Chocolate Macarons

Macarons... So delicious and delicate. So many people love them, but yet so few of them dare to make them. Yes, they do require a bit more TLC but once you set your mind to it you can do it.

These delicious bites of heaven were actually my husband's masterpiece. Since they were gone by the end of the night (yes, that's how yummy they are), I wanted to share the recipe. Just follow these steps and you'll be amazed by the baker inside you.

Vanilla Blueberry Cake

Last weekend I went to a charity coffee morning, dedicated to the MS Society. Everyone had a slice of cake and enjoyed a lovely cup of coffee or tea.
When I had to think of what dessert to make and bring over, I figured everyone likes vanilla and berries, so I went ahead and made a delicious combo of these two ingredients.

The cake by itself is amazingly delicious but when topped with the crumb topping it's definitely taken to the next level!! The crunchiness of the topping goes really well with the moist cake, which is perfect when enjoying it with a cup of coffee.

All I can say is that this was an absolute winner and people kept coming for more. Make it the next time you have visitors over... I promise you won't regret it!!


Ingredients:

For the cake mixture:

- 300g plain flour
- 2tsp baking powder
- 1/2tsp baking soda
- 1/2tsp salt
- 135g sugar
- 3tsp vanilla extract
- 1 heaped tbs sour cream (ricotta works too)
- 250ml milk
- 2 eggs
- 125g butter, at room temperature
- 375g fresh blueberries

For the crumb topping:

- 50g white sugar
- 50g brown sugar
- 2tbs plain flower
- 1/4tsp cinnamon
- 3tbs cold butter

Process:

- Preheat your oven to 190 C degrees and grease a spring form pan.
- In a bowl mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- Take two tbs of this mixture and toss with the blueberries to ensure they stay all over the cake, otherwise they'll drown to the bottom. Then, set aside.
- In another bowl mix the butter, sugar, eggs, milk, sour cream and vanilla extract.
- Add the dry to the wet ingredients, mix well and then carefully fold in the blueberries. Pour this mixture in the greased pan and set aside.
- In a small bowl, add all the crumb topping ingredients and mix them well together. Sprinkle on top of the cake batter. Bake for 60min, let cool completely end enjoy!

Easy Chocolate Fondant

The best thing to do when hosting a dinner party is to prepare things in advance. That way you have the time to spend time with your guests and still wow them when it's dessert time. This chocolate fondant idea came about when my mum mentioned how it's one of her favourite sweet treats, so my husband rolled up his sleeves and buckled down the recipe. It's super easy, simple, yet it makes for a delicious and comforting treat. The reaction on everyone's face as the gooey chocolate comes out is priceless :) 

Chocolate Caramel Brownie Bites

This recipe is so good, it doesn't even need a description :) We all love chocolate brownies!! But when you add caramel to them, it takes them to the ultimate level of deliciousness :-D Now, you can use a store-bought sauce or if you have a minute to spare, make your very own salted caramel sauce. Tip: You could double up the sauce ingredient amount and use it as an ice-cream topping ;)

The Ultimate Chocolate Cake (Reform Torta)

Chocolate and walnuts... Ohhh such goodness!!
My grandma used to make this cake every time someone asked for a dessert. According to her, this is the only chocolate cake recipe you'd ever need because it's super rich, extremely comforting and very delicious!! Seriously, anyone you make this for, will love you forever... Yep, I promise :-D

Festive Cupcakes

I made these moist orange cupcakes* as a NYE dessert and everyone loved them. They are super easy to make, can be prepared in advance and I promise they'll be a hit at any party! I decided to decorate them with these cute star flowers from the local bakery, but feel free to go crazy with decorations :-D It's New Year's Eve after all!

Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins

Since my banana dark chocolate chip muffins came out so delicious, I figured I should try a similar recipe with some oranges and see how it goes. As we are in that cold and wintery time of the year, the smell of cooking oranges and chocolate together fills the house with so much warmth. So here it goes...

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:

- 2 oranges*, zested and juiced
- 100g dark chocolate chips (crushed baking chocolate works too)
- 8tbs plain flour
- 1 package (1tbs) of baking powder (baking soda works too)
- 6tbs vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 6tbs sugar
- a pinch of salt


Process:

- Preheat your oven to 200 C degrees and line a muffin tray with liners.
- Put the oil, sugar, egg, orange zest and juice together and give it a good mix.
- Add the flour, baking powder, salt and most of the chocolate chips and mix until well combined, but don't over mix. Keep the rest of the chips to sprinkle on top of the muffins.
- Place the mixture in the muffin liners, equally dividing it. Sprinkle the remainder of the chocolate chips on top.
- Bake for 15min and enjoy!

