A long break!

Hello! I haven't forgotten all about you, just real life gets in the way sometimes! I was quite busy through August, and then suddenly my final year of university began and reading took over, leaving little time for baking but hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things soon.

For now, here's some photos of some things I baked way back in July!

Malteaser Cupcakes

 Black Bottom Cupcakes from Hummingbird Bakery.

Strawberry Tart. Recipe via the caked crusader.

 

Next time I'll share photos of a TARDIS cake that I made for my friend's 21st, but I'll leave you with a photo of PacMan (if he were made of strawberry tart that is!)

Strawberries & Cream Victoria Sponge

 For my 21st, I receieved a lovely cake stand. With all the lovely weather we are having, I decided to christen it with this lovely summer's day cake.

I used Mary Berry's sponge recipe as it's always so moist! Whipped up some double cream with a little icing sugar and spread about generously along with some chopped strawberries. Lovely!

Strawberry and vanilla cupcakes.

I whipped these up for our german visitors and placed the cakes (once cooked and frosted) in the tea cup cases my brother had given me for my birthday.

Vanilla sponge (makes about 15 cupcakes)
125g butter
125g sugar
125g self-raising flour
2 eggs
1 tsp of vanilla extract

Cream the butter, then add the sugar until it is also creamed.
Add half the flour and one of the eggs. Mix thoroughly. Repeat with the rest of the flour and the other egg. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix. Divide between paper cases and bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes or until skewer comes out clean of when the top of the sponge is pressed with a fingertip it bounces back.

Strawberry frosting (frosts about 12)
80g unsalted butter
250g icing sugar
1-2 tbsp of milk
1-3 tsp of strawberry flavouring

Cream the butter and then add the icing sugar. Combine the strawberry flavouring with the milk and while mixing, add in a tsp of the milk/strawberry mixture at a time. Icing should be thick enough to stick to the back of the spoon. Keep tasting the icing to see if more strawberry flavouring is needed.

I used a piping back with a large star nozzle for mine. Added some pink glitter sprinkles as well which I thought was cute!