Category: Easy

For the times when you want something super simple to make.
Sticky Parkin

Sticky Parkin

By | | Comments 0 Comment

I’ve been wanting to make this for so long and so it was really exciting making it today! Parkin is a traditional Yorkshire cake eaten around bonfire night and I can totally see why. It’s warming, tasty, super easy to share around and quick to make!

Recipe

Makes 16 pieces

Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 220g butter
  • 250g golden syrup
  • 110g dark brown sugar
  • 210g self raising flour
  • 100g porridge oats
  • 4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 large eggs

Method

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Grease and line a 9×9-inch square cake tin with butter and baking paper.
  2. Put the butter, golden syrup and sugar into a large pan and place over a medium heat. Stir every now and then until melted.
  3. In a large bowl mix together the flour, oatmeal, ginger, cinnamon, mixed spice and baking powder.
  4. Slowly pour the melted butter mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk until combined.
  5. Whisk in the eggs until the mixture is even. Then pour the mixture into the lined tin.
  6. Bake for about 30 minutes, until golden brown and springy to the touch.
  7. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin. Cut into 16 pieces and enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

Emma x
Chocolate Fondant Mug Cake

Chocolate Fondant Mug Cake

By | | Comments 1 comment

One of my favourite things to make is a chocolate fondant, but when you’re feeling low you don’t want to spend time baking – good thing this mug cake adaption only takes 5 minutes! For an added treat I’ve added dried cranberries and chocolate chips to this one, but you could leave them out or add something completely different if you’d like!

Recipe

Makes 1 large mug cake

Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 50g butter
  • 75g dark chocolate
  • 60g light brown sugar
  • 50g plain flour
  • 1 egg

Optional extras:

  • 25g milk chocolate chips
  • 25g dried cranberries
  • (You could also try nuts, other dried fruit, fresh berries and sweets)

Method

  1. Put the butter and chocolate into a bowl or mug and microwave for 20 seconds. Stir to combine the butter and chocolate as much as possible. If the chocolate hasn’t melted enough put it back into the microwave for another 20 seconds and then stir again until smooth.
  2. Add the sugar, flour, egg and any optional fillings you like. Mix until combined.
  3. Pour the mixture into a mug and microwave for 2 ½ minutes.
  4. Enjoy with fresh cream and berries!

Thanks for reading!

Emma x
Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies

Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies

By | | Comments 0 Comment

Recipe

Makes 24

Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 120g unsalted butter
  • 100g light brown sugar
  • 75g caster sugar
  • ½ tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 medium egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 200g plain flour
  • ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 100g milk chocolate chips
  • 70g chopped hazelnuts
  • 120g Nutella (or other chocolate hazelnut spread)

Method

  1. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Pre-heat the oven to 180C.
  2. Put the butter and sugars into a bowl and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth and creamy.
  3. Add the salt, egg and vanilla and beat again until smooth.
  4. Add the flour, baking powder, chocolate chips, and chopped hazelnuts and mix again to make a smooth dough. (If the dough is looking soft you can place the dough in the fridge for 1 hour to firm up before the next step).
  5. Divide the mixture into 24 equal pieces (mine were about 30g each) and roll each bit into a ball. Place them on the lined baking trays, spaced apart enough so they have room to spread.
  6. Bake for 7-10 minutes until just starting to go golden brown. Allow to cool and then enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

Emma x
Overnight Strawberry Oats

Overnight Strawberry Oats

By | | Comments 0 Comment

 

Recipe

Makes 1 large jar

Time: 5 minutes, plus chilling time overnight

Ingredients

  • 60g porridge oats
  • 85ml milk (I used almond milk)
  • 100g strawberry yoghurt
  • 2-3  large strawberries, diced
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds

Method

  1. Mix all the ingredients in a large jar (I used a jam jar).
  2. Cover and let sit overnight to enjoy in the morning!

Thanks for reading!

Emma x
Bakewell Blondies

Bakewell Blondies

By | | Comments 0 Comment

Bakewell (almond + cherry) is one of my favourite flavour combos to work into new bakes, especially as you can get so many different types of almonds and cherries! In these I use almond extract, ground almonds and blobs of marzipan, paired with frozen cherries in the mixture and glace cherries on top! All incased in a fudgy blondie cake, studded with chunks of white chocolate!

Recipe

Makes 12 blondies

Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 170g butter
  • 220g light brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or extract)
  • 1 large egg
  • 210g plain flour
  • 75g white chocolate
  • 75g marzipan, torn into small chunks
  • A few drops of almond essence
  • 50g cherries (I use frozen as it’s cheaper but you can use fresh if you prefer)

To decorate

  • 50g cherries
  • 200g icing sugar

Method

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Grease and line a 9” square tin with butter and baking paper.
  2. Melt the butter in a large bowl by putting it in the microwave for 20 second bursts. Add the sugar and vanilla and whisk until combined.
  3. Add the egg and whisk again to combine. Then add the flour and whisk again to make a smooth batter.
  4. Take the white chocolate and chop it into rough chunks. Then add this chopped chocolate to the blondie mixture. Add the marzipan bits, almond essence and cherries and mix it all together.
  5. Pour the batter into the lined tin. Bake the blondies for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown and still a little fudgy in the middle. Leave to cool and then cut into 12 slices and enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

Emma x