Sunday, 27 January 2013

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!

X

Friday, 18 January 2013

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)




Wednesday, 19 December 2012

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/)

Sunday, 9 December 2012

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 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

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

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!

X

Wednesday, 17 October 2012

Profiteroles

If you're good and follow me on twitter, then you might've noticed that last week I made Profiteroles. Yes, I'm sorry I bombarded your twitter feeds with my pictutures, I was just SO happy with the result. So much so in fact, that I'm going to show you all again now, et voila...



As usual I used someone elses recipe and adapted it slightly for my own ego, and this week was the turn of James Martin. The main bones of the recipe were taken from his 2006 book Desserts which can be bought from any good book store or Amazon if you click the link here (It's actually a very good recipe book and if you're a fan of James Martin's Saturday Kitchen, then you'll find a lot of his favourite puds to try for yourself)

Back to the Profiteroles though... Here's my recipe.

Ingredients
(Serves 4 - 6, makes around 15 Profiteroles)

Choux Pastry
85g Salted Butter
4 tsp Caster Sugar
115g Plain Flour
Pinch of Salt
3 medium eggs (beaten)

Filling
600ml Double Cream

Method
1. Pre-Heat oven to 180C and line a tray with baking paper

2. To make the pastry, place the butter and sugar into a large pan with 200ml cold water and place on a low heat to melt the butter.

3. Once the butter is melted increase the heat and tip the flour in all at once.

4.Remove from the heat and quickly beat the mixture until it forms a smooth paste.

5. When the mixture is smooth put the pan back on the heat and stir with a spatula for one minute.

6. Take off the heat and immediately add the eggs, one at a time, mixing them in with a spatula.

7. Beat the mixture until it's smooth and glossy, with a soft dropping consistency.

8. Dip a teaspoon into warm water and use it to spoon out the profiterole mixture onto the baking sheet into even balls, making sure to smooth over any rough edges with a wet finger to make sure your mix doesn't catch.

9. Place into the oven and leave to bake for 15 - 20 minutes until golden brown (Slowly begin to increase the oven up to 200C after 10 minutes)

10. Remove from oven and carefully prick a hole into the bases of your profiteroles. Turn them over and return to the oven for a further 5 minutes.

11. Remove and leave to cool.

12. To make the filling, simply whip up the cream and place it into a piping bag with a circle nozzle. Pipe in through the hole in the bottom, until the profiteole feels firm.

13. Display as desired and cover with chocolate sauce (packet if you like or make your own)

And it's as simple as that really. If you have a go yourself, let me know how you get on, I'd love to see some pictures!


Until next time,

Happy Baking!

X