Tag: mother’s day

Fruit Filled Butter Scones

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Today it is Mother’s Day here in the U.K. A day where we celebrate mums, aunts, grandmothers and other significant women in our lives. My Grandma had a hugely positive input into my upbringing. Indeed it was at her apron strings that I learned the basic fundamentals of baking, that I still employ today. On the day prior to any beach trip, picnic, or family celebration, she would be found, busy baking in the kitchen. I am certain she would enjoy these Fruit Filled Butter Scones.

FF Fruit Filled Butter Scones
Fruit Filled Butter Scones perfect with Afternoon Tea.

While Afternoon Tea consists of small cakes, pastries, finger sandwiches and other sweet or savoury nibbles. Yet, scones, clotted cream and jam are essential element. Also small plates are used as it is small portions that are served. Enough to keep you going until dinner, yet not enough to spoil the main meal later in the day.

FF Fruit Filled Butter Scones
Fruit Filled Butter Scones served with clotted cream and strawberries.

Even young children, supervised by an adult of course, can easily make these scones. Also if you choose not to have clotted cream, these are light, not dry or claggy. So, perfect to eat unaccompanied. Since both the fat and sugar levels are fairly low, they can also be enjoyed by those watching their weight. Or simply want to eat two!

FF Fruit Filled Butter Scones
Flaky layers within the Fruit Filled Butter Scones

Did I mention that they take approximately half an hour from make to bake. So, what’s stopping you?

Recipe: Fruit Filled Butter Scones makes 12 scones

200g/7oz Plain White Flour

2tsp Baking Powder

50g/2oz Cold Unsalted Butter cut into cubes

1/4tsp Salt – I use Maldon

2tbsp Caster Sugar

75g/3oz Sultanas

165mls Buttermilk – alternatively add 1tsp/5mls of lemon juice to 160mls of milk and stir. Wait 5 minutes before using.

1 Free Range Egg plus one tablespoon of milk combined for the egg wash

Method: Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan, gas mark 7, 425F.

Making the scones

Prior to starting line a large baking tray with baking parchment.

  • First of all, sift the flour, baking powder and salt together in a large mixing bowl. If using sea salt crumble straight into the bowl.
  • Next add in the cubed butter and rub into the flour, or cut into the flour using a pastry cutter. The mixture should resemble breadcrumbs with some pea sized lumps of butter present.
  • Now add in the caster sugar and mix lightly.
  • Make a well in the centre of the ingredients and pour in the buttermilk. Follow by mixing with a butter knife 4-5 times.
  • Add the sultanas and bring the scone dough together with one hand.
  • Tip the dough out on to a lightly floured, clean surface.
  • Knead the dough lightly until it forms a disc. Gently roll out the disc until it is 2.5cm/1 inch thick.
  • Use a 4cm/just under 2 inch deep cutter to cut out the scones. Do not twist the cutter when pushing down, as this can affect the rise.
  • Place each cutout scone on to the lined baking tray.
  • Combine leftover scone dough pat out and cut out more scones. Continue until all of the dough has been used.
FF Fruit Filled Butter Scones
Making and cutting out the Fruit Filled Butter Scones.

Baking the Scones

  • Brush the top of each scone with egg wash and then place in the top of the oven to bake for 15-20 minutes.
FF Fruit Filled Butter Scones
Egg washed and then baked.
  • The scones are baked when they are golden, well risen and sound hollow when tapped on the base.
  • As soon as they are baked remove from the oven.
  • Transfer the scones on to a cooling rack.
FF Fruit Filled Butter Scones
Fruit Filled Butter Scones cooling on a rack.

Serve slightly warm or cold. Since these scones have sultanas in, they can be eaten as is, with butter or clotted cream. Also, fresh fruit is nice served alongside. Rather than one single tea, why not offer a selection, including fruit teas.

FF Fruit Filled Butter Scones
Fruit Filled Butter Scones with tea and fresh fruit.

Most of all serve with a smile.

If you have enjoyed these Fruit Filled Butter Scones, you may also like these:

Iced Bakewell Tart

Iced Bakewell Cake
Iced Bakewell Cake

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea
Gluten free marshmallow frosted mango cupcakes
Marshmallow Frosted Mango Cupcakes – GLUTEN FREE

Marshmallow Frosted Mango Cupcakes

 

Since creating the Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea for Steamer Trading, I have enjoyed continuing to create small, bitesize treats. I absolutely love having making a selection of mini treats. As well as being able to have a little taste of everything, afternoon tea is the perfect opportunity to share. Feasting with family and friends, enjoying conversation and most of all fun. For me sharing it with those I love, building bonds and creating new memories.

So, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie xxx

No part of this post may reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

 

 

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Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake

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Today is Monday and while the sun is shining, a cold wind is whipping through the air. And it is making me feel very cold! So I am making this Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake to cheer us all up on chilly days.

FF Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake

I absolutely adore the combination of lemon and blueberries together, in fact my Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes are one of my favourite recipes.

Jam Packed With Fresh Fruit

Because this Bundt cake has blueberries whisked into the cake batter, the finished cake is deliciously moist.  Also I saved a few whole blueberries and added them to the batter. Resulting in little pods of blueberry jam throughout the baked cake.

FF Overhead shot of the cake.
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake

What I hadn’t bargained for was, the extra moistness the broken blueberries would add to this cake. And plenty of fresh lemon zest added means this Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake delivers moist, flavourful, cake perfection, in every bite!

Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake

 

Since baking the beautiful Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake for little baby Florrie and her mum, I wanted to make another cake with a sunny, Spring theme. So I chose my Blossom Bundt by Nordic Ware and set about creating the recipe.

I always prefer to use lemon zest in a cake, as it imparts a wonderful, zingy, lemon flavour. And the lemon juice, from the zested lemons, has its own starring role. Added to icing sugar to form the glaze for this cake, it is the first taste to hit your tongue as you bite into this cake, jolting your tastebuds awake!

Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake

The Brilliance Of Bundt Pans

Bundt tins are a great investment, especially if you aren’t very confident with your cake decorating skills. These beautifully shaped tins do all the work for you. This Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake would still have looked pretty and tasted delicious with a light dusting of icing sugar.

With a little care and proper preparation a Bundt tin will give you years of beautiful cakes, with no extra effort required by the baker. Although that doesn’t mean you can’t choose to decorate them. Since this is the first Bundt cake that I have fully glazed with a thicker icing and little sugar paste flowers. Alternatively my Glazed Lemon Bundt Cake is fully glazed, with a thinner, lighter icing and is also completely delicious.

While I knew I would need a thicker icing to cover the dark blueberries near the surface of the cake. Yet I hadn’t envisaged the thickness of the icing, along with it’s pretty yellow colour, actually looked just like custard as I was spooning it onto the cake!!

We all had a giggle at the similarity – that’s what baking and experimenting with decorating is all about for me. Fun!

Let’s get on with making this cake!

Recipe: Makes one Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake serves 10-12

250g/9oz Unsalted Butter at room temperature

250g/9oz Caster Sugar

1tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey

5 Large Free Range Eggs

2 Lemons – Zested and Juiced

300g/11oz Fresh Blueberries

250g/9oz Plain White Flour

2.5tsp Baking Powder

1/4tsp Sea Salt – I use Maldon 

Cake release spray – I use Wilton’s or extra butter & flour for preparing your Bundt tin

450g/1lb Icing sugar

Optional – Yellow Gel Food Colouring I use Wilton food colouring gel

Apperiels, white pre made sugar flowers – these are readily available in supermarkets and online.

Method: Preheat the oven to 170C/150C fan, 325F, gas mark 3

Making The Blueberry Lemon Cake Batter

  • First of all, into a large bowl add the sugar, butter and vanilla extract.
  • Whisk or beat until pale and fluffy – approx 5 minutes
  • Into a separate bowl sift the flour, baking powder and salt together (dry ingredients).
  • Add one third of the dry ingredients and two eggs to the creamed butter and sugar, whilst whisking/beating on a slow speed.
  • Repeat the last step.
  • Add two thirds of the blueberries to the batter, the zest of two lemons, one egg and the final third of the dry ingredients. Whisk/beat on a slow speed until just combined.
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake NW
The cake batter should be smooth with broken up blueberries throughout.
  • Prepare the Bundt tin by spraying well with Cake Release, or brush with melted butter, ensuring you completely cover all the groves in the pan – then add 2tbsp of plain white flour and rotate the tin ensuring the entire inside has a flour coating. Tip any excess flour out of the tin and dispose.
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake NW
My Blossom Bundt Tin prepared with cake release spray.
  • Spoon the cake batter into the Bundt tin, pressing down as you do so to ensure the batter fills all the little dips and grooves.
  • Only fill the Bundt tin 3/4 full. Any excess batter can be baked as cupcakes once the main cake is cooked.
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake NW
Press the remaining third of the blueberries into the top of the cake.

