Flourless Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

No flour? No problem...these cookies don't suffer one bit from not having what is first thought of as a baking essential ingredient. It is hard to imagine why they would work, but they just do, you'll have to take my word for it. The peanut butter and ground almonds IS definitely needed here as the key components of bulking it up, but not forgetting that of course they also bring with it so much nutty  goodness which makes these cookies so flavourful. 

Easy Egg-free Chocolate Cake (& vegan option)

Hello strangers, it's been awhile...again, I know, but I'm back and here to help you in this time of need when I think we all need a bit of cheering up with being stuck indoors at the moment, with CAKE OF COURSE!!! 

Banana, Chocolate & Oat Scones

I've always been a lover of scones; plain, cheese, fruit...you name it and I'll be right on it. I think people consider them old fashioned nowadays, bit of an old persons treat, perhaps since it's always been a traditional element to an afternoon tea and guaranteed to be in any twee tearoom and national trust cafe up and down the country flocked with those people of a certain age.

Chocolate, Tahini & Honey Cashew Babka Buns

So first off, you'll probably be thinking what on earth is babka? Well I'll tell you... babka is a sweet yeasted bread, rich like a brioche but more dense in texture, usually with swirls of chocolate or cinnamon twisted in its ribbons of layering, a sweet and buttery cake-bread hybrid, perfect paired with a cuppa, for breakfast or a sweet dessert treat. 

Double-Choc Digestive Brownies

Brownies are such a treat. So indulgent and naughty, they really are something to be eaten in moderation (as all treats should be) and these ones are no exception but offer something a bit different. Yes that's right, they have biscuits on them too! A double whammy of naughtiness and if you are ever in that predicament as to whether to have a cake or biscuit (I know I am on a regular basis), now you can have both to satisfy greedy needs with my Double-Choc Digestive Brownies. 

London Fog Cake

I bet that unless you've come across it in your coffee shop you're probably think what on earth is London Fog!? A London Fog traditionally is a flavored tea latte combo, made with sweetened earl grey tea, some steamed milk and vanilla syrup. So, in cake form... that equates to one coated in a delicately flavored earl grey and vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream. 

Chocolate Hazelnut and Peanut Butter Bars (Vegan Option)

Right, so valentine's day is just around the corner and what better way to show your loved ones you care than with chocolate?! I don't mean going out and buying any old box of chocolates. I'm talking the homemade kind, in a truly wonderful gooey nutty chocolatey treat (with the box of chocolates thrown on top for good measure) - that's the chocolate hazelnut part of the recipe... ferrero rochers all crumbled up and sprinkled over the bars before baking. Although you'll have to find an alternative for all you vegans. 

Chocolate, Clementine and Ginger Buns

It's nearly Christmas break. Woooooo! That means having absolutely no uni work to do (I hope), plenty of lie ins which lead into days spent doing nothing constructive whatsoever. apart from stuffing your face with chocolate and watching endless Christmas movies. Don't you just love this time of year?! 

Instarecipe! Chocolate Orange Hot Cross Bun and Butter Pudding

Happy Easter, hope you all had a lovely weekend. It's the time to be eating chocolate - YASSSS - and what better way to use up those leftover hot cross buns along with the broken or little bits of chocolate hanging around (which I didn't seem to have, let's face it...no one can really have leftover chocolate) but if you're sick of eating it (literally) in egg form, then sprinkle some into this warm, gooey and comforting traditional pudding. 

Baked Banana Choc Digestive Doughnuts

Some people find it easy to write out and about in busy places like at the park or library, although I’d much rather prefer the silence and comfort of being alone. So as I’m currently sat on this 5hr train on my way up to Edinburgh to visit my friend, this post is proving rather difficult to write. But making the most of this boring journey is a strong priority of mine as with university and work I have hardly found the time to blog – evidently. 

Raspberry, White Chocolate and Green Tea Magic Cake

I'm gonna get straight to it, what's so magic about this cake...I can tell you're all dying to know. The magic is all in the baking since it's actually made of the very usual suspects of eggs, sugar, flour, butter and milk.

Cranberry and White Chocolate Bundt Cake

It's got to that time of year again, when I can't face another cheese board and reached that chocolate overload limit. But of course, there's nothing wrong with a bit of cake and I thought this would be the best way to use up those leftover cranberries which have been hanging out in my fridge for the past week now from Christmas day (I just couldn't throw them away!!) as well as putting to good use those obligatory christmas nuts which nobody ate. 

Nutty Chocolate Orange and Maple Loukoumades

My guess is that you've probably never heard of these before or unless you're from Greece. Loukoumades are Greek donuts and they're soooo unbelievably light but deliciously naughty. I don't really like traditional American/English donuts that much anyway so I suppose I'm gonna be more partial towards these round puffy doughy delights. 

Sticky Banoffee Chocolate Upside-down Cake

This cake really is what it sounds like: pure indulgence and heaven!! It's not one to be taken by the shovel load but daaammn it's so good and definitely a real treat. The cake is a bit of a mouthful to say (and that's not even all of it! There's also hazelnuts for that added crunch because why not, and I absolutely love 'em!) I could have called it a pudding rather than a cake as it is based on that british classic - sticky toffee pudding. 

