This classic US dessert hails from the Southern states. It consists of sweet peaches enveloped in a light, cakey, buttery, batter – think Toad in the Hole, but instead of sausage being surrounded in batter it’s peaches surrounded in batter, and baked until the batter is golden. Apple crumble had always been my go-to easy dessert, however this is a wonderful alternative. It can be served warm with custard for a nice winter dessert. Alternatively it can be served with ice cream. With spring on the way, and the progression of a somewhat promising route out of this pandemic, this change-up in our dessert routine has also helped to fill me with a sense of optimism.
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Key Ingredients
(see below for full list of ingredients)
Peaches: I use two tins of peach slices. I prefer the peaches in natural juice as opposed to in syrup, but that’s just my personal choice.
Butter: Adds a richness to the batter.
Baking Powder: This ingredient, combined with the hot butter causes the batter to rise around the peaches.
How To Make Peach Cobbler
Step One: Pre-heat your oven to 160 °C fan (180 °C conventional/ 350 °F/ Gas Mark 4).
Step Two: Spread 95 g unsalted butter out on the base of a 23 cm x 33 cm (9″ x 13″) cake pan. Place it in the oven for around 5 minutes until the butter has melted. I use my 9″ x 13″ Circulon Cake Pan.
Step Three: In the meantime, add two 400 g tins of peach slices drained to a large bowl. Mix in 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla essence and the 2 tbsp sugar. Set aside.
Step Four: In another bowl add in 150 g flour, 95 g caster sugar, 1 tsp baking powder and a pinch of salt and mix well. Whisk in 150 ml whole milk until a smooth batter is formed.
Step Five: Remove the cake pan from the oven and pour the batter over the butter. Use a spoon to spread the batter out, but do not mix the butter and the batter together.
Step Six: Arrange the peaches on top of the batter.
Step Seven: Place the cake pan back into the oven. Bake for 50 – 60 minutes until the batter has risen and is golden brown in colour.
How To Serve Peach Cobbler
This dessert can be served either warm or cold, with custard, ice cream or whipped cream.
Tips for Making Peach Cobbler
Bake on a low heat, but for a longer time. The idea is to cook the peaches so that they are nice and tender, as well as to brown and crisp up the batter.
Peach Cobbler Recipe
Serves: 8
Preparation Time: 5
Cooking Time: 50 – 60 minutes
INGREDIENTS
95 g unsalted butter cubed
2x 400 g tinned peaches drained
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 tbsp caster sugar.
150 g plain flour
95 g caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
150 ml whole milk
METHOD
Pre-heat oven to 160 °C fan (180 °C conventional/ 350 °F/ Gas Mark 4).
Spread the butter out on the base of a 23 cm x 33 cm (9″ x 13″) cake pan. Place it in the oven for around 5 minutes until the butter has melted. I use my 9″ x 13″ Circulon Cake Pan.
In the meantime, add the peaches to a large bowl. Mix in the cinnamon, vanilla essence and the 2 tablespoons of sugar. Set aside.
In another bowl add in the flour, additional caster sugar, baking powder and salt and mix well. Whisk in the milk until a smooth batter is formed.
Remove the cake pan from the oven and pour the batter over the butter. Use a spoon to spread the batter out, but do not mix the butter and the batter together.
Arrange the peaches on top of the batter.
Place the cake pan back into the oven. Bake for 50 – 60 minutes until the batter has risen and is golden brown in colour.
This classic British dessert has become one of my favourite desserts to make at home. It consists of a light moist dark sponge, sweetened with dates and soaked in a delicious rich toffee sauce. I normally don’t tend to order this dessert when I go out to eat as I find it can sometimes be overly sweet, however I’ve perfected my recipe so it’s lighter on the sugars, but still super delicious. I also go against tradition by adding a tiny bit of cinnamon to the sponge. Now, the cinnamon flavour is not at all dominant in the end result, but you catch a hint of it as you eat the sponge and it really compliments the toffee-ness.
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Even if you’re not a fan of dried fruit in cakes or desserts, please do not over look this pudding. You really will not be able to tell that the dates are present in the sponge – especially since in my version I blend my dates before they are added to my sponge cake batter. This pudding is very easy to make and the flavour of the sponge coupled with the toffee sauce is superb.
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Key Ingredients
(see below for full list of ingredients)
Medjool Dates: This is the main sweetener in the sponge. It has a natural sweet toffee flavour and gives the sponge a lovely gooey moistness.
Tea Bag: Traditionally the dates are first soaked in tea prior to being mixed into the sponge batter. I’m not sure exactly why the tea is needed as there is no underlying tea flavour in the resultant cake, but it works.
Muscovado Sugar: Adds to the toffee flavour.