* This recipe also works for lemon muffins. Just substitute the oranges with lemons and skip the chocolate chips.

Banana and Dark Chocolate Muffins

Apples and cinnamon go well together. Banana and chocolate make even a tastier combination! :-)  So, since I had two very ripe bananas in the kitchen, I decided to mix them with dark chocolate, turn them into muffins and enjoy them as a great dessert. They are great when served warm, but just as yummy with coffee the next morning :-)

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:

- 2 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 100g dark chocolate chips (crushed baking chocolate works too)
- 150g plain flour
- 1 package (1tbs) of baking powder (baking soda works too)
- 6tbs vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 6tbs sugar
- a pinch of salt

Process:

- Preheat your oven to 200 C degrees and line a muffin tray with liners.
- Add the oil, sugar and egg to the bananas and give it a good mix.
- Add the flour, baking powder, salt and most of the chocolate chips and mix until well combined, but don't over mix. Keep the rest of the chips to sprinkle on top of the muffins.
- Place the mixture in the muffin liners, equally dividing it. Sprinkle the remainder of the chocolate chips on top.
- Bake for 15min, then turn the oven off and leave the muffins in for additional 2-3min. Enjoy!

No Bake Very Berry Cheesecake

Cheesecake is one of those desserts that everyone enjoys, right? And when you make it on the counter without using the oven is even more awesome. Yep, that's right... While other things are cooking, you can whip this cheesecake up and I promise everyone will love it.

Serves 10-12

Ingredients and process:

Base:

- 400g biscuits, crushed in a ziplock bag with a rolling pin

- 250g butter

- 3tbs honey

- 1/2tsp cinnamon

- Place the biscuits and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Melt the butter and honey together, pour over the biscuits, mix until everything is coated and place it in a foil-lined cake tin. Pat and even it well.

Filling:

- 400g plain cream cheese (room temperature)

- 250g sugar

- 1 lemon, zest and juice

- 2 sachets gelatin powder

- 8tbs cold water

- 500g heavy whipping or double cream

- Mix the cream cheese, sugar, lemon zest and juice together and set aside.

- Cover the the gelatin with the 8tbs cold water, let it sit for 10min, then warm up to liquidise and set aside.

- Whip the double cream until stiff peaks, add the gelatin and fold in the cream cheese mixture.

- Spoon it over the biscuit layer and place in the fridge for 5h to set.
- After it's set, carefully place it on serving plate.

Topping:

- 43g vanilla custard powder

- 5tbs sugar

- 300g frozen berries in juice (any other fruit works too)
- 300ml water

- In a small bowl mix the custard powder with 5tbs water spooned out from the 300ml water. Stir until well mixed. Put the rest of the water in a pot, add sugar and bring it to a boil. Add the berries together with their juice and stir. Slowly start adding the custard mix and stir for about a minute until the mix starts to get thick. Let it cool completely, then spoon and spread it over the cake. Enjoy!

Rum Chocolate Truffles (Bombici)

My mum used to make these a lot when we were growing up and now all of a sudden I had a craving for them. Of course as kids we had the rum-free version, but now I thought rum and chocolate as a combination sounds amazing. 

The fun part of this recipe is that you can involve your kids in the shaping and dipping process and have a fun family night.

Makes 24 truffles

Ingredients:

- 100g milk

- 125g butter

- 200g sugar

- 1tbs cocoa powder (plus a little more for garnishing)

- 3tbs rum (optional)

- 150g digestive biscuits, finely crushed

- 100g chocolate chips*

 Process:

- In a saucepan add the milk, butter, sugar, and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat off and set aside.

- Add the crushed biscuits to the mixture and give it a stir. Add the rum, let the mixture cool, then put it in the freezer for 45min.

- Using your hand or an ice-cream scooper, form the truffles (any shape or size). Put them on a plate and place them in the fridge for 20min. Take them out, roll them between your hands again and put them back in the fridge for another 10min. This will give them that smooth look.

- A few minutes before you take the truffles out, place the chocolate chips in a bowl, microwave them for about 40sec and when they are melted, give them a good stir. Then start dipping the truffles. Shake off the excess chocolate, put them back on the plate, and sprinkle some cocoa powder on top.
- Place them in the fridge to cool and take them out when needed. Enjoy!

