The DFW baking and sweet treats club

stewby

hi there.

I have just made these and they are delicious. I didn't have cocoa in the house so just used cadburys drinking chocolate.

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/5870/emma-s-chocolate-biscuits.aspx

It's only four ingredients, three of which would be household basics I imagine. (I love chocolate so I have all four here). Enjoy.


edit: I would do a picture but mine all merged together to make two giant biscuits so they are all square-y looking instead of round. Eats all the same though.


p.s: It's a shame to see this thread all the way on page 3.

cottage_retreatist

stewby wrote: »

hi there.

I have just made these and they are delicious. I didn't have cocoa in the house so just used cadburys drinking chocolate.

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/5870/emma-s-chocolate-biscuits.aspx

It's only four ingredients, three of which would be household basics I imagine. (I love chocolate so I have all four here). Enjoy.


edit: I would do a picture but mine all merged together to make two giant biscuits so they are all square-y looking instead of round. Eats all the same though.


p.s: It's a shame to see this thread all the way on page 3.

hey stewby!

Thanks for the recipe!
I have a couple of blocks of butter in the freezer still from when my local sains! local was giving them away reduced. This could be a nice snack!!!!!

Thank you! (my recipe book is now filling up with recipes form this thread to try) - definitely liking the cocoa/chocolate leaning this thread has though!!!!!

Now the new month is in I'll be doing more baking I hope!
(bump)

xxx

HOK3Y

Anyone with a special recipe for fruit cake this Christmas? I fancy turning my hand to one!

cottage_retreatist

I haven't got one here at work but I make a combination of Delia and Nigella's classic versions!!!

I can give you the measurements tonight if you like?
I haven't needed to make it from scratch for a couple of years because I dunno if you remember when Waitr0se were doing Delia's xmas cake in a box - all the mixture was given and you had to put it together with some eggs and bake (25 quid full price) - I got them when they were reduced to 50p after xmas and got about 6 so have been using those these last few years!!!

Supposedly they've gone off but it's just flour, sugar and brandy-steeped dried fruit so I give it a smell and use it!!!!! I do add dried cranberries though - they are my secret!

PS - made a sundried tomato and parmesan bread yesterday and took a picture but forgot to upload it! I will do!

xx

HOK3Y

Yes please C-R!! Bravo snagging those cake kits for an insane price!! I love snagging all the Christmas cake after the holidays - it's crazy cheap but you really outdid yourself on that one!

The bread sounds yummy - I'll watch for pics......I should be working but I have a bit of an MSE problem!!!

cottage_retreatist

It was great! looked a bit of a loon with about 6 in my trolley but for that price! wowser!!!!!

hehe! me too! shhhhh!!!!!

x

wegle

Hello Everyone!

Can't believe it's already time to start thinking about Christmas cake!!! It comes round so quick!! I'm going to have to start getting organised!

Anyhoo, here's this weekend's monstrosity!



This cake is huge!! The frosting is Swiss Meringue Buttercream which is so sweet and rich. I've had to bring most of it into work as there was no way hubby and I were going to be able to get through it!

Recipe here if anyone wants to have a go http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/bunting_cake_35577

cottage_retreatist

woweeeee wegle! I've wanted to do those layered cakes for ages but this is amazing!!!!!!! your work mates must love you! wish i worked in your office!!!!!

well - HOK3Y - I've got my xmas recipe book out and I must have been on CRACK when i wrote this!!!!!!!! :eek:

So this is my attempt at interpreting my scribblings! Its a Nigella/Delia/C-R hybrid!

Ingredients:
Raisins: 500g
Sultanas: 300g
Currents: 200g
glace cherries: 50g
peel: 50g
dried cranberries: 50g
chopped pecans/walnuts: 100g
bourbon/brandy: 400ml - think i did 8 tbsp though (must have felt cheap!)
butter: 300g
dark brown sugar: 180g
zest of lemon
zest of ornage
large eggs: 4
black treacle: 2 tbsp
almond extract: 1 tsp
ground almonds: 150g
plain flour: 300g
ground cloves: 1/2 tsp*
ground cinnamon: 1 tsp
ground ginger: 1/2 tsp

tin size: 23cm round/20cm square
temperature: 150 degrees centigrade
cooking time 2 3/4 - 3 1/4 hours
approx 16 slices

* I know I don't have ground cloves so I likely did loads of cinnamon and nutmeg as well!!

Cook the dried fruits in the alcohol - bring alcohol to the boil then turn off heat and cover fruit when it has cooled and leave it to steep in the pan overnight so the alcohol infuses the fruit! mmm!

Cream butter and sugar then add the citrus zest. Add the eggs one at a time beating between - this is where I tend to curdle it - but that doesn't really matter with xmas cake!!

after the eggs add the black treacle and almond extract - don't have this in my cupboards so maybe didn't add it? Also - think I added 75g cranberries and only 50g ground almonds - almonds are expensive!!

sift the dry ingredients together then alternately mix the dried ingredients and steeped dried fruit with the wet mixture until all of it is mixed in then add the chopped walnuts/pecans.

Put in the tin and wrap with double brown paper and place a piece on the top with a 50p coin hole cut in the middle for the steam.

Check - skewer should come out clean - it takes forever but smells a-mah-zing!!!!

Brush with a bit more alcohol then wrap in brown paper and then double layer of foil. Put away and steep - making pin pricks in the cake, whenever - the more the boozier the better!!!!!! :cool:

Finally do the marzipan then the icing - think you need a minimum week between doing the two? If you want them?

Hope that helps?
xx

HOK3Y

Oh. My. Gawd. Wegle that is one hell of a cake! Did your workmates manage to eat it all?! When are you coming to mine for tea? BYOC?!

C-R, well I almost snorted my tea when I read about your possible drug foray......not quite in the same category as crack but hey, I like to live on the wild side! Thank you so much for the recipe. I am going to have to give it a go this year......I have been saying this for the last 3 years but I really mean it this year. I am going to do my Auntie Freda (major, amazing cake baker) proud this year!!

iammumtoone

Love that layer cake. I was planning on trying a four layer one for bonfire night and calling it a firework cake. Do you think there would be enough mixture in that recipe to do four smaller layers?