Butter: I use lightly salted butter in the sponge as well as in the toffee sauce as the saltiness contributes towards the toffee flavours.
Cream: This is used to make the toffee sauce. Double cream is typically used, but I use Elmlea Plant Double Cream Alternative and the resultant sauce is divine (you would never tell that it’s not dairy).
How To Make Sticky Toffee Pudding
Step One: Pre-heat oven to 160 °C fan (180 °C conventional/Gas mark 4/ 350 °F), and grease and line a rectangular baking tin roughly 21 cm x 30 cm (the base should be roughly the size of an A4 sheet of paper).
Step Two: Place 175 g Medjool dates in a ceramic bowl, pour over 150 ml hot water, add 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda and an English tea bag. Leave them to soak for at least 10 minutes, then remove and discard the tea bag and add in 1 tsp vanilla essence. Blitz the dates and the liquid in the blender for around 10 to 20 seconds until a smooth paste is formed. I use my Nutribullet for this.
Step Three: In the meantime, cream together 175 g lightly salted butter, 30 g brown sugar and 40 g muscovado sugar, and then whisk in 2 medium eggs, 100 ml whole milk and the date paste from Step One.
Step Four: Sift in 175 g self-raising flour and 0.25 tsp cinnamon, and fold them in to the liquid ingredients.
Step Five: Pour the batter into the baking tin and bake for 25 – 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the sponge comes out clean.
Step Six: In the meantime make the toffee sauce. Place 75 g lightly salted butter, 70 g muscovado sugar and 150 ml double cream into a small saucepan over a gentle low heat. Cook until the butter and sugar has melted and the mixture is smooth, around 10 minutes. Do not allow it to bubble or boil.
Step Seven: When the sponge has baked remove it from the oven and spoon and smooth out half of the toffee sauce over the top. Leave the sponge for around 10 minutes to absorb the sauce before cutting it into squares and serving with the remaining warm toffee sauce.
How To Serve Sticky Toffee Pudding
Serve the warm sponge with warm toffee sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Tips for Making Sticky Toffee Pudding
Soak the dates in hot water with a tea bag for at least 10 minutes to soften them up. Some people just mash the soaked dates with a fork, however I prefer a smoother sponge so I put the dates and all the liquid in the blender.
When preparing your baking tin, there’s no need to be neat. Simply grease the tin with butter and then cut a large rectangle of baking paper, slightly larger than the size of your tin to account for the sides. Scrunch the baking paper tightly into a ball and then un-crease it and smooth it into the tin. Don’t worry if the paper doesn’t sit flush against the tin as the sponge batter will expand as it bakes. The flavours definitely surpass the presentation in this dessert.
Go slow when making the toffee sauce – use a low heat and be patient. Do not allow it to boil as this will alter the flavour and texture of the sauce.
Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe
Serves: 12
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 – 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
For the sponge:
175 g Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
150 ml hot water
1 English tea bag
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
175 g lightly salted butter
30 g brown sugar
40 g muscovado sugar
2 medium eggs
100 ml whole milk (or oat milk)
1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional)
175 g self-raising flour
For the toffee sauce:
75 g lightly salted butter
70 g muscovado sugar
150 ml double cream (or plant-based alternative)
METHOD
Pre-heat oven to 160 °C fan (180 °C conventional/Gas mark 4/ 350 °F), and grease and line a rectangular baking tin roughly 21 cm x 30 cm (the base should be roughly the size of an A4 sheet of paper).
Place the dates in a ceramic bowl, pour the hot water on top and add the bicarbonate of soda and the tea bag. Leave them to soak for at least 10 minutes, then remove and discard the tea bag and add in the vanilla essence. Blitz the dates and the liquid in the blender for around 10 to 20 seconds until a smooth paste is formed. I use my Nutribullet for this.
In the meantime, cream the butter and the sugars together and then whisk in the eggs, milk and the date paste.
Sift in the flour and the cinnamon and fold them in to the liquid ingredients.
Pour the batter into the baking tin and bake for 25 – 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the sponge comes out clean.
In the meantime make the toffee sauce. Place the butter, sugar and cream into a small saucepan over a gentle low heat. Cook until the butter and sugar has melted and the mixture is smooth, around 10 minutes. Do not allow it to bubble or boil.
When the sponge has baked remove it from the oven and spoon and smooth out half of the toffee sauce over the top. Leave the sponge for around 10 minutes to absorb the sauce before cutting it into squares and serving with the remaining warm toffee sauce.
NOTES
This is great served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and the remaining warm toffee sauce.
This is such a fun retro cake, but until lockdown happened I’d never tried it before. Once I’d perfected my recipe I couldn’t stop making it. When I see the pretty pineapple and glace cherry topping makes me happy. The cake itself consists of a vanilla sponge, I add a little allspice to my cake for a Caribbean twist. The sponge is then topped with pineapple rings and glace cherries, and a buttery caramelised sugar syrup.
