Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients

1 cup self raising flour
⅓ cup castor sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
 ½ cup milk
 40g butter, melted
 1 free range egg, lightly beaten
 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla essence
  1 cup brown sugar
 2 tablespoons cocoa (extra)

 1 cup boiling water
  Cream, for serving

Instructions

Preheat oven to 180˚C (160°C fan-forced). Grease a 4 cup ovenproof dish. Sift flour, sugar and cocoa into a mixing bowl. Combine milk, butter, egg and vanilla in a jug and pour into the dry ingredients. Mix gently until just combined. Pour into the prepared ovenproof dish. Combine brown sugar, extra cocoa and boiling water into another jug, mix well. Gently pour the sauce mixture into dish and bake for 20-25. Serve warm with cream.

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Carrot Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup granulated/castor sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup canola oil
1 8-ounce can pineapple slices
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
3 cups/650 grams grated peeled carrots (from about 5-6 large carrots)
2 inches fresh old ginger, finely grated
1 cups walnuts (optional)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C/gas mark 4.

For cupcakes: Line 24 cupcake molds (2 12-standard muffin tins) with liners, or butter and flour them.
For layered cakes: Butter two 9-inch-diameter or three 8-inch-diameter cake pans. Line bottom of pans with parchment, butter and flour paper; tap out excess flour.

If using walnuts, lightly roast them on a baking tray or a frying pan, about 4-5 minutes. Leave to cool before processing them finely.

Meanwhile, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ground ginger in medium bowl to blend. Set aside. Place the pineapple slices in a blender and add some of the juices from the can. Discard excess liquid. Puree until smooth and set aside.

In a separate large bowl, whisk sugars, pineapple puree and oil until well blended. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. Add in the flour mixture and stir until blended. Stir in the vanilla, carrots and fresh ginger. Add in the walnuts and raisins, if using them.

For cupcakes: Divide batter among cupcake molds, filling 3/4 of each. Bake cupcakes 14 to 18 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center of one comes out clean. Let cool in pans for about 5 minutes. Transfer cakes to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before icing them.

For layered cakes: Divide the batter equally between the prepared pans, and bake the layers for about 30 minutes each for 8-inch cakes or about 40 minutes each for 9-inch cakes; or until a tester inserted into center comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans for about 15 minutes. Turn out onto cooling racks. Peel off parchment; cool cakes completely before icing.

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

2 (8-ounce/226-gram) packages cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1 stick/4 ounces/113 grams unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups/230 grams confectioners’/icing sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup pure maple syrup

Instructions:

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat all the ingredients on medium speed until fluffy. Chill the frosting for about 20 to 30 minutes or until it has set up enough to spread smoothly and hold its shape.

For cupcakes: Place the maple cream cheese frosting into a piping bag fitted with your tip of choice and pipe onto cooled cupcakes accordingly.

For layered cakes: To assemble a layered cake, with an offset spatula, frost the top of one cake and place the other cake on top. Repeat for a three-layered cake. Frost the sides and top with a thin layer of frosting, chill the cake for about 30-45 minutes. Frost the cake completely to cover and decorate with swirls on the top. Chill cake for at least 30 minutes or till frosting is set. Bring to room temperature before serving.

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Chocolate Rum Swiss Roll Cake

INGREDIENTS

For cake

• Vegetable-oil cooking spray
• 1/4 cup sifted unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder, plus more for pan
• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sifted cake flour (not self-rising), plus more for pan
• Pinch of salt
• 3 large whole eggs plus 2 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled completely

For filling

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons light rum
• 1 1/4 cups heavy cream

