HALF TERM BAKING! - By Courtney :)

As its half term we have been doing a lot of baking! Come on, who can't resist the results of home made cakes, tarts e.t.c.? Not us, we've been busy baking Jam tarts, milk chocolate crispy cakes, chocolate chip cupcakes, white chocolate & marshmallow crispy cakes and a delicious chocolate chip sponge cake! A lot of chocolate there but who doesn't like chocolate? 

We know that cakes and chocolate aren't that healthy but you have to have some fun in your diet!

Jam Tarts - a simple but tasty recipe!

(From BBC GoodFood)


Ingredients:

• 125g/4oz plain flour
• A pinch of salt
• 55g/2oz butter (diced)
• 30-40ml/ 2-3 tbsp cold water
• A jar of jam - shop bought or homemade!

Method

1. Tip the plain flour and salt in a large mixing bowl and then add the diced butter
2. Using your finger tips lift up parts of the mixture and rub
3. Repeat until it all looks like breadcrumbs
4. Stir in just enough water to make the mixture stick together in a ball
5. Using a rolling pin roll out the dough to a few mm thick.
6. Using a round cutter or a cup (quick trick) cut out circles and place in a greased (with butter or lard) cupcake tin.
7. Add the jam, we used home made jam and it tasted beautiful!
8. Bake for around 20 minutes
9. Leave to cool then enjoy!

chocolate crispy cakes - a delicious recipe you cannot resist!

Ingredients:

• rice crispies
• milk chocolate
• white chocolate chips

Method:

1. Melt the milk chocolate in a large bowl - either over a pan of boiling water or in the microwave!
2. mix in the rice crispies until they are covered in chocolate!
3. Spoon into cupcake cases
4. sprinkle over the white chocolate chips
5. leave it to set 
6. ENJOY!

White chocolate and marshmallow  crispy cakes! - Known to please!

Ingredients:

• white chocolate 
• milk chocolate buttons
• rice crispies
• half a cup of marshmallows

Method:

1. Repeat steps 1-2 from the above recipe
2. Mix in the milk chocolate buttons and marshmallows
3. Spoon into cupcake cases
4. Leave to set
5. ENJOY!

Chocolate chip cupcakes and loaf cake - A great classic treat

(Same as our cup cake recipe with added chocolate chips!)

Ingredients:

• 6oz margarine/butter
• 6z caster sugar
• 6oz self raising flour (sifted)
• 3 eggs
• chocolate chips

Method:

1. Beat the margarine/butter and caster sugar in a bowl with a wooden spoon until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This a phrase often used in cake baking but when you see it the mixture turns from golden to a pale yellow and has a mousse like texture.
2. Beat the eggs in a small bowl or cup with a fork. Add a bit of egg and a bit of flour then beat. Repeat this until all the egg and flour has been used. If you add the egg too quickly, the mixture will curdle. However this is not a disaster but you will loose some of the lightness of the cake.
3. Mix in the chocolate chips.
4. Spoon into the cupcake cases and with the rest in the loaf tin.
5. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 190.c/375.f/gas mark 5 for 20-25 minutes, until risen and golden.

I hope you enjoy these recipes and have fun baking these sweet treats!