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Pineapple upside down cake is super easy to make and all the beauty of the presentation comes from how it is put together before it is baked. A layer of creamed butter and sugar is first spread on the bottom of the cake tin. The pineapple rings and glace cherries are then arranged on top of this sugar-butter mixture – you can have fun with this bit, but usually the glace cherry halves are placed in the centre of the pineapple rings. Next, the cake batter is poured on top. After the cake is baked it is then turned out onto a plate or cake stand, and voila – the pineapple and cherries now form a pretty topping.
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Key Ingredients
(see below for full list of ingredients)
Pineapple Rings: Forms the main topping of the cake and adds a slight fruity flavour to the sponge.
Glace Cherries: These are more decorative than for flavour.
Butter, Sugar, Eggs, Flour: General sponge cake ingredients.
Ground Allspice: Not a traditional ingredient in pineapple upside down cake, but it works really well with pineapple.
How To Make Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Step One: Pre-heat your oven to 160 °C fan (180 °C/350 °F/Gas Mark 4).
Step Two: Cream 50 g unsalted butter with 50 g caster sugar and spread this mixture on the bottom of a 18 cm cake tin.
Step Three: Arrange 6 pineapple rings on top of the butter sugar mixture. I overlap the rings in a circle. Add a 6 glace cherry halves to the centre of each of the pineapple rings such that the dome of the cherry faces down. If space permits add an additional glace cherry half to the centre of the pineapple ring circle.
Step Four: In the meantime make the cake batter. Cream together 100 g butter and 80 g caster sugar until pale and fluffy.
Step Five: Whisk in 2 medium eggs and 1 tsp vanilla essence.
Step Six: Sift in 100 g self-raising flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1/8 tsp ground allspice, then fold it in to the wet ingredients.
Step Seven: Pour the batter into the cake tin over the pineapple and glace cherries.
Step Eight: Bake in the oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Step Nine: Allow the cake to cool in the cake tin for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a plate or a cake stand.
How To Serve Pineapple Upside Down Cake
This cake can be served warm or cold. It is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Tips for Making Pineapple Upside Down Cake
It is best to make this cake using a fixed bottom cake tin. However, if all you have is a loose bottom tin then be sure to place it on a baking tray as some of the butter-sugar syrup may leak.
Allow the cake to cool down for around 10 minutes before turning it out onto a plate or cake stand.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe
Serves: 8
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 – 50 minutes
INGREDIENTS
for the topping:
50 g unsalted butter
50 g caster sugar
6 pineapple rings
7 glace cherry halves
for the sponge cake:
100 g unsalted butter
80 g caster sugar
2 medium eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
100 g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp ground allspice
METHOD
Pre-heat oven to 160 °C fan (180 °C/350 °F/Gas Mark 4).
Cream the butter and sugar and spread this mixture on the bottom of a 18 cm cake tin.
Arrange the pineapple rings and glace cherries on top of the butter-sugar mixture.
In the meantime make the cake batter. Cream together the butter and sugar until pale an fluffy.
Whisk in the eggs and vanilla essence.
Sift in the flour, baking powder, and allspice, then fold it in to the wet ingredients.
Pour the batter into the cake tin over the pineapple and glace cherries.
Bake in the oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool in the cake tin for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a plate or a cake stand.
NOTES
If using a loose bottom cake tin, place it on a baking tray during baking as the butter syrup may leak.
This chocolate and cherry cake consists of multiple layers of chocolate sponge separated by layers of cherry jam and fresh cream. It’s super easy to make. The sponge can be made ahead and the cake can be assembled in a few minutes prior to eating. You can top it with additional cream, a sprinkling of cocoa powder and fresh stemmed cherries for a cute rustic look. It’s sure to impress at any tea party.
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Key Ingredients
(see below for full list of ingredients)
Self-raising flour: This gives the cake a light texture and gives it the right amount of rise as it bakes.
Cocoa Powder: Use good quality cocoa powder.
Cherry Jam: I use Hartley’s Best Black Cherry Jam
Cream: Whipped double cream works well. However I prefer to use Elmlea Plant Double Cream.
How To Make Easy Chocolate and Cherry Cake
Step One: Pre-heat your oven to 160 °C fan, (180 °C conventional, 350 °F). Then grease and line two loose bottom 18 cm cake tins with baking paper. I use two of my trusty MasterClass 18 cm Deep Cake Tin.
Step Two: Add 200 g unsalted butter to a large mixing bowl, along with 200 g caster sugar and 1 tsp vanilla essence and cream them together until they are light and fluffy. I use my Russell Hobbs 24672 Desire Electric Hand Mixer.
