decadence.

i've baked brownies for parties for as long as i can remember (must be long as my short term memory is horrendous), so with the party season starting, i thought it was time for a new slice. i have to admit, i've never been a huge fan of 24 kitchen's favourite kiwi chef annabel ...BUT, after seeing her work her magic with this slice...i was soon drooling with respect. one of the simplest slices ever imagined and one you'll wonder why you haven't braved before. it's seriously decadent and more importantly super delicious. after wondering if holland had even heard about condensed milk, i was soon supermarket sweeping the shelves of my local supermarket. to my absolute delight, i unearthed the cutest can around. i've always managed to stay away from slices as i don't find they often present themselves as beautifully as cakes. BUT, ladies and gentleman after MANY happy mouthfuls (and that's just me), this slice definitely takes the cake. 

choconut slice

• 175g melted butter
• 250g digestive biscuits, crushed to fine crumbs
• 2 tbsp cocoa
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1 cup chocolate chunks or chips
• 1 cup dried cranberries or raisins
• 1 cup slivered almonds
• 395g can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 160°C and line a 24cm x 24cm slice tin with baking paper.

To make the base, mix melted butter with biscuit crumbs and cocoa. Using a wet spatula or wet hands, spread over base of slice tin and press down firmly. Sprinkle coconut, chocolate, cranberries or raisins, and almonds evenly over the base. Drizzle with sweetened condensed milk.

Bake until lightly golden (about 20-25 minutes). Cool and chill before slicing into squares or fingers. Choconut Slice will keep in an airtight container in a cool place for several weeks. makes about 30 pieces for 30 very lucky people. 

recipe courtesy of annabel langbein.

baked.

i've been busy baking up some new 'how-to' projects for the delicious team over at Gathered. why don't you head on over for a peek and perhaps some inspiration for a pre-christmas bake off? there's more on the way for 2014. super lekker!

sticky pear gingerbread.

spiced chai tea cake with cinnamon buttercream.

baked blueberry and coconut slice.

teacake time.

i've had a small obsession with apple crumble since i won a homemakers badge as a brownie (aged 9) for stewing apples. back then i had little understanding of the potential behind such a fruit and it's sweetened state. fast forward a few years and this girl's heart skips a beat at the thought of sweet apples stewing on the stove. it's my no fail dessert so when the opportunity arose to combine both crumble and custard in a teacake, i jumped at the chance. here, my friends, is the recipe/result...

apple crumble teacake with custard buttercream

2 apples

2 tbs lemon juice

2 tsp ground cinnamon

250g caster sugar

250g unsalted butter

1 2/3 cup (250g) self-raising flour

4 eggs

custard buttercream

150ml whole or semi-skimmed milk

125g caster sugar
2 egg yolks
175g unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (not fan-forced). Grease and line base of a 23cm springform cake pan. (I made mine in 3 x 16cm tins)
2. Peel and core the apples, and cut into segments. Toss the apples in lemon juice and half the cinnamon, then set aside.
3. Take 50g each of the sugar, butter and flour, place in a bowl with the remaining cinnamon and rub together with your fingertips.
4. Place eggs and remaining sugar in an electric beater and beat until very light and fluffy. Melt remaining butter and pour into egg mixture. Sift in remaining flour, then fold in carefully until combined.
5. Pour into the pan, and carefully lay the apple slices over top. Sprinkle with the crumble mixture and bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
6. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.

custard buttercream

Place the milk and sugar in a saucepan and bring gently to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Whisk the egg yolks and then pour the milk and sugar mix over them, whisking all the time. Return the custard mixture to the saucepan and cook over a medium heat stirring all the time. After approximately 10 minutes, the custard will coat the back of your spoon. Remove it from the heat and leave to cool. Place the butter in a bowl and whisk until it is soft and looks almost whipped.Gradually whisk in the cooled (but not cold) custard until combined. Finally, whisk in the vanilla.



goedemorgen!

hallo! sorry it's been a bit quiet around these parts lately. this aussie has been settling into dutch life fantastically, thanks to my new full time job. it's busy, it's monday-friday and it's giving me the financial freedom to plan trips around europe, opshop and plan our trip back to australia for the T & T wedding next october. i've been dabbling in creative projects in my spare time, which includes some 'how-to' projects for the team over at 'gathered' by mollie makes. it's been a real honour working with them and scavenging local secondhand shops and markets for props. go take a peek and see if any recipes take your fancy. there's one for every occasion and you can download them straight to your iphone! have a great weekend. i'll be back soon with photos from my days in paris. tot ziens!