Banoffee Blondies

The blondie. I predict that some of you may be completely in the dark as to what this actually is. If that's you, well, I'll tell you what it is. 

Strawberry, White Chocolate and Pistachio Tier Cake

This one is gonna be a bit of a quick post because even though I've finsihed college, I've found myself so busy these past two weeks and with the bulk of birthday season behind me now, I just had this one last cake to make...as requested by my friend Ellen.

Pear and Chocolate Pudding Pots

At last. My exams are over! Woop woop! I can safely say au revoir to A Levels and bonjour to university. Well, in September that is. For now it's back to blogging, cake making for the many birthdays that are coming up, and having a good old rest. The Summer awaits!! 

Instarecipe! Toffee Cake

I've been making loads of cakes recently, everyone's birthday appears to be at this time of year and I know what you're thinking - duh, surely this happens every year so you'd think I'd be used to it by now, but turns out no! It somehow always ends up creeping up on me and then all of sudden I'm whipping up cakes in a frenzy. Then to add to that I've got others panicking about their friends/family birthday and at last minute I've got cake orders coming out of my ears. (I've never quite got that metaphor but I'll go with it anyway!) While I bake my way through this cake marathon I try to keep things interesting and make something new (when allowed)....like this toffee cake. It makes an awesome birthday cake, or equally good at any old time with a cuppa of course. 

Banana Chocolate Hazelnut Pastry Rolls

There's not much to this recipe, and by that I mean in the way of very few ingredients, plus it's not the most complex of creations. BUT that doesn't mean to say it's not delicious! ... gimme banana, gimme chocolate, gimme hazelnuts and you can't really go wrong. A true tried and tested combination that just works for all the right reasons. Along with a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar and all encased with flaky puff pastry - it's an indulgent dessert that's easy enough for anyone to pull off.

Chocolate Energy Bars [sugar-free, dairy and gluten free, vegan!]

I know what you're thinking..."what?! How can these be sugar-free (as well as all those other things)??" Well my friends, they're not too good to be true, and these are in fact all the stated above. That's because these bars gets their sugary-ness from the fresh dates which make up the bulk of these bars. Along with flaked almonds so they're gluten free and good quality cocoa powder to make them chocolate - obviously! 

They're called energy bars because they make an awesome snack, perfect to last you all week as a pick me-up treat between meals that won't leave you feeling guilty. They'll actually leave you feeling fuller for longer and thanks to all the added extras there's a wealth of benefits too! 

Last year, reported by the Daily Telegraph, "A handful of nuts can save your life" after a Dutch study found a link between daily nut consumption and a reduced chance of dying from a number of chronic diseases, including cancer and heart disease. These chocolate energy bars will supply you with your daily fix of nuts - being rich in walnuts and pistachios.
And it doesn't just stop there...the health benefits of dates are reported to promote good digestive health due to containing fibre, boost heart health, are rich in magnesium – a mineral known for its anti-inflammatory benefits, reducing stroke risk & blood pressure, and finally boost brain health (so I'll be getting lots of these stashed away with all my exam revision coming up!)

This recipe is taken and ever so slightly adapted from 'Sugar Free: Over 60 Recipes with No Added Sugar' by Sue Quinn, published this year. I was bought this book for my birthday and I am loving it! The handy book is an excellent starting point if your looking to reduce (or even eliminate) added sugar in your diet. The recipes are innovative and most happen to be vegan too, there's a whole host of recipes ranging from breakfasts to desserts as well as simple basics such as ketchup. What I love is that unlike many other sugar-free books which actually call for honey, agave or other sugar syrups, this book doesn't and are all natural! The book is an eye opener too with it's stylish design/photography making for an enticing approach to sugar free food. 

Chocolate  Energy  Bars  [ sugar-free,  dairy  and  gluten free,  vegan ] 

Ingredients:

Makes 20 bars
400g pitted fresh dates 60ml melted coconut oil 2 tsps vanilla extract (unsweetened) 40g good quality cocoa powder (unsweetened and check labels if gluten-free - if needed) 125g ground almonds 1 heaped tbsp golden flaxseeds 40g pistachios, roughly chopped 40g walnuts, roughly chopped 50g dried berries - I used a mix of cranberries, golden raisins, inca berries, cherries & blueberries 50g sunflower seeds 2 tbsp desiccated coconut

Method

Blitz the dates in a food processor to a paste, add the melted coconut oil, vanilla and cocoa, then blitz again until a smooth mix. Tip the paste into a bowl and add in the ground almonds and mix with clean hands or a wooden spoon. Add the remaining ingredients apart from the dessicated coconut and mix together until evenly dispersed. 
Line a 20cm square cake tin and line the base and sides with foil. Tip the mixture into the lined tin and press down firmly with your hands or the back of a spoon. Sprinkle with the coconut and lightly press in. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours or until set. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container in the fridge.