Step Three: Add in 4 large eggs beaten a little at a time, whisking well after each addition.
Step Four: Sift in 200 g self-raising flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 3 tbsp cocoa powder and fold in with a spatula.
Step Five: Divide the cake batter evenly between the two prepared cake tins. Bake in the middle shelf of the oven for 20 – 25 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Step Six: Leave cakes to cool in their tins for 10 minutes, before removing them from the tins. Place them on a wired baking rack to cool further.
Step Seven: Once the cakes have cooled down use a cake leveller, some dental floss or a long sharp knife to cut each one in half such that you end up with four layers.
Step Eight: Spread around 83 g cherry jam (approximately a third of the jam) on top of the first layer of chocolate sponge, leaving 2 cm from the edge. Top this with 50 ml whipped cream (around a quarter of the cream), then place the next layer of sponge on top. Repeat this for the next two layers of the cake.
Step Nine: Add the remaining 50 ml whipped cream to the top of the cake. Use a sieve to dust the top with 1 tsp cocoa powder, then top with 200 g fresh stemmed cherries, stems facing upwards.
How To Serve Easy Chocolate and Cherry Cake
This is great for afternoon tea, bake sales or parties.
Tips for Making Easy Chocolate and Cherry Cake
Ensure your butter (and eggs, if you keep your eggs in the fridge,) are at room temperature. Remove them from the fridge around an hour or an hour and a half before you’re ready to make the cake.
Do not over bake the sponge, as it will dry out at the edges.
Easy Chocolate and Cherry Cake Recipe
Serves: 8 – 12
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Baking Time: 20 – 25 minutes
INGREDIENTS
For the sponge:
200 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
200 g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
4 large eggs beaten
200 g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 tbsp cocoa powder
For the filling and topping:
200 ml double cream, whipped
250 g cherry jam
1 tsp cocoa powder
200 g fresh stemmed cherries
METHOD
Pre-heat oven to 160 °C fan, (180 °C conventional, 350 °F). Grease and line two loose bottom 18 cm cake tins. I use two MasterClass 18 cm Deep Cake Tins.
Add the eggs in little by little, whisking after each addition.
Sift in the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder, then fold in using a spatula.
Divide the cake batter between the two baking tins. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes until the top of the cake springs back up when you press lightly on it, and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Allow the cakes to cool for 10 minutes before removing them from the cake tins. Allow them to cool further on a rack.
When the cakes have cooled down, use a cake leveller, dental floss or a long sharp knife to cut each cake in half such that you end up with four layers.
Spread a third of the jam on top of the bottom layer leaving 2 cm from the edge. Top this with a quarter of the whipped cream. Place a layer of chocolate sponge on top. Repeat this until the cake has four layers.
Add the remaining whipped cream to the top of the cake. Lightly sift the cocoa powder on top and finally top with the cherries.
NOTES
You can alternatively use strawberry or raspberry jam for the filling and top with fresh berries.
I remember Victoria Sponge cake being one of the first cakes I attempted to make by myself when I was younger, it’s what got me into baking. My mum had clipped the recipe out of a magazine for me and the measurements were in ounces. The outcome wasn’t too bad but it was a little bit meh – it was dense and the flavour always had a heavy eggy undertone, so I soon stopped making it.
Fast forward around seventeen years. One of my managers at work brought in the loveliest Victoria Sponge I’d ever tasted. It had the lightest texture and I soon fell in love with the cake once again. I decided to go on a quest to learn how to make it properly.
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The cake itself is easy to make and consists of a few simple ingredients, but I found that the true magic of the cake comes from the technique in which the ingredients are brought together. I will explain this in the “Tips” section below.
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Key Ingredients
(see below for full list of ingredients)
Unsalted Butter: This needs to be at room temperature to prevent the mixture from splitting/curdling.
Caster Sugar: Most Victoria Sponge recipes call for equal parts flour, sugar and butter, however I like mine a little less sweet. Therefore I reduce the sugar by around one third, since some of the sweetness will also come from the jam filling.
Eggs: This binds the ingredients together. It is also important for the eggs to be at room temperature to prevent curdling.
Self-raising flower: This is the base ingredient of the cake. Self-raising flour gives the perfect amount of rise.
How To Make Victoria Sponge
Step One: Preheat your oven to 150 °C fan (170 °C conventional / gas mark 4 / 338 °F).
Step Two: Grease and line two 18 cm round cake tins.
Step Three: Cream together 160 g unsalted butter, 1.5 tsp vanilla extract and 110 g caster sugar until light and fluffy.
Step Four: Add 3 beaten medium eggs to the sugar, butter and vanilla mixture one tablespoon at a time, mixing well between each addition of egg.