rose swirl cupcakes.

gingerbread whoopie pies.

white chocolate, pecan and butterscotch blondie.

poppin' candy cupcakes.

hot spiced apple juice.

cinnamon donut muffins with pumpkin spiced frosting.

christmas tray bake.

eat your heart out.

to celebrate hump day, i have decided to bombard you with sweet treats. not literally, unfortunately, but rather some images of what's been baking around here lately. i hardly had a spare moment to bake when i was living and working full time in brisbane. baking took a back seat to my screen-printing and packing my life away so when i arrived in holland, i made it my mission to hunt down ingredients and recreate some of my old favourites. for the past few weeks, i haven't stopped baking and have enjoyed supplying the gorgeous zoet en zout in rotterdam with a selection of treats, making friends with fondant as i attempt to sculpt shell-fish and creating some sweet projects for the delightful team over at 'gathered'. getting full time work here still seems so hard but earning some much needed euros from my baking whilst i wait, has been humbling. i am grabbing these opportunities by the beaters and running with the mixing bowls (licking them as i go!). i've been photographing cakes, braving my love/hate relationship with cheesecake and spending most of my evenings hunting down new recipes...i really can't complain! 

 @bakedbykitandnancy even has it's own instagram account.

gluten free almond, apricot and coconut bites.

strawberry and vanilla naked rose cupcakes. 

mixing colours with buttercream or paint, it's still my most favourite thing to do.

challenging myself and making fondant mussels for a magazine shoot.

banana cakes are the perfect afternoon tea treat.

there may have been an ode to andy.

carrot cake for z&z.

banana bundt cake love.

my cakes are truly complemented by the decor at z&z.

whipped up a favourite of bill's. fig and hazelnut lovers eat your heart out. 

rosy.

if you're keen for a fun sunday baking project (really, who isn't?), then head on over to the new online issue of 'gathered' - by mollie makes to grab an idea of how to pretty up your cupcakes. my much asked after 'how-to' tutorial and short but sweet video are ready for you to download and devour. at only $1.99 it's a pretty sweet deal. i'm working with the team over at 'gathered' to bring you more sweetness as the countdown to christmas begins, i can't wait to share!

 

 

saturday.

the weekend started off super sweet with a pink ombre cake order for a talented lady. the boy and i decided to roll with or rather ride to a gorgeous little bakery for our long awaited cronut fix. if you're not already familiar with the cronut craze then please, get on this delicious bandwagon and hunt one down immediately (if not sooner) as the photos speak for themselves. as the afternoon rolled around we made our way to the north to sample the many offerings of the northern flavour festival, which included the ever popular instawalk. we joined the talented bunch for a wander around the street art adorned/vintage shop filled/cute boutique laden, design loving streets of the noord. we got backstage passes into an amazing old heineken brewery with roof top views all whilst i networked my IG adoring butt off. although an area i've visited many times over the past few months, the company, creative offerings and contacts made yesterday another experience that makes me realize why i live here.

naked cake.

dressed cake.

i could barely contain my excitement.

2 seconds after this photo was taken it was in my belly.

instawalking the north.

kopje thee anyone?

can i interest you in a cake?

one of my favourite places to ferret.

this guy always makes it more fun.

this girl loves her new city.

cutie pie cupcake stand.

love this guy.

roffa from the roof tops.

paste love at & designshop. 

sweet hearts.

i've been a busy little baking bee lately. the weather has cooled to temps in the early 20's which for me equals perfect baking weather. some old favourite recipes were dusted off, ingredients hunted down (which meant a visit to my favourite windmill) and an armful of gorgeous cake tins were added to the collection. a chance visit to my local second hand shop resulted in a vintage bundt tin find for a mere 3 euros which helped produce one of my favourite looking cakes to date! (see banana cake below). i am excited about trying some new recipes (enter bill granger) and experimenting with new icing techniques. the universe has really delivered over the last week and i have been busy chatting to a local cafe and doing some freelance for a favourite magazine. i have never doubted my need to be in rotterdam but was searching for a little creative drive that could help fund my new life and refuel my independence. i look forward to sharing some delectable delights with you as i go. happy monday all! 

banana cake with lemon/cinnamon icing.

cinnamon