Caramel Brownies

Submitted by Ruth

Ingredients

½ c. self-rising flour 1/3 c. plain flour
150g unsalted butter, softened 1 ¼ c. soft brown sugar
2 eggs 1 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract 75g walnut halves, chopped

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F).  Lightly grease a 20cm square (8″) tin & line the base with baking paper.
  2. Sift the flours together into a bowl.  In a large bowl, beat the butter & the sugar until light & creamy.  Add 1 egg, beat well & add 1 tbsp of the flour mixture.  
  3. Beat in the second egg, milk, & vanilla.  Fold in the remaining flour & ½ c. walnuts. Spoon into the tin & smooth the surface.
  4. Scatter the top with the remaining chopped walnuts & some extra brown sugar.  Bake for 30-45 minutes.  Allow to cool in the tin.  
  5. Carefully turn out & cut into squares.

Cappuccino Pikelets (Pancakes) with Kahlua Cream

Submitted by Ruth

Ingredients

1 tbsp instant coffee powder ¼ ground cinnamon
2 c. self-raising flour ¼ c. soft brown sugar
2 eggs 1 c. milk

Directions

  1. Combine the coffee powder & cinnamon in a heatproof bowl & add ¼ c. boiling water. Stir to dissolve & set aside to cool.
  2. Sift the flour into a bowl & stir in the sugar, making a well in the center. Whisk the eggs, milk, & cooled coffee in a jug & gradually pour into the well, whisking until just smooth.
  3. Heat frying pan over medium heat & brush lightly with melted butter. Drop heated tablespoons of batter into the pan, allowing room for spreading.
  4. Cook the pikelets until small bubbles appear on the surface & the underside has browned. Turn over & cook the other side.
  5. Transfer to a plate & cover with a tea towel to keep warm while cooking the remaining batter. Serve with the Kahlua cream & fresh raspberries.

Chocolate Cake

Submitted by *Vilification*

Cake Ingredients

6 oz. butter 6 oz. fine sugar
6 oz. self-rising flour 3 eggs
1 tbsp Cadbury’s drinking chocolate (any hot chocolate power, for ordinary use with milk)

Topping Ingredients

500g block of Cadbury’s dairy milk or any good chocolate.

Filling Ingredients

8 oz. Icing Sugar 4 oz. butter
Squirt of lemon juice 2 tsp hot chocolate powder

Directions

  1. Beat together butter & sugar until fluffy. Beat eggs in separate bowl until well mixed (the more air in the mix at this stage the better). Add eggs to mixture a bit at a time, mixing well after each add. 
  2. Add chocolate powder to flour & sieve into mixture. Mix well & pour into greased baking tin.
  3. Bake at 180°C for approximately 20 minutes (depending on oven). To test when ready, place a knife into the center of the cake. Knife should come out clean when ready. Cool on wire rack.
  4. For filling, place butter in bowl. Add chocolate powder to Icing sugar & sift onto butter. Add squirt of lemon juice. Beat together until smooth. Slice cake in half & add to middle.
  5. For topping, cover in melted chocolate. Allow to harden & enjoy!

Espresso Chocolate Cake with Kahlua Cream

Submitted by Ruth

Cake Ingredients

¼ c. good instant coffee 5½ oz. unsalted butter
¾ c. soft dark brown sugar 2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 c. ground almonds 1½ c. self-rising flour
¼ unsweetened cocoa powder ¾ c. water

Kahlua Cream Ingredients

2 tsp espresso coffee powder 2 tbsp super fine (castor) sugar
¼ c. Kahlua (recipe calls for ½, I use ¾) 10½ fl oz. cream, lightly whipped

Cake Directions

  1. Combine coffee & water in a small heatproof bowl (or mug). Allow to stand for 10 minutes.
  2. Preheat over to 350°F. Lightly grease a deep 8″ round cake pan.
  3. Beat butter & sugar in a large bowl with electric mixer until light & creamy. add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each.
  4. Add the ground almonds. Using a metal spoon, fold in the sifted flour & cocoa alternately with the coffee mix. Stir until just combined & the mixture is smooth.
  5. Carefully spoon the mixture into the cake pan & smooth the surface.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Leave in pan for 15 minutes to cool before turning onto a wire rack.

Filling Directions

  1. Cream the butter, mix the powdered sugar & crushed mints together, add to butter. Add milk & Rumpleminz. Beat until fluffy. If frosting is too thick you can add more milk or Rumple.
  2. When cake is done, put filling between the two layers.

Kahlua Cream Directions

  1. Combine everything in a small saucepan & stir over low heat until coffee dissolves.
  2. Serve cake warm covered with Kahlua cream.