Step Five: Sift 160 g self-raising flour on top and fold it into the mixture using a wooden spoon.
Step Six: Divide the batter between the two prepared cake tins and bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake springs back when you press lightly on the top and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Step Seven: Leave the cakes to cool for five minutes before removing from the tin and removing the baking paper. Leave cakes to cool on a wire rack.
Step Eight: Spread 125 g smooth strawberry jam on top of one of the cakes then top with 50 ml whipped double cream, before placing the other cake on top. Finally, sift 1 tbsp icing sugar over the top.
How To Serve Victoria Sponge
Serve with tea or coffee.
Tips for Making Victoria Sponge
Follow these 4 key tips to get the best results.
Tip 1: Ensure that the eggs and the butter are at room temperature before making the cake batter. This stops the batter from curdling. Curdled cake batter prevents the cake from rising adequately and results in crumbly cake.
Tip 2: Cream the butter and sugar together until it is light and fluffy. It’s really worth using an electric mixer for this step. Now this doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive – I made this successfully with a simple Silver Crest hand mixer from Lidl which served me well for a number of years. However, I recently upgraded to a Russell Hobbs 24672 Desire Hand Mixer, which I love – it’s a little quieter and more compact, but is still reasonably priced.
Tip 3: If the mixture does start to split/curdle when the eggs are added then I fix this by putting the mixture in the microwave for about 10 seconds.
Tip 4: When adding the eggs to the creamed butter and sugar mixture add it in a little at a time and mix well. Around one to two tablespoons of egg at a time is ideal. The mixing in between each addition aerates the cake batter which helps to produce that light and fluffy texture when baked.
Tip 5: Sift the flour and fold it in to the batter gently, this helps retain the air in the cake, again for that light fluffy texture at the end.
Victoria Sponge Recipe
Serves: 8
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Baking Time: 30 – 35 minutes
INGREDIENTS
For the sponge cake:
160 g unsalted butter
110 g caster sugar
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
160 g self-raising flour sifted
3 medium eggs beaten
For the filling:
125 g smooth strawberry jam
50 ml double cream whipped
1 tbsp icing sugar for dusting
METHOD
Preheat oven to 150 °C fan (170 °C conventional / gas mark 4 / 338 °F).
Cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
Add the egg to the sugar, butter and vanilla mixture one tablespoon at a time, mixing well between each addition of egg.
Pour the flour in and fold into the mixture using a wooden spoon.
Divide the batter between the cake tins and bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake springs back when you press lightly on the top and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Leave the cakes to cool for five minutes before removing from the tin and removing the baking paper. Leave cakes to cool on a wire rack.
Spread jam on top of one of the cakes then top with the cream, before placing the other cake on top. Finally, sift the icing sugar over the top.
NOTES
Most Victoria Sponge recipes use equal parts sugar, butter and flour, but I find this too sweet. In my version I’ve reduced the sugar by about a third since the jam also adds some sweetness.
I use Hartley’s Seedless Strawberry Jam for the filling.
I’m not that big on dairy so I substitute the cream with Elmlea Plant Double Cream Alternative. It has a lovely rich creamy taste and whips really well. It also has less fat than regular double cream, if you’d like to save some calories (I know it’s cake, but if it can taste great and be healthier that’s always a win in my book).
Apple crumble is one of my favourite comfort food desserts. I just love to eat it warm with custard, and for this reason I associate it with cold winter evenings. One of the best things about this dessert (apart from it’s deliciousness) is that practically anyone can make it well since minimal baking skills are required.
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I like to use sweet apples to make it as opposed to cooking apples, as I prefer a sweeter dessert and am not that keen on the tartness you get from cooking apples. Also, some cooking apples take a long time to soften up when they are stewed, and I’m all about saving time wherever I can. I also like to add a little salt to the apple filling to give it a caramel apple taste. I also associate warm apple desserts with cinnamon and nutmeg, so I’ve included a little of both in this recipe, however this is optional.
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Key Ingredients
(see below for full list of ingredients)
Sweet Apples: I like to use Royal Gala or Red Delicious apples due to their sweetness. They also soften up really quickly when cooked, and this dessert is all about being quick, easy and fool-proof.
Flour: Plain flour, self-raising flour, whatever you have in the cupboard – it doesn’t make much difference.
Oats: Adds a nicer texture and flavour to the crumble topping.
Butter: This is key for a nice crumble texture.
How To Make Apple Crumble
Step One: Pre-heat your oven to 180 °C fan (200 °C conventional / gas mark 6 / 400 °F).