* You could also dip them in shredded coconut or crushed nuts.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Autumn is here!! So, what a better way to get into the spirit than a hot cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Now, since I am not a big fan of getting coffee from a coffee house (at least not everyday), I decided to whip up my own recipe and enjoy a delicious homemade cup of latte... Easy, breezy and much more cost-effective :-)

To make the pumpkin pie spice batch you'll need:

- 1tbs cinnamon
- 1tsp ginger
- 1/2tsp nutmeg
- 1/2tsp cloves
- 1/4tsp allspice

Save this in an air-tight container and keep it for whenever you want to make anything with pumpkin flavour. Now, let's make some lattes :-)

Serves 2

Ingredients:

- 1 cup coffee, hot
- 1 cup milk, warm
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

 Process:

- Put the milk, sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a blender or a food processor. Blend for about a minute or until frothy. You could also do this by hand, using a whisk.
- Pour the frothy mixture in a mug, add the coffee, sprinkle a little bit of pumpkin pie spice on top and enjoy!

Coconut Pudding (Haupia)

I had to make a dessert for a BBQ. I was wondering what would be really light and refreshing? And then I found a can of coconut milk in my pantry :)
Sooo, what's better than a Hawaian tropical delight (Haupia)? I've read a lot of different recipes about this, so here is my spin on it.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

- 1 can (400ml) coconut milk
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 6tbs cornflour
- a pinch of salt

Process:

- Pour 1/3 of the coconut milk in a bowl, add the cornflour and whisk until smooth and creamy.
- Place a sauce pan over a medium high heat, pour in the rest of the coconut milk, along with the sugar. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.
- Add the cornflour mixture and salt, and whisk for about 5min or until it's thick and creamy.
- Pour into serving glasses, and let it cool for a few minutes. Then put it in the fridge overnight to set.
- Enjoy!

Chocolate Raspberry Granola Bars

If you feel like making some granola bars, but want to give them a little twist, give this recipe a try :)

Serves 4

Ingredients:

- 1 cup oats
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4tsp baking powder
- 4tbs unsalted butter
- 2tbs granulated sugar
- 4tbs honey
- 1/4tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup fresh raspberries (any berries would work)
- a pinch of salt

Process:

- Preheat your oven to 150 C degrees.
- In a small bowl add the butter, sugar, chocolate, raspberries and honey. Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl add the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix together.
- Add the wet mixture into the mixing bowl and mix everything together.
- Place the mix in baking pan lined with baking paper and bake for 30min.
- Let it cool for a few hours, cut into pieces and enjoy!

Granola Bars

I figured it's easier and more cost-effective to make your own granola bars, so I gave it a try. They go great with coffee or tea in the morning. Also they make a great snack in the afternoon.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

- 1 cup oats
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4tsp baking powder
- 4tbs unsalted butter
- 2tbs granulated sugar
- 4tbs honey
- 1/4tsp cinnamon
- a pinch of salt

Process:

- Preheat your oven to 150 C degrees.
- In a small bowl add the butter, sugar, and honey. Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl add the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix together.
- Add the wet mixture into the mixing bowl and mix everything together.
- Place the mix in baking pan lined with baking paper and bake for 20min.
- Let it cool for a few hours, cut into pieces and enjoy!

Chocolate covered Strawberries

What a quick, easy and delicious dessert :) Everyone seems to love it!

Serves 2

Ingredients:

- 1 punnet of strawberries

- 100g of your favourite milk chocolate

- 100g of your favourite white chocolate

Process:

- Wash and dry the strawberries. Make sure they are dry, otherwise the chocolate won't stick.

- Melt the milk and white chocolate in two separate bowls for 30-40 seconds in the microwave. Make sure the chocolate is creamy, not liquid.

- Holding the strawberries by the stems, dip each one in milk or white chocolate and place on a baking sheet or foil.

- To create the lines, use a teaspoon filled with chocolate and quickly drizzle it over the strawberries moving your hand from right to left and back.

- Place them in the fridge to cool and enjoy!

Chocolate & Coffee Mousse

This is a great idea for a dessert, especially because it can be made the night before you have your dinner party. It's also great for a dinner for two or really any time you feel like having some chocolate mousse. Give it a shot and I promise everyone will love it! :)

Serves 4

Ingredients:

- 340g heavy whipping cream
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 egg whites
- 4 tbs sugar
- 100g chocolate chips
- 2 tbs butter
- 2 tbs water
- 1/2 tsp instant espresso powder

Process:

- In a small microwave-safe bowl combine the chocolate mix, water, espresso powder and butter. Melt everything together for 30-40 seconds or until the chocolate is melted and creamy. Let it cool.
- Whip the heavy cream in a bowl and put it in the fridge to cool.
- In a different bowl combine the egg yolks and the sugar. Whisk until the mix is pale in colour. Add to the melted chocolate and give it a whisk.
- In a different bowl whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks.
- Mix the heavy cream, egg yolk chocolate mixture and egg whites together.
- Place in serving glasses/cups and let it cool in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours. Enjoy!