For decorating

• Unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare oven and baking sheet: Heat oven to 450 degrees, with rack in bottom half. Coat a 12 1/2-by-17 1/2-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper; coat with cooking spray. Dust with cocoa powder and tap out excess.
2. Combine dry ingredients: Whisk together cocoa powder, flour, and salt in a bowl.
3. Combine eggs and sugar: Bring about 2 inches of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. In the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over (not in) simmering water, whisk eggs, yolks, and granulated sugar until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed for 2 minutes. Raise speed to high; beat until mixture is pale and thick, about 4 minutes more.
4. Add dry ingredients: Sift cocoa mixture over egg mixture; using a large rubber spatula, carefully fold. When almost incorporated, pour melted butter down side of bowl; gently fold to combine.
5. Bake: Using an offset spatula, spread batter evenly into prepared sheet. Bake cake until golden brown and springy to the touch, 6 to 7 minutes. Meanwhile, dust a clean kitchen towel with cocoa powder. Run a knife around sides of cake. Invert onto prepared towel, and remove parchment.
6. Roll into log and cool: While the sheet cake is still warm, gently roll, starting from one short side, into a log, incorporating the kitchen towel. Let the cake cool completely, rolled. (This will give the cake a "shape memory," so it will be easier to roll again with filling.)
7. Meanwhile, make rum syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the water and 1/4 cup sugar. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer until sugar has dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; add rum, then let cool completely.
8. Fill cake and reroll: Unroll cake. Brush entire surface generously with cooled rum syrup. Whip cream and remaining tablespoon sugar until soft peaks form; spread over cake leaving a 1/2-inch border all around. Roll cake to enclose filling (without towel), starting at a short end. Wrap the towel around rolled cake, securing with clips or clothespins to help retain the shape.
9. Chill and serve: Refrigerate 30 minutes (or up to 3 hours). Dust with cocoa powder, cut into slices with a serrated knife, and serve.

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Coffee Cake with Brown Butter Glaze

Ingredients:

Streusel
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup cake flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Cake
3 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugr
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups sour cream

Brown butter glaze
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk, if needed
pinch of salt

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 10-inch bundt cake pan and set aside. Butter and flour is key. Don't use cooking spray.

Streusel
Whisk together the sugar, flour, cinnamon, cocoa and salt. Add the butter pieces and using your hands, mix together the flour and butter until the flour is incorporated and in tiny pieces. It's okay if the mixture looks like sand.

Cake
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, soda and salt. In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, then add the sugar and beat for 4 to 5 minutes on medium speed until fluffy, scraping down the sides if needed. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well for a minute or so after each addition. Add the vanilla and beat well. Beat in the sour cream, again scraping down the sides if needed.

Gradually add the dry ingredients with the mix on low speed. But until they are just incorporated. Spoon half of the batter into the greased bundt pan, then sprinkle with two thirds of the streusel. Add the remaining batter on top then finish off with the remaining streusel and swirl it into the batter with a knife. Bake until a wooden pick inserted into the cake comes out clean, about 45 to 55 minutes. My cake needed the full 55 and it was perfect. Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Invert the pan on a wire rack and allow the cake to cool completely. Don't attempt to move it or it will break apart.

Brown butter glaze
Add the butter to a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk constantly until the butter begins to bubble and as soon as brown bits start to appear in the bottom of the pan, remove it from the heat. This will take about 5 minutes. Add the brown butter to a bowl and whisk in the sugar and vanilla extract. If the mixture is too thick to drizzle, whisk in the milk if needed. Pour over the cake once it has cooled and serve!

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Amaretto Pound Cake

Ingredients:

Cake

• 1 1/4 cups butter, softened
• 1 (3-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 Tbsp amaretto
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 6 large eggs

Syrup

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 6 Tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup amaretto
• 2 Tbsp water

Glaze

• 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1-2 Tbsp milk
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325. Grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan. Set aside.

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add amaretto, almond extract and vanilla, beating just until blended. Slowly add flour to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition.

Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Pour batter into pan.

Bake 65 - 70 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

During last 10 minutes of baking, prepare Amaretto Syrup. Put ingredients in medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Use immediately.

Remove cake from oven, and gradually spoon hot Amaretto Glaze over cake in pan.

Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Turn cake onto a cake plate. Whisk together powdered sugar, milk and almond extract. Pour over cooled cake. Sprinkle with sliced almonds.

 

Enjoy!

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Bourbon Cake

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 8 eggs, separated
• 3 cups sugar, divided
• 2 cups butter, softened (4 sticks)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup bourbon
• 2 tsp almond extract
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• powdered sugar

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a bundt pan and sprinkle chopped pecans in pan.

Beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Slowly add 1 cup of sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until stiff peaks form (about 2-4 minutes). Set aside.

In a separate bowl, beat butter at medium speed of an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Slowly add remaining 2 cups of sugar. Continue beating at medium speed for 5 minutes. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating until yellow disappears.

Add flour to butter mixture alternating with bourbon, beginning and ending with flour. Mix at low speed just until blended after each addition of flour. Stir in vanilla and almond extract.

Fold egg white mixture to batter. Spoon mixture into prepared bundt pan.