Step Two: To make the filling, add 8 peeled, cored and roughly chopped 1cm cubed apple pieces to a saucepan along with the 1 tsp vanilla essence, 1/8 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tbsp brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Mix this well and stew for 5 minutes with the lid on until the apples release some water. Then simmer for a further 10 minutes with the lid off until the apple is soft and most of the liquid has evaporated.
Step Three: In the meantime make the crumble. Add 230 g flour (2 cups), 4 tbsp oats and 50 g caster sugar (1/4 cup) to a large mixing bowl and mix with a wooden spoon.
Step Four: Add in 100 g unsalted butter (1/2 cup) and use your finger tips to work the butter into the dry ingredients to make crumbs.
Step Five: Pour the stewed apple into a pie dish (roughly 21 cm by 30 cm is ideal), then top with the crumble and bake for 35 minutes until the crumble starts to go golden brown.
How To Serve Apple Crumble
Serve warm with custard, vanilla ice cream or single cream. In my opinion nothing beats warm apple crumble with hot custard – yummm.
Apple Crumble Recipe
Serves: 6
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking/Baking Time: 50 minutes
INGREDIENTS
for the filling:
8 gala apples (or other sweet apples) peeled, cored and roughly cut into 1 cm cubes
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp brown sugar
pinch salt
for the crumble:
230 g flour (2 cups), plain or self-raising whatever you have in the cupboard)
4 tbsp oats
50 g caster sugar (1/4 cup)
100 g unsalted butter (1/2 cup), cold and cut into 1 cm cubes
METHOD
Pre-heat oven to 180 °C fan (200 °C conventional / gas mark 6 / 400 °F).
Add the apple to a saucepan along with the vanilla essence, nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar and salt. Mix well and stew for 5 minutes with the lid on until the apples release some water. Then simmer for a further 10 minutes with the lid off until the apple is soft and most of the liquid has evaporated.
Add the flour, oats and sugar to a large bowl and mix with a wooden spoon.
Add the butter and use your finger tips to work the butter into the dry ingredients to make crumbs.
Pour the stewed apple into a baking dish, top with the crumble and bake for 35 minutes until the crumble starts to go brown.
I am currently embroiled in a love affair with my new air fryer (yes, I’m such a kitchen geek)! I’d wanted one of these for a couple of years now, but had always talked myself out of buying one. I thought it would be just another kitchen gadget that I’d quickly loose interest in, that would remain on my kitchen counter taking up precious space. However, I could not have been more wrong. These things are amazing! I honestly wish I had bought one sooner. Somehow they add crispness and flavour to foods even without prior marinating (and I’m the marinating queen) and all with minimal oil.
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After lots of research I decided on the Ninja AF100UK as it seemed perfect for a family of four, and I have not been disappointed. It’s really easy to use (I used it without looking at the manual) and cleaning up is easy as the pan and grilling tray are non-stick and can be popped into the dishwasher. Honestly, I’ve found a way to use it every day since it arrived and the great thing is that I can make healthier meals for my family without compromising on the taste.
One of my kids’ favourite treats are freshly fried cinnamon sugar donuts (the kind I remember getting at the fair when I was little), so I decided to have a go at making an air fryer version based on the US style biscuit dough. The donuts are so quick and easy to make and cook in 5 minutes. They are then coated in butter and dipped in delicious cinnamon sugar – the butter gives the cinnamon sugar something to cling on to. The result is a tasty light and airy sugary donut that the family can easily polish off in one sitting. And unlike the deep fried version there was no excess oil to have to somehow discard afterwards.
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Key Ingredients
(see below for full list of ingredients)
Flour: I use plain flour
Baking Powder: Gives the donut a light and airy texture.
Butter: I use unsalted butter. This helps to ensure that the texture is not too dry.
Milk: My milk of preference is oat milk, but this will work well with whole dairy milk too. The milk binds the ingredients together.
Cinnamon Sugar: Just a simple mix of caster sugar and cinnamon, but the ratio has to be correct to get that perfect fair ground donut taste.
How To Make Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Step One: Pre-heat your air fryer at 200 °C for 3-5 minutes.
Step Two: Add 225 g plain flour to a large mixing bowl. Add in 1 tbsp baking powder, 0.25 tsp fine sea salt, 20 g caster sugar and 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg and mix well with a wooden spoon.
Step Three: Add in 75 g unsalted butter cold and cubed and use the tips of your fingers to rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles course bread crumbs.
Step Four: Use a measuring jug to measure out 80 ml milk. Add in 1 tsp vanilla essence and stir well.
Step Five: Slowly add in the milk mixture to the flour-butter breadcrumbs. Use a wooden spoon to bring the mixture together to form a soft dough.
Step Six: Roll the dough out onto a floured surface until it is around 1 cm thick. Fold the dough into three (like how you would fold an A4 piece of paper to fit into a DL envelope). Repeat this step two more times.