Baking The Bundt Cake

  • Place the Bundt tin into the middle of the preheated oven.
  • Bake for 1 hour, or until an inserted wooden skewer comes out clean.
  • As soon as the cake is baked remove from the oven.
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake NW
Allow the Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake to cool in it’s tin for 10 minutes.
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake NW
After 10 minutes turn the Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake out onto a cooling rack.

See how beautiful this cake is?

A light dusting of icing sugar and this Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake would be perfect to serve alongside a nice, hot cup of tea or coffee.

Decorating The Bundt Cake

  • Ensure the cake is completely cold before icing.
  • Sift the icing sugar into a large bowl.
  • Add the lemon juice and stir thoroughly to form a very thick paste – additional water can be added. The icing should hold a figure 8 for a few seconds.
  • Using a cocktail stick add a tiny amount of yellow gel icing, mix thoroughly, add more colouring until the desired colour is achieved. Mine really was the consistency and thickness of really good custard.
  • Place the Bundt cake on a rack over a tray – I used a roasting tin, as you will see.
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake NW
Yellow, lemon flavoured, thick icing.
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake NW
Carefully spoon the thick, lemon icing over the cake.
  • Starting at the top of the cake, spoon over the thick icing evenly.
  • Allow gravity to work and let the icing slowly drip down the cake.
  • Fill in gaps with more icing until the whole cake is completely covered.
  • I did spoon some of the icing, from the tray underneath, back over the cake to fill in gaps – just beware of cake crumbs!
  • As soon as the cake is completely covered and has settled – the icing is no longer moving – carefully place the cake onto a board/cake stand.
  • Add any further decorations whilst the icing is still slightly wet.
  • Set the cake aside to dry.
  • Take lots of photographs and give yourself a big pat on the back for creating such a beautiful Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake.

The Finshed Cake

Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake NW
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake covered in a delicious lemon glaze.

This Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake is certain to cheer up anybody’s day and they get a vitamin C boost as well!

While it may sound silly, looking at this cake really makes me smile. Also, in some ways it is a reflection of my personality, sunny whatever the weather.

If you like this Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake you may also enjoy these:

Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake

NW Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake
The Crispearls give this moist Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake a crunchy topping.

Pomegranate Lemon Drizzle Bundt Cake

FF Pomegranate Lemon Drizzle Bundt Cake
Pomegranate Lemon Drizzle Bundt Cake

Maple Syrup Iced Coffee Bundt Cake

FF Maple Syrup Iced Coffee Bundt Cake
Maple Syrup Iced Coffee Bundt Cake

 

Since I have discovered Bundt pans I have added more and more to my collection. When I bake with them I know that the cake will turn out beautiful. And if I’m not able to decorate the cake I am assured that it will look finished. As a result I am a firm Nordicware Bundt Pan fan!

So whatever you are making, baking and creating, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie xx

No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy

Citrus and berry bake In a moulded tin, decorated with a pale yellow glaze and pretty white sugar flowers for Mother’s Day.

 

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Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

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Wednesday this week was a truly dreary, dark and very cold day. All types of weather threw themselves at the ground; hail, snow, rain, sleet and it was windy too. Especially as it is March, I want to see evidence of Spring. Most of all flowers and lambs. Finally, I an attempt to cheer us all up I made these very pretty and extremely delicious Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes.

FF Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

So, does the image of pink, raspberry buttercream topped cupcakes, adorned with large daisy flowers and butterflies cheer you up?

FF Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes
Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

While the weather was so chilly and dreary, I was also feeling a little blue too, having just received news that a very close friend is extremely poorly. And so baking these cupcakes was therapeutic on both counts.

Do you find baking relaxing?

FF Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

    Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

Using Naturally Flavoured Icing Sugar

Although these are called Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes, which is true, the cake part is flavoured with Nielsen – Massey Vanilla Extract, for the buttercream I have used a favourite flavoured icing sugar.

Sugar and Crumbs sell an amazing range of naturally flavoured icing sugars. While making my Raspberry Ripple Cupcakes I used their Raspberry Ripple flavoured icing sugar. Since the day that last cupcake was eaten, in Kylie’s own words “I just can’t get you outta my head” I have wanted more. Especially more of the delicious tasting buttercream and more cupcake to swirl it onto!!

And so these Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes were the perfect excuse to indulge my passion again.

