The British Hen Welfare Trust: Free Range Friday, Pancake Party

Calling all bakers and cake enthusiasts, the British Hen Welfare Trust needs you!

A Flipping Good Idea

Pancake Day falls on 12th February this year and those good eggs at the British Hen Welfare Trust are encouraging the nation to dig out their pancake recipes and take part in their Free Range Friday fundraiser.

Free Range Friday asks people to use free range eggs in all their cooking and to think about how their shopping choices can make a difference to the welfare of the humble laying hen. Even though the old style battery cages are no longer used in the UK, about 20 million hens are still kept in colony cages , and imported battery eggs are prevalent in processed food.

So why not host a free-range Pancake Party? The fact that you will be enabling more hens to enjoy life free-ranging outdoors, whilst raising funds for a very worthy charity, will enable you to enjoy some yummy scrummy pancakes – guilt-free!

To receive a Free Range Friday fundraising pack which includes everything you need to make your pancake party an egg-cracking success, please email Naomi on freerangefriday@bhwt.co.uk or go to www.bhwt.org.uk

Pancake photo courtesy of Guy Harrop Photography.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes - Take 2 - Flower Power

Pretty Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Back in 2011 I tried my tried my hand at making carrot cake cupcakes. As a first attempt they wern't half bad, but two years later, I felt ready to give them another go - only this time with a twist. Traditionally Carrot Cakes are quite chunky individuals, but I don't believe that this always has to be the case. I wanted to show that this rough and ready classic can be transformed into something a little more elegant.
Do you think I've succeeded?
 

Carrot Cake Delight

As last time, the recipe for the sponge is as follows:

Ingredients for Cake

• 175g light muscovado sugar
• 175ml sunflower oil
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 140g grated carrots (about 3 medium)
• grated zest of 1 large orange
• 175g self-raising flour
• 1.5 tsp baking powder

To make twelve Cakes

*Pre-heat oven to 180C/Gas 4/fan 160C *

1. Pour the Sugar, Oil and eggs into a large bowl and mix together until fully combined.

2. To this mixture add the grated carrots and orange zest, and stir until the carrot is evenly spread throughout the mixture.

3. Sieve the flour and baking powder into the mixture and stir again until completely integrated.

4. Pour the mixture into cupcake cases until about 80% full, because these cakes don't rise too much, and put into the oven for 30-35 minutes.

5. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for several hours until completely cool. (You can use a fridge if you want to speed this process up)

The topping was the usual Vanilla Buttercream which can be made mixing around 1/5 margarine to 4/5 icing sugar, with a splash of vanilla essance and milk for good measure!

If you have any questions or recipes you'd like me to have a go at please get in touch!

Until next time,

Happy Baking!

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Happy New Year from Caroline's Cupcakes

Okay, so even though new year was around three weeks ago, I thought I'd just take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for 2013!

Happy New Year!

Last year was an excellent one for me and this website, and I cannot thank you all enough for your continued encouragement and support. When I started this blog back in 2011, I never imagined that anyone would read it, let alone connect with it - so thank you. I always love to hear your thoughts, ideas and recipe suggestions, so please keep in touch at cupcakesanddisasters@hotmail.co.uk or follow me on twitter at @CupcakesCakes

Twenty-Thirteen has gotten off to a wonderful start and I can't wait to see what the rest of the year will bring.

Keep checking back for all of the latest from the world of cupcakes, but until next time!

Happy Baking

X

Christmas Cupcake Advent: Days 15 - 24

Just incase you happened to miss the rest of my advent countdown on Twitter, here it is for your delectation!