Step Seven: Now roll the dough out so that it is around 1.5 cm to 2 cm thick.
Step Eight: Use a 5 cm round cookie cutter to cut out 8 donuts. Roll the remaining dough into a ball and then roll out with a rolling pin again until it is 1.5 cm to 2 cm thick and cut out a further four donuts.
Step Nine: Use a shot glass to cut out donut holes from the donuts. Reserve the donut holes.
Step Ten: Brush the tops of the donuts and donut holes with some of the 200 g melted butter. Then turn the over and brush the other side with butter. Set aside the remaining butter
Step Eleven: Add the donuts to the crisper tray of the air fryer and air fry at 200 °C for 5 minutes, turning them half way for even cooking. Then add the donut holes to the air fryer and air fry them for 3 minutes, again turn them half way. Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to cook the donuts and donut holes in batches.
Step Twelve: Use a silicone brush to brush the tops of the donuts and donut holes with the remaining melted butter. Then turn them over and brush the other side with butter. For a more indulgent donut brush the top and bottom of the donuts with butter twice. This allows the donut to absorb more butter.
Step Thirteen: In a large bowl mix together 75 g caster sugar and 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon.
Step Fourteen: Dip the donuts into the cinnamon sugar until they are coated. Enjoy them while they are warm.
How To Serve Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Air Fryer donuts are definitely best served warm.
You can even make a chocolate dipping sauce for the donuts by mixing some Nutella with milk until it is the right consistency for dipping.
Tips for Making Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Open the air fryer and check on the donuts regularly when air frying the donuts. You want the donuts to go brown, but not to be overcooked as they will dry out.
When brushing the donuts with butter really try to ensure that all the surfaces of the donuts are coated with butter, especially the holes. Really get your silicon brush in there.
Double brushing the donuts with butter once they are cooked enhances gives the donuts more flavour and also gives the cinnamon sugar more to cling on to.
Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donuts Recipe
Makes: 12 donuts and 12 donut holes
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 3 – 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS
For the donuts:
235 g plain flour
1 tbsp baking powder
0.25 tsp fine sea salt
20 g caster sugar
1/8 tsp nutmeg
75 g unsalted butter cold and cubed
80 ml whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 medium egg beaten
For greasing the donuts before and after air frying:
200 g melted butter
For the cinnamon sugar coating:
75 g caster sugar
1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
METHOD
Pre-heat air fryer to 200 °C for 3-5 minutes.
In a large bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and nutmeg.
Add in the cold butter and use your finger tips to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles course breadcrumbs.
In a jug or cup mix together the milk and the vanilla essence.
Slowly pour this milk mixture into the breadcrumbs mixture and use a wooden spoon to bring it together into a dough.
Place the dough onto a floured surface and roll it out until it is around 1 cm thick. Fold the dough in 3 (like how you would fold an A4 sheet of paper if you were trying to fit it into a DL envelope). Roll out the dough again and repeat this twice.
Now roll the dough out so that it is around 1.5 – 2 cm thick . Use a round cookie cutter to cut out 8 donuts. Roll the remaining dough into a ball and re-roll it out until it is 1.5 – 2 cm thick. Cut a further four donuts out.
Brush the tops and bottoms of the donuts and donut holes with some of the melted butter.
Place the donuts and donut holes onto the crisper try the air fryer. Cook the donuts for 5 minutes and the donut holes for 3 minutes. Turn them half way. You may need to air fry them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Brush the tops and bottoms of the donuts and donut holes with melted butter. You can brush them with butter twice for extra flavour.
Make the cinnamon sugar by combining the sugar and the cinnamon. Dip the donuts and donut holes into the cinnamon sugar until they are coated.
In keeping with my theme of hygge for January (and as a nod to Vaganuary), there’s nothing more cosy than indulging in a hot chocolate and a slice of cake on the sofa whilst snuggled under a warm blanket. Here is my favourite hot chocolate recipe – it’s rich, smooth and vegan. It’s really quick and easy to make and requires only 4 ingredients.
Now, I’m not actually vegan, and I don’t think I ever will be (since I love meat so much), however I do recognise and value the health and environmental benefits of plant based foods. For these reasons I started incorporating vegan dishes into my diet. And I actually believe that some vegan foods actually taste better than their animal product containing counterparts. A prime example is the vegan hot chocolate recipe. It’s so creamy and delicious, and all without the dairy!
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Add the cocoa powder, brown sugar and cinnamon to a microwavable mug and mix well.
Add a few drops of milk and mix well to make a paste. Keep adding the milk a few drops at a time until the paste starts to thin out. Then stir in the rest of the milk.
Heat in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir and enjoy!