Importantly, this time I wanted to leave the option of using flavoured buttercream as a choice. Also, if you do buy some flavoured icing sugar, you can choose to make the buttercream any flavour you want. Especially, as the vanilla sponge goes well with any flavoured frosting. Alternatively, if you want to stick with vanilla buttercream that tastes awesome as well.

FF Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes
Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

Personally I think the pink icing, along with the decorations, really set these cupcakes apart. Although ‘Springtime’ was at the forefront of my mind whilst creating these beauties, with Mother’s Day being this coming Sunday, they would also make a perfect gift for any Mum.

Recipe: Makes 18 Large Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

For the Cake:

175g/6oz Caster Sugar

175g/6oz Unsalted Butter at room temp.

1tsp Vanilla Bean Paste – or you can substitute for Vanilla Extract

3 Large Free Range Eggs

3tbsp Milk – whole or semi skimmed

175g/6oz Plain White Flour

1.5tsp Baking Powder

1/8th tsp/pinch of Salt – I use Maldon

For the Buttercream:

350g12oz Icing Sugar – I used 250g Sugar and Crumbs Raspberry Ripple flavour and 100g/4oz Plain Icing Sugar. (Confectioners Sugar)

175g/6oz Unsalted Butter

Pink Food Colour – I used Wilton pink food colouring gel (available from cake decorating shops, Amazon and similar from Lakeland UK)

2tbsp Very Hot Water

Dr Oetker rice paper daisies, various sprinkles (available from most supermarkets)

Rice paper butterflies – from Amazon

Method: Preheat the oven to 170C/150C fan oven, gas mark 3, 325F

Making The Vanilla Cupcake Batter

  • First of all, line 2 cupcake tins with 18 muffin or deep cupcake cases – the ones I used were a Christmas present from Lakeland.
  • Into a large bowl add your butter and sugar.
  • Whisk or beat until pale and creamy – approx 5 minutes.
  • Add 3 eggs, milk and Vanilla Bean Paste.
  • Sift into the bowl the flour, baking powder and salt.
  • Note: This is called the all-in-one method.
  • Whisk or beat until all of the ingredients are combined – take care not to over mix and this will make the cupcakes tough, not light and springy.
  • Place a heaped dessert spoonful of cake batter into each cupcake case.
NM Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes
Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

Baking The Vanilla Cupcakes

  • Place the cupcakes into the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes,
  • The cupcakes are baked when they have risen and are a golden colour. They should spring back when pressed lightly on the top.
  • As soon as the cupcakes are baked remove from the oven.

NM Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

  • Allow to cool completely before icing.

Making The Pink Buttercream

  • Place the softened butter into a large bowl.
  • Sift the icing sugar into the same bowl.
  • Add the 2 tablespoons of hot water.
  • Add the food colouring, I use a cocktail stick and simply insert the tip into the food colouring gel and then add to the bowl.
  • Start slowly, whisking the buttercream ingredients until light, creamy and uniform in colour.

NM Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

  • Fit a piping bag with a large star tip.

Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

Piping Swirls Of Buttercream On To The Cupcakes

  • Place the icing bag into a tall sturdy container, I use a jug.
  • Use a spoon or spatula, fill the icing bag with all of the buttercream.
  • Practise on a plate, if piping for the first time.
  • Squeeze the bag so that all the buttercream is together.
  • Keep an even pressure with one hand squeezing the bag and using the other hand to guide the piping tip, pipe swirls onto the cupcakes.
NM Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes
Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes
  • Finally add the decorations.
Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes
Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

Gifting Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

Because I like giving the food I make away, I bought some cupcake pods, little plastic containers, perfect for holding one cupcake in and a great way to give individual cupcakes away as a gift. Since they were from Amazon and work out to about 10 pence per pod. Also, they can be washed up and used again, which is great recycling and means you can share even more cupcakes with others!

Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes
Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes 

Since piping the swirls onto the cupcakes gives them a beautiful, professional finish. means use whatever cupcake toppers and sprinkles that you have to hand. The beauty of these Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes is that they are individual to your own sense of taste and style.

FF Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes
Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes

If you like the Springtime Vanilla Cupcakes you will love these recipes:

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
Vanilla Bean Cupcakes so pretty.

Raspberry Ripple Almond Cupcakes

Raspberry Ripple Almond Cupcakes
Raspberry Ripple Almond Cupcakes the perfect way to say I Love You.

Strawberry Sweatheart Cake

Strawberry Sweetheart Cake
Strawberry Sweetheart Cake swirled with roses and sprinkled with love

So, enjoy baking and experimenting with piping different swirls!

Sammie xx

No part of the post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

 

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