Bake 60-70 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15-20 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

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Brownie Butter Cake

Ingredients:

Brownie:

140g (5oz) dark chocolate (broken into pieces)
50g (¼ cup) unsalted butter
50g (¼ cup) brown sugar
1 Egg
35g (¼ cup) all-purpose flour

Butter cake:

120g (½ cup) unsalted butter
100g (½ cup) sugar (I reduced by 1 Tbsp)
2 Eggs
120g (1 cup) all-purpose flour
2g (¼ tsp) baking powder
50ml (3 ½ Tbsp) fresh milk

Instructions:

Grease and line a 10cm x 20cm (4×8-in) loaf pan with aluminium foil.

Preheat oven to 180C/350F.

To make brownie, melt chocolate and butter over low heat. Remove and leave to cool slightly. Stir in brown sugar until blended.

Add in egg, mix well. Fold in flour, mix until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove.

To make butter cake, beat butter with sugar until creamy. Add in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Fold in sifted flour and baking powder, alternately add in fresh milk, mix to form batter.

Spread the butter cake batter over brownie, bake in oven at 160C/320F for 25-30 minutes or until cooked. Insert a cake tester in the middle to check doneness.

Enjoy!

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Sandwich Cake

 

 Ingredients:

·         1 cobb loaf or round sourdough

·         Cream cheese

·         Avocado

·         Prawns

·         Cucumber

·         Dill

·         Smoked Salmon

·         Or any other filling you’d like.

Instructions:

1. Shave around the cobb to form a perfect circle
2. Cut in three sections horizontally
3. Spread base (there should be three discs) liberally with cream cheese, avocado and cucumber
4. Place disc two on top and ice with cream cheese and smoked salmon
5. Place top on and press down
6. Get more cream cheese and proceed to ice like a cake
7. Place prawns and cucumber on top
8. Sprinkle sides with herbs
9. Refrigerate and serve

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Crumb Cake

Ingredients

Crumbs

• 1 cup + 2 Tbsp (160g) all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup (74g) packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup (72g) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (4 oz) unsalted butter, melted

Cake

• 1 cup (143g) all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 5 Tbsp (2.5 oz) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup (109g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup (2 oz) milk
• 1/4 cup (2 oz) sour cream

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking dish then line with two sheets of parchment, butter parchment (alternately you can just butter and lightly flour the dish if you don't care to lift out the whole cake).

For the crumbs:

• In a mixing bowl whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and salt. Pour in melted butter (use a spatula to scrape out any excess) and stir to combine. Slowly add flour while mixing with a wooden spoon or spatula, and mix until no streaks of flour remain. Set aside to rest while cake batter is prepared.

For the cake:

• In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt for 20 seconds, set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla. In liquid measuring cup used to measure milk, whisk together sour cream with milk. Add in 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and blend just until combined, then add 1/2 of the milk mixture and mix just until combined. Repeat process once more, then end by mixing in last 1/3 of the flour mixture until nearly combined. Scape down sides and bottom of bowl using a rubber spatula and fold batter to fully incorporate.
• Pour batter into prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Break crumb mixture into pea size crumbs and drop evenly over batter. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center comes out free of batter and cake doesn't sink when touched in center, about 32 - 35 minutes. Cool in cake pan 10 minutes, then using parchment overhang lift cake from pan and cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.

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Almond Cake

Ingredients

For the crust:

1 and 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 and 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut, toasted

1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

4 8-ounce packages of cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted

1 tablespoon coconut extract

1 cup sliced almonds, toasted

For the glaze:

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whole roasted almonds, toasted coconut, whipped cream, for garnish

Instructions

1. For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Prepare your springform pan by wrapping it with aluminum foil to allow for extra three inches or so of foil to project above the sides.

3. In a food processor, pulse the graham crackers, almonds, coconut, and sugar to a fine crumb.

4. With the machine running, slowly add the melted butter and pulse until it resembles moist sand.

5. Press the mixture into the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of the pan.

6. Bake the crust for about 12 minutes, or until set and lightly browned.

7. Remove from the oven and let cool.

8.  Readjust oven temperature to 325 degrees.

9. For the filling: In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.

10.  Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

11. Add the coconut and coconut extract.

12.  Stop the mixer, and gently fold in the toasted almonds with a spatula until well combined.

13. Transfer the filling to the cooled crust and bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes (until the crust is puffy and lightly browned).

14. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.

15. For the chocolate glaze: Combine the chocolate chips, cream, and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently until smooth.

16.  Remove the pan from the heat and let cool to room temperature.

17. Pour the glaze over the cheesecake and spread evenly.

18.  Chill the cheesecake overnight or until firm and set.

19.  When ready to serve, run a knife around the perimeter of the pan to loosen the cake.  Release the pan sides and serve.

