Pretty in Pink

These cupcakes I made for me and my friend when we went dancing (Just over a month ago I started ballet classes. At first I was shy but now I feel more confident there.) They are just a simple vanilla sponge with strawberry icing. These cupcakes were very pink  when I had finished decorating them.

You will need: 
A batch of Victoria sponge
50g icing sugar
red food colouring
strawberry flavouring
and any decorations you want

1.  Pre-heat the oven at 180 degrees C (350 Fahrenheit and gas mark 4)
2. For the sponge make a Victoria sponge mix and put an equal amount of mix into the cupcake cases. put them in the oven until cooked and golden brown.
3. For the icing put about 50g icing sugar in a bowl and and enough water so that it is runny (make sure it isn't to runny). Add the strawberry flavouring and red food colouring.
4. When the cupcakes have cooled completely put 1tsp of the icing on each of the cupcakes.
5. For more decoration you could add anything; hundreds and thousands, silver balls and rice paper butterflies.

The final design

A recipe for valentines

My mum persuaded me to make something for valentines. So i made these biscuits. They took me so long to make i had to get my brother involved and getting him involved turned out to be bad idea i ended up with twice the amount of biscuits. i got the recipe from abook called,1001 cupcakes,cookies and other tempting treats.

setting up for cooking

The Recipe

• 1 Sachet instant latte (or 1 1/2 tsp instant coffee)
• 2 tbsp hot water
• 225g butter, softened
• 140g caster sugar
• 1 egg yolk, beaten
• 250g plain flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3tbsp cocoa powder
• Pinch of salt

1.  Put the coffee in a dish and add the water to make a smooth paste.
2. Beat together the butter and sugar, and then add the egg yolk.
3. Divide the mixture in half, and mix the coffee in one half and the cocoa and the vanilla in the other. mix half of the flour in to the coffee mix and the other half into the chocolate. (if you think the mixture is to runny and more flour)
4. Shape each of the dough mixtures in to a ball and wrap into clingfilm and chill in the fridge for  30 - 60 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C (375 farenheight gas mark 5) line 2 large baking sheets with baking paper.
6. Unwrap both dough mixtures and roll out.
7. Cut out cookies using a large heart-shaped cutter, (it does not matter what size it is, but you will need another cutter in a smaller size.) Place the cookies on a baking tray.
8. With the smaller cutter cut a heart out of the middle of the cookies.
9. With the coffee hearts place a smaller chocolate heart in the middle and vice versa.
10. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 10-15 minutes. then leave to cool for 5-10 minutes on the tray then transfer to a wire rack.

Bright Buns

I had a go at making some buns and I think they turned out pretty good.  The yellow icing was just because i thought they needed a bit of colour. if you want to have a go at them here's the recipe. (the whole point of this blog is to give recipes for other to have go at)

SPONGE

Me making the cake mixture!

• 100g margarine                                                             
• 100g caster sugar                  
• 2 medium eggs
• 100g self-raising flour
• vanilla extract

1. heat an oven to 180 degrees C (350 farenheight, Gas mark 4). line a bun tin with paper cases.
2. mix margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. beat in the eggs on at a time with a little flour.
3. fold in the remaining flour and add 1-2 drops vanilla extract.
4. place as much mixture as you want to in the cases. put in the oven until light golden brown. leave to cool.

 ICING

• 225g butter softend
• 350g icing sugar
• yellow food colouring

Adding the food colouring!

1. Place butter in a bowl. sift half the icing sugar into the bowl and mix.
2. sift the remaining icing sugar and mix.
3. Add food colouring till it is the colour you want, then spoon it into a piping bag and decorate to buns with it. (you could also add a few sprinkles!)

THE FINAL PRODUCT!!!

My first post

I have never done a Blog before, but my mum persuaded me to have a go. We decided on a baking Blog because I love baking and I like trying out new things I have never made before.I hope you will like once i get it going.