What have you baked today?

elf06

I think I'm right in saying Black Bun is a Scottish thing. I've grown up knowing what it is and even eating it but have never made it.

marmiterulesok

elf06 wrote: »

I think I'm right in saying Black Bun is a Scottish thing. I've grown up knowing what it is and even eating it but have never made it.

Black Bun is a rich,moist fruit cake baked in a pastry case,which is traditionally served at New Year (Hogmanay) in Scotland.

Hopefully this link works

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_bun

I think I'll make one this year,I have a recipe for a loaf tin shape.It's not the easiest cake to make,because of the pastry,but I won't know until I've tried.
I love the name Black Bun.I don't know how easy it is to find now in Scotland.

Bananadog So you're going to make the Christmas cake in a loaf tin?I don't know about baking times,but if you're worried about the top burning because it's a shallow edge,you could double wrap the tin in brown paper high up the sides before putting it in the oven.

angeltreats

I don't know about black bun... it sounds weird. I fancy trying it though. Is it nice? I'm kind of tempted to make one just to see what it's like, because I doubt I'll ever be able to buy one here in the south!

elf06

angeltreats wrote: »

I don't know about black bun... it sounds weird. I fancy trying it though. Is it nice? I'm kind of tempted to make one just to see what it's like, because I doubt I'll ever be able to buy one here in the south!

Its lovely

marmiterulesok

angeltreats wrote: »

I don't know about black bun... it sounds weird. I fancy trying it though. Is it nice? I'm kind of tempted to make one just to see what it's like, because I doubt I'll ever be able to buy one here in the south!

I know what you mean,the idea of a rich fruit cake enveloped in pastry is a bit weird,but it's delicious though,and very rich.A small piece at a time is enough.

I've never made it myself,though I'm going to this year.My Mum has made it,but then she's an experienced baker (used to teach Home Economics).She could probably make it with her eyes shut!I might ask her for a few pointers.

For me as well it's nostalgic,no longer living in Scotland.And of course it's unusual and yummy to boot.I wish I could send you some so you could try it!

bananadog

marmiterulesok wrote: »

That reminds me,I must get organised to make a Christmas Cake.

Are you looking at the Nigella recipes on page 248 in How To Be A Domestic Goddess ?You're saying that your smallest tin holds a 25.5cm round or 23cm square cake?I don't think you can go far wrong if you follow the instructions.Famous last words....
I've got a few recipes in different books,not sure which one or which size cake I'll do.I think I'll do a small one.
If you do the cake in the next few weeks,you'll have loads of time to 'doctor' it.

One cake that I dream of making BTW is Black Bun.Has anyone made this?My Mum made it once,I was so impressed at her skill and it was,of course,delicious.I'm not even sure that I've got a black bun recipe.

Happy baking!

Hey have you noticed that Nigellas Xmas cake doesn't have black treacle in it like most do? anyone tried this one?
ps, on the next page is a Black Cake recipe...is this the same as Black Bun?

angeltreats

marmiterulesok wrote: »

For me as well it's nostalgic,no longer living in Scotland.And of course it's unusual and yummy to boot.I wish I could send you some so you could try it!

I know the feeling, ever since I left Ireland I crave soda bread like a mad thing :rotfl:

marmiterulesok

bananadog wrote: »

Hey have you noticed that Nigellas Xmas cake doesn't have black treacle in it like most do? anyone tried this one?
ps, on the next page is a Black Cake recipe...is this the same as Black Bun?

Did you watch The Great British Bake-Off'?

In the first episode Annetha made a West Indian Black Cake.I think that Nigella's Black Cake sounds pretty similar.

Black Bun always has a pastry crust.

I don't see why you shouldn't add some treacle to the recipe if you want.

marmiterulesok

angeltreats wrote: »

I know the feeling, ever since I left Ireland I crave soda bread like a mad thing :rotfl:

Tell me about it!!!

Other foodstuffs I miss:

raspberry ripple ice cream,eclairs with a plain cream filling (here you get mocha or chocolate fillings),fruit slice (better known in Scotland as a fly cemetry!),potato scones and soda farls...Drooling away here....:D

The logical thing to do is to learn how to make them,though I think the ice cream is beyond me....

angeltreats

Re potato scones and soda farls - just today I have taken delivery of a brand new cast iron griddle (the sort that sits over two rings on the cooker). I am going to make potato bread and soda farls till there is a stockpile of them in my kitchen

Funny you should say that about the eclairs, I seem to see them all the time with normal cream (although it's probably been sweetened a bit). But back home they were often filled with mock cream which apparently a lot of people preferred to 'real' cream, but I never could stomach the stuff. To this day I really don't know what it's made of, despite working in a bakery that used it. It put me off eclairs for years, until I learned to make choux pastry at college and could fill it with whatever I liked.

Do you have apple squares in Scotland? They're just a layer of pastry on the bottom, cooked diced apples in the middle, topped with another layer of pastry and a sprinkle of caster sugar (and they always get squished in the paper bag on the way home). I always thought they were lovely but I've never seen them in Engalnd, and I daren't make them as I'd only scoff the lot myself.