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Lava Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 200g dark chocolate, chopped
• 100g unsalted butter, chopped
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks, extra
• 1/2 cup (110g) sugar
• 1/4 cip (35g) plain (all- purpose) flour
• Cocoa, for dusting

Instructions:

1.)    Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celcius. Place the chocolate and butter in a saucepan over low heat and stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth.

2.)     Place the eggs, extra yolks and sugar in a bowl and whisk until well combined. Add the chocolate mixture and flour and whisk again.

3.)    Spoon the mixture into the dariole moulds/ ramekins until it fills halfway

4.)    Make sure you grease the container really well, or the cake will stick to the sides after baking and won't come out.

5.)    Spoon some peanut butter and place it right in the centre of each mould.

6.)    Fill the remaining of the mixture into the moulds/ containers until it fills just below the top line. Don’t over- fill it because the cake will rise during baking.

7.)    Place moulds/ containers on a baking tray and bake for 16- 18 minutes or until the cake springs back when you touch the surface with your finger. Gently turn out the cakes immediately and dust with cocoa to serve.

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Coca-Cola Cake

INGREDIENTS:

For the Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (12-ounce) can cola
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 eggs
½ cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Frosting:1 (12-ounce) can cola

½ cup salted butter, cut into small cubes
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Make the Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

3. In a small saucepan, stir together the cola, butter and cocoa powder over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Pour into the flour mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until moistened.

4. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla until blended. Add to the batter, whisking constantly.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes.

6. Make the Frosting: About 15 minutes before the cake is finished, begin the frosting. In a small saucepan, bring the cola to a boil over high heat and cook until the liquid is reduced to ½ cup, about 12 to 15 minutes. Stir in the butter and cocoa powder until the butter is melted, then remove from the heat. Add the powdered sugar about 1 cup at a time, whisking until smooth. Pour immediately over the hot cake in an even layer. Allow the cake to cool to room temperature before serving. Leftovers should be covered and stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

 

Enjoy!

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Lemon & Raspberry Scones

INGREDIENTS

1 3/4 cup sweet white sorghum flour plus extra for flouring surface

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/4 tsp cream of tartar

3/4 tsp baking soda

2 tbsp ground flax seed

1/4 tsp rock salt

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil

1/2 cup sweetened almond milk

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tsp lemon zest

1 cup frozen raspberries

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly flour.

In a high powered blended, combine sorghum flour, sugar, cream of tartar, baking soda, ground flax seed, and rock salt. Add in coconut oil, almond milk, egg, vanilla, and lemon zest. Blend until a dough is formed. Dump dough into a bowl and gently fold in raspberries. Using your hands, gently roll the dough into a large ball. Place ball onto your lightly floured baking sheet. Mold dough into a flattened disk that has an 8-inch diameter and 3/4-inch thickness. Cut the disk of dough into 8 wedges but leave the wedges touching.

Bake for 12 minutes. Then separate the wedges and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Allow the scones to cool slightly, about 5 minutes, on a baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack.

 

Enjoy it!

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Lemon Ice Cake with Strawberries Topping

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups crushed graham crackers

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 cup sugar

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon peel

6 tablespoons lemon juice

6 tablespoons water

6 egg yolks, lightly beaten

1/4 cup butter, cut-up

1 32 ounce carton vanilla Greek yogurt

Topping

1 cup strawberries, quartered

2 tablespoon water

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 cup whipping cream

3 tablespoon sugar

Instructions:

To make the crust: In a medium bowl combine fold butter into cookie crumbs until throughly combined.  Press into bottom of an 8 inch springform pan Set aside.

To make the filling: In a medium saucepan combine the sugar, gelatin, and cornstarch. Add lemon peel, lemon juice, and water. Cook and whisk over medium heat until thick and bubbly. Stir half the lemon mixture into the egg yolks. Return lemon-egg mixture to saucepan. Cook, whisking constantly, over medium heat until filling comes to gentle boil. Cook and whisk 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Whisk in cut-up butter until melted. Transfer to a bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Cool 20 minutes. Place yogurt in a large bowl; gradually stir in lemon filling. Spoon into crust-lined pan. Cover and freeze overnight.

To make the topping:n a medium saucepan combine the strawberries, water and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until the liquid is slightly thickened and the strawberries are softened; set aside to cool. In a second bowl, beat whipping cream and sugar to soft peaks.

