutes/until a skewer instead comes out clean.
Place on wire rack. When totally cool ice with ganache {RECIPE BELOW}.
CHOCOLATE GANACHE:
In a small saucepan over low heat melt 125g dark chocolate [broken into chunks] with 1/2 cup cream. Stir until melted, thick and glossy. Allow to stand 15 minutes until thick. Use knife to spread over cakes. Decorate the cupcakes to resemble reindeers.
I know what you’re thinking – red wine IN chocolate cake? Red wine while eating chocolate cake – sure. Red wine while cooking cake, of course. But red wine IN chocolate cake? Trust me… red wine chocolate cake is amazing! Continue reading
Up until a year ago I could take or leave chai. As a coffee lover I often don’t have time for tea. But after discovering some amazing chai tea leaves, rather than the awful powdery stuff favoured by some cafes, I am a chai convert.
Another reason for my love of chai: it melds so well with butter, sugar and flour. It is the perfect pairing for many baked goods, as it adds a lovely depth and flavour. Need proof / inspiration?
Here’s my chai tea sultana cake: https://thehungrymum.com/2015/10/07/chai-tea-sultana-cake/
And my chai tea bundt cake recipe: https://thehungrymum.com/2015/08/30/chai-bundt-cake-from-scratch/
I recently had the idea of mixing chai with chocolate and my recipe for chocolate chip chai cookies was born. The tea leaves and the dark chocolate are just made for one another, and the ginger creates a warmth that you will love.
Miss9 took over the making of these bickies! They are large and rustic – next time I would probably make them a bit smaller. Either way, these choc chip chai cookies taste amazing.
I was inspired by a recipe from the Australian Women’s Weekly called basic vanilla biscuits.
GATHER:
200 grams unsalted butter, diced, at room temperature
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup icing sugar, sifted
1 egg
½ cup dark chocolate chips
1 ¾ cups plain flour
½ teaspoon bicarb soda
2 teaspoons chai tea leaves
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon cinnamon
LET’S GET TO IT:
Preheat oven to 170C and grease and line a baking sheet with non-stick paper.
In bowl of electric mixer beat the sugar, butter, egg and vanilla together until creamy and smooth.
Stir in flour, bicarb, cinnamon, ginger and chai leaves and mix until combined. Using a silver spoon mix in the chocolate chips until just combined.
Roll into balls, place on tray and gently flatten.
Bake for 11-14 minutes, depending on size of your bickie. Cool on trays for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
I had such an urge to bake a chocolate bundt cake this morning. I was planning to bake shortbread but some invisible force was telling me to create a cake with chocolate and rum that I thought – who am I to argue with the Jedi-minefield that is permeating my kitchen? Continue reading
For reasons yet to be fully understood I recently bought a huge packet of pretzels at the supermarket. I’m not a fan of pretzels at all so just chalk this purchase up to momentary madness. I don’t even think they were on sale. Every time I open the pantry they wink at me, taunt me, as if to say – now what? Continue reading
Sometimes you want to bake something technical, intricate and delicate. Other times you want something you can throw together with pantry staples in mere moments. Or your sugar craving needs to be address – stat. Or a child comes home with an until-this-moment forgotten about request for something sweet as a friend is coming over for a play. This is the recipe for you.
This easy to bake Nutella coconut bars / slice/ squares recipe is so delicious – the crunch of the base contrasts so well with the lush chocolate filling. Make these and try and stop at just one piece!
GATHER:
125 grams butter, at room temperature, diced
100 grams brown sugar
1 teaspoon best vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups self-raising flour
½ cup Nutella
topping:
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups desiccated coconut
1/3 cup caster sugar
LET’S GET TO IT:
Preheat oven to 180C.
Grease and line a rectangular slice pan, allowing a 3cm overhang of paper.
In bowl of electric mixer beat sugar, butter and vanilla until pale, then using a spoon stir in flour.
Scrape into pan, distributing evenly, and cook for 12 minutes or until lightly golden. Set aside until completely cool.
Meanwhile, mix all the topping ingredients together in a small bowl.
Spread Nutella over cold base, sprinkle over topping – ensure it is even.
Return to oven and cook for 20 minutes.
Leave in pan until cold, then cut into squares to serve.
Many moons ago, in another life, I used to eat a chocolate chip muffin every day for breakfast. I commuted from one side of Sydney to the other and at the train station at my destination there was a muffin shop. I would alight, grab a behmouth of a choc chip muffin that probably had 10 gazillion calories and eat it on the walk to work.
It wasn’t until I started baking that I realised muffins weren’t supposed to be the size of a toddler’s head. Also, muffins are about a healthy a breakfast as birthday cake. Continue reading
the hungry mum 