Happy New Year

Day 15: Christmas Present Cupcakes (via: http://www.flickr.com/photos/71093396@N08/6442217107/)

Day 16: Santa Chimney Cupcakes (via: http://www.cutefoodforkids.com/2011/11/41-cutest-and-most-creative-christmas.html?m=1)

Day 17: Candy Cane Cupcakes (via: http://www.carousel-cupcakes.com/2011/12/candy-cane-christmas-cupcakes/)

 Day 18: Santa Belly Cupcakes (via: http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/c0.82.403.403/p403x403/531072_10151155436780969_1762624766_n.jpg)

Day 19: Snowflake Cupcakes (via: http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/pictures/34311/christmas-cupcakes/2?53114484)

Day 20: Christmas Pupcakes (via: http://savannahh4.edublogs.org/2009/10/15/my-favorite-holiday/)

Day 21: Christmas Teddy Cupcakes (via: http://www.theextraordinaryartofcake.com/?m=1)

Day 22: Polar Bear Cupcakes (via: http://www.polkadotbride.com/2011/12/polar-bear-and-christmas-present-cupcake-tutorial/)

Day 23: Bow Cupcakes (via: http://blog.pinkcakebox.com/pretty-in-pink-cupcake-2009-08-04.htm)

Day 24: Star Cupcakes (via: http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/632105)

Christmas Cupcake Advent: Days 8 - 14

Last week I brought you week one of my twitter advent countdown and because I like to spoil to you, here's week two. Enjoy!

Day Eight: Santa Hat Cupcakes (Via: http://createdbydiane.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/santa-hat-cupcake.html?m=1)






















Day Nine: Elf Cupcake (Via: http://www.flickr.com/photos/customcakeshop/6327078948/)






















Day Ten: Coca Cola Christmas Cupcakes (Via: http://www.bakerella.com/snow-globe-coca-cola-cupcakes/)

















Day Eleven: Rudolph Cupcakes (Via: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/897634/reindeer-cupcakes)

 Day Twelve: Christmas Cupcakes (Via: http://www.prettywittycakes.co.uk/gallery/)

 

Day Thriteen: Nativity Cupcakes (Via: http://thecupcakeblog.com/tag/nativity-cupcakes/)

















Day Fourteen: Bauble Cupcakes (Via: http://www.allthingscupcake.com/2010/12/16/make-your-own-christmas-bauble-cupcakes/)

Christmas Cupcake Advent: Days 1 - 7

In celebration of this year's Christmas countdown, I've taken to twitter to publish my favourite festive flavours from the world wide web. Here's a roundup of the this week's offerings...

Day One: Snowflake Cupcakes (Via: http://www.visualpotluck.com/post/winter-snowflake-cupcakes)

Day Two: Snowman Cupcake (Via: http://janscakes.weebly.com/seasonal-cakes-new.html)

Day Three: Christmas Pudding Cupcake (Via: http://vi.sualize.us/christmas_pudding_4goodnesscake_christmas_cupcakes_picture_aBy3.html)

Day Four: Christmas Tree Cupcakes (Via: http://riya-weddingdress.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/christmas-cupcakes-pictures.html?m=1)

Day Five: Wreath Cupcakes (Via: http://www.nadsbakery.com/2009/12/christmas-wreath-and-holly-berries.html?m=1)

Day Six: Penguin Cupcakes (Via: http://buttercreamblondie.com/penguin-cupcakes/)

Day Seven: Mr and Mrs Claus Cupcakes (Via: http://www.magentacakes.co.uk/blog/mr-mrs-claus-christmas-cupcakes/)

Follow me on twitter @CupcakesCakes for all the latest news, updates and Christmas Countdowns.

See you over there :)

Happy Baking!

X

Fraisier Cake GBBO Style

Two weeks ago, I decided to attempt my toughest challenge to date and turned my hand to the Fraisier Cake. Featured on the Great British Bake off, the Fraisier Cake is French Patisserie at its most elegant, combining a light genoise sponge, creme patisserie, marzipan and strawberries together to create visual perfection.

With it being a slightly more technical recipe than I have previously attempted, I decided to follow Mary Berry's method to a 'Tee', so if you want to find how it's done all you need to do is click Here

In terms of success, I would say that my presentation was an absolute triumph - I'm particularly proud of my chocolate swirls. However in the interest of complete honesty, I have to say that the taste wasn't exactly to my liking - perhaps it was just me but the flavours (lemons, marzipan, strawberries and vanilla) simply didn't go. At the best of times I'm unsure about Strawberry cakes, but when teamed with lemon sponge, I just believe it's a step too far. This may be my taste buds being unusual, as I know that the cake is world renowned - Perhaps I just need to develop a more sophisticated palate!

Has anyone else tried making it? What did you think? 

Let me know!

Happy Baking!

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