Chocolate & Banana Cake

When I really got into big celebration cakes a few weeks back I offered to make a cake for a birthday my brother was attending. I needed an excuse to practise without having the need to eat any hahaha! I surprised myself with how this cake turned out. Very proud moment, although I think the rose does need a little more colour!

Since this was an 18th birthday cake, I spiked the buttercream with a little Baileys. But the recipe below is without. Just add enough to your own taste, because who doesn't love a bit of birthday Baileys!

Baileys And Nutella, Surprise Cake

I thought I'd do something nice for a friend, since I was working late on last weeks game. Grandslam! And I had no way of getting home, she kindly let me crash with her for the evening. (Did anyone else see the chaos that was a celebrating Cardiff city? It was brilliant and hectic!) Since her birthday was coming up and no one would be around due to Easter recess, I planned a little surprise for her and baked my first 2 tier cake. Proud moment. Haha. 

Red Velvet Cake

When I first tried red velvet I fell in love, it was so moist and just had a different taste that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Turns out it was buttermilk, which on its own taste like the midpoint of milk and  yoghurt. Which really isn't very nice, but in the cake itself it works a treat. When making this cake I completely forgot that I put a very light and fluffy Swiss Meringue dirty ice on. So when I stuck my royal icing on top... well it just did not work. It ripped and started to dent and pimple. Ooops.

Kinder Bueno Cupcakes

We've moved! Still crazy recipes, indulgent cakes at Spinach and Specs :) 

I love love love Kinder Bueno's and I've been meaning to try this for ages! It's so creamy and reminds me of being younger with the kinder eggs and playing with the toys. I wanted to capture this so I hid a few little toys in the cupcakes too... well I wish I had but no they aren't that cool. :( Oh well! I think if your going to do this, be prepared to fill your kitchen with hundreds of Bueno bars because its so hard to get that flavour just right! If you like the mix of white and milk chocolate with a hint of hazelnut that's the recipe I have here! But if you really want the proper full flavour, you'll need to use a lot more crushed bars than me.. I'm going to try again. You haven't defeated me yet Mr Bueno.

Birmingham Bloggers Meet Up!

A few months back I was invited to meet up with a few beauty bloggers and some from other niches. I didn't know what to expect! I'd never been before, but from this alone I will never turn down another meet up. It's great to speak to other bloggers, especially since a lot of them were still in or leaving uni and around my age! I was very nervous initially, but as soon as I was on the train it all went away and I was just left with pure excitement. 

Gemma from button's blog put on the most incredible day, from shopping to free cocktails to a gorgeous meal. She was so stressed and worried we wouldn't make it from all the snow, but there was no way I was going to miss a free cocktail. I mean, come on! I love cocktails! 2 hours later, I arrived at New Street, grabbed a hot choc and we all got chatting. With the help of Clare from a teenie bit of this and that  and Sara from Pretty In Pink I think it was a great success!

After our coco, since it was freezing and I had to ignore fashion for once and stick some wellingtons on, we headed out shopping around the Pallasades and the Bullring. Unfortunately I have nothing to show you as I didn't buy anything! But I got convinced to put another hole in my person, I've wanted my tragus pierced for ages, now it's done and I love my new baby! From this to the free cocktails I mentioned ;) Wow. They were strong, I had two and I was nearly off my chair. But nevertheless they were delicious and refreshing, perfect afternoon tipple from Rodizio Rico. 

Click to enlarge.

Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes

I stumbled upon a lovely food blog and found an amazing ferrero rocher recipe. How could I not make these? They looked amazing with the gold wrapping and hazel nut topping. I couldn't find any of the gold cases and being my impatient self could not wait to look around and find them. So a quick pop to ASDA after university and picked up a few key ingredients... Nutella. Bloody delicious chocolate spread as I couldn't find any hazelnut syrup. They are relatively easy to make, the only complicated part if you are new to baking is the ganache. These are extremely indulgent but worth the calories, they are freaking delicious! My new favourite version of cookies and milk.

Original Recipe

Recipe:
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
110g milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
150g Nutella
200g Butter
7 tablespoons dark brown sugar
6 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 large eggs
240g all purpose flour
100g hazelnuts
1 bar of bakers chocolate
50ml double cream

Cake mix, mmm.

1. Melt cocoa powder and nutella with hot water in bowl
2. Cream the butter and sugar 
3. Add eggs and vanilla
4. Add chocolate mix and flour into butter mixture until all folded in
5. Fold in milk
6. Add half the ground hazelnuts
Bake at 170 degrees for 15 minutes or until skewer comes out clean
7. After the cakes have cooled, use a teaspoon to hollow out the cake
8. Spoon in Nutella and replace cake top
Break the bakers chocolate into a bowl. Boil the cream and pour over the chocolate until melted and shiny.
9. Pour gently over cupcakes 
10. Sprinkle nuts to decorate

I hate to brag, but these are amazing. 

Tip - Practising new recipes in a cheap case saves a lot of money!

Until next time xo

Cookie Dough recipe

Everyone has become addicted since Americans have broadcast it all over their sitcoms and then trickled into Domino's and American style diners and of course Ben and Jerry's. Its delicious and really fattening but it does taste amazing. The only problem is after about 5 teaspoons, its so sweet and rich that you get a bit sick of it. So its probably best to make these as cake pops which I might try soon. I got this delicious recipe here.

Fairly cheap ingredients

My indulgent dough

Original recipe

Recipe:
200g butter
230g brown sugar, 
200g all purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 tablespoons of milk
toppings

1. Cream butter and sugar together until smooth
2. Add vanilla extract and 2 spoons of milk
3. Mix in half the flour
4. Add all the flour and milk and mix well
5. Mix in all the toppings
6. Eat raw

This would probably taste amazing, stuffed into the middle of a cupcake. What do you think? You need to serve this straight away as if you keep it for too long, the butter melts and seeps out. blegh.
Until next time xo