NOTES
If making hot chocolate for a number of people then just multiply the quantities by the number of mugs required. Add the dry ingredients to a sauce pan and mix well before gradually adding in the oat milk and mixing well. Heat on a low-medium heat for around 3-4 minutes. Do not let it boil.
Serve topped with plant based whipped cream – I love whipping up some Elmlea Double Plant Cream Alternative. Mini marshmallows are also preferable.
I would recommend Oatly oat drink as a non-dairy alternative to milk as it doesn’t curdle like some oat milks do and it doesn’t have the strong taste that you often get with coconut or nut-based milks.
I know I’m a bit late to the banana bread party (everyone seemed to be baking banana bread during quarantine/lockdown!), but I found myself making banana bread today and wanted to share my favourite go-to recipe. This banana bread is so quick and easy to make – it can be prepared in less than 10 minutes! The result is a moist banana bread that is not overly sweet. It’s ideal as a snack, but because it is less sweet than some versions it’s also really good for breakfast spread with Nutella.
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This treat is ideal for the festive season. Over the past few months I’ve been seeing a lot of social media posts from my foodie friends about babkas. A babka is a type of sweet brioche-style bread rolled up with a sweet filling. It originates from Jewish communities in Poland and the Ukraine. They particularly caught my eye due to the delicate marble effect of the bread and the filling when sliced. So I had a go at making my own using Nutella and then cinnamon sugar as the filling – they were delicious, and my family devoured them really quickly. I then thought about adding a Caribbean twist to the babka and came up with this recipe for Spiced Fruit Babka. It takes as the filling the key ingredients from the traditional Jamaican Black Cake: dried fruit soaked in rum, mixed spice and almond extract.
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Now, this recipe takes a little forward planning as the dried fruit has to be soaked in alcohol for at least two days in advance in order to get the correct flavour, but it is completely worth it. The result is a soft and airy, slightly sweet bread, enveloped around jam-like layers of moist spiced boozy fruit. Irresistible when freshly baked, and perfect for an afternoon tea on these cold days.
235 ml milk warmed (plus an additional 2 tbsp for egg wash)
7 g fast action yeast
100 g caster sugar
115 g unsalted butter cubed at room temperature
2 large eggs (room temperature)
0.5 tsp salt
530 g plain flour
2 tbsp cooking oil
3 tbsp salted butter for spreading on the dough
for the filling:
250 g dried fruits roughly chopped
120 ml dark rum
120 ml sweet sherry or port
0.5 tsp mixed spice
0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
0.5 tsp almond extract
0.5 tsp vanilla extract
METHOD
Start by macerating the fruit. In a non-reactive bowl add the chopped fruit, rum and sherry and mix well. Cover with cling film and leave to macerate for 2 days.
Prepare the bread. Add the milk to a mixing bowl and mix in the yeast, sugar, butter one egg and one egg yolk. The mixture will look lumpy but don’t worry about this.
Mix in the flour in one quarter at a time until a dough is formed. Knead until the dough stops sticking to the sides of the bowl. Ideally use a mixer with a dough hook, I would recommend the Kitchen Aid Hand Mixer, click here for more details.
Remove the dough from the bowl, oil the bowl, place the dough back in the bowl and turn it over so that all sides of the dough are oiled. Cover the bowl with cling film and place a tea towel on top. Leave the dough to rise for around 2 hours.
In the meantime, add the mixed spice, almond extract and vanilla extract to the macerated fruits and stir well. Blend the fruit for around 2-3 minutes until a smooth paste is formed. I used my Nutribullet for this – click here for more details.
Grease two 2lb (23 cm x 13 cm) loaf tins using cooking oil. Divide the risen dough into two and reserve one half covered in a bowl for later. I would recommend the MasterClass 2lb Loaf Tin, you can click here for more details on this tin.
Roll the dough out on a floured surface until it is around 22 cm x 33 cm (just a little bigger than a sheet of A4 paper).
Use a knife or your fingers to spread the salted butter on the top surface of the rolled out dough – take care not to pierce or tear the surface. Spread half of the spiced fruit mixture on top.
Roll the dough along the long edge to form a log. It will be a bit messy, but don’t worry. Ensure that the seam is at the bottom of the log and cut the log in half along it’s length.
Twist the two halves of the log together then place this in the oiled loaf tin.
Repeat steps 8 to 10 with the other half of the dough.
Allow both loaves to rest for around 30 minutes. Pre-heat the oven to 180 °C fan (200 °C conventional oven)
Make the egg wash by mixing the remaining egg white with 2 tablespoons of milk. Brush the top of each loaf with egg wash.
Bake the loaves in the oven for 50-55 minutes until nicely browned.
Remove the loaves from the oven and allow them to cool on a wire rack for 15 to 20 minutes before removing them from the tins.
my favourite EATS 