Browns custard powder

Bigsister

Hello

Not sure if this is the correct place, it is about food....
I have a receipe that my late grandad wrote for fairy cakes. His were out of this world (well for me as a child), he used muffin cases and the wings perched miles away from the base, there was so much filling and he coloured them with I think Browns custard powder, raspberry flavour.
I cannot find it anymore and I tried to replace it with blamanche powder but it didn't turn out the same, the cakes I recall had a lovely vanilla/pink colour to them and tasted so much better, not sure if it is me that made them taste bad or the lack of the powder????

And suggestions for replacements, not much of a cook so other than blamanche I don't know what to look for as I think it gave it the special taste as well as the colour.
Not a big thing in the grand scheme of things but having lost my last 2 grandparents in 2009 I have started to miss my childhood and wanted to try to make the cakes again.
Thanks.

sarah1972

you want to re post on the 'wanna buy it or do it' board, you may get better responses

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=35

in the mean time I will have a google for you

sarah1972

http://www.efooddepot.com/products/brown_and_polson/4721/custard_powder.html

Or this in choc or strawberry http://www.oakexports.co.uk/desserts.htm

Bigsister

Thanks Sarah1972 for the reply, I will take a look, I did scan google etc but didn't seem to find what I was looking for, so thank you for the help.

Clowance

Here is a recipe using custard powder. From what I gather the main ingredient of Birds custard powder (not other brands) is cornflour which makes cakes rise so that they are very soft and fluffy.

Here is a recipe using regular custard powder, I expect there are lots if you google:
http://traineedomesticgoddess.blogspot.com/2009/06/fete-fairy-cakes.html

You could also colour them pink with food colouring or there is a raspberry flavouring sold here:
http://www.cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk/acatalog/Flavourings.html
and very likely lots of other places as well, just did a quick search.

I think you would be able to repeat the recipe but its likely that the actual custard powder your grandad used is now no longer sold.
HTH

Bigsister

Thanks Clowance, I suspect that whatever I do I will not be able to replicate them exactly as I might not have the touch but I am determined to give it my best shot and I am sure DH will eat all those that do not make the grade.