To serve: Loosen and remove sides of springform pan. Top ice box cake with whipped cream and strawberries.

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Chocolate and Orange Cake

Ingredients:

For the cake
1/2 spent (juiced) orange, cooked and puréed
300g | 10.5 oz chocolate buttons
100g | 3 1/2 oz or 7 tsbp unsalted butter
200g | 1 cup light brown sugar
100g | 1/2 cup ground almonds
150g | 1 1/4 cup self raising flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder
3 eggs

2 tbsp Campari or orange juice

1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Pinch salt

For the syrup
Juice of 1 orange
Equal volume of water
100g | 1/2 cup caster sugar
2-3 tbsp Campari (or other orange liquer)

For the chocolate glaze
150g | 5.5oz dark chocolate buttons (or mix dark and milk)
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp honey
Orange peel strips to decorate

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 180C | 350F. Grease 1x20cm/8inch bundt tin.

Juice the orange. Keep the orange segments and set the juice aside.

Chop half of the juiced orange (peel and all) in small pieces and put in a pot. Cover with water and boil for 10-15m until soft. Blitz in a food processor (or small food chopper) with a couple tablespoons of water until puréed.

Melt the chocolate over a bain marie (or in a microwave but be careful the chocolate doesn't burn). Set aside to cool. Sift the flour, cocoa, soda, salt and almonds together.

Beat the butter and sugar for several minutes until light and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, with 1 tbsp of flour. Beat until well incorporated. Add the puréed orange and 1/3 of the flour and beat on low speed until well mixed.

Fold the melted chocolate and remaining flour mix  into the batter with a wooden spoon. The batter will be quite thick. Pour into the bundt tin and level.

Bake for 1h - 1h 10m until a skewer inserted in centre comes out clean or with a few small crumbs attached. Check the cake is firm on top. Cool in the tin and then carefully invert on to a drying rack.

To prepare the syrup, put equal amounts orange juice and water plus the sugar in a pot. Bring to the boil then simmer until syrup is reduced - about 5 minutes. Take off the heat and stir the Campari in. Brush the syrup over the cake with a pastry brush.

To make the glaze, melt the chocolate in a bain marie (or microwave), add the butter and honey and stir together. Put the cake on a rack with a piece of baking paper underneath. Pour or spoon the melted chocolate over the cake. Decorate with orange strips.

The cake keeps well at room temperature. In fact, it tastes even better on the second day when the flavours have had a chance to mellow. Server with some whipped cream and a spoonful some of the syrup.

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Oreo Cake

INGREDIENTS

Cake
1 1/4 cups All-purpose Flour
2/3 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder (or Hershey’s Special Dark)
1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
3/4 cup Unsalted Butter
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
3 large Eggs, room temperature
1 1/4 cups Buttermilk

Frosting
Scant 1/2 cup Flour
1 1/2 cups Milk
2 tsp Vanilla
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) Butter, softened
1 1/2 cups Granulated Sugar 
25-30 oreos

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two 8-inch cake pans with butter and flour.

Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of a standing mixer, or a large bowl using a hand held mixer, beat together the butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. About 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until incorporated and scraping down sides as needed.

With mixer on low speed, add 1/3 of the dry ingredients, mix until incorporated. Then add 1/2 of the buttermilk, mix until incorporated. Repeat until the last 1/3 of flour has been used. Mix until incorporated and then beat for 1 additional minute.

Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the sides begin to pull away from the edges. Allow to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn the cakes out onto the racks and allow the cakes to cool completely.

While the cakes are baking, prepare the frosting. In a saucepan, whisk together the flour and milk and cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens (I would compare it to mashed potatoes). It is very important to whisk continuously so clumps don’t form. This took me about 4-5 minutes, but it’s best to go by texture.

Set milk mixture aside in an ice bath and allow to cool completely.

In a medium bowl, (or bowl of a standing mixture fitted with a whisk) beat together the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat for 1 minute. Add the cooled milk mixture and beat on high for 3-5 minutes. If it looks separated, keep beating.

Cake Assembly

When the cakes are completely cool, cut each cake in half horizontally. Use 1/3-1/2 cup of frosting to fill between each layer. When all the layers are stacked, set aside 1/2 cup of frosting then use rest to frost the outside.

Using a ziploc bag and a rolling pin, crush all but 6 of the Oreo cookies. Apply the cookie crumbs to the sides of the cake.

Use the reserved 1/2 cup of frosting to create 6 swirls on the top of the cake, place a cookie in each swirl.

Serve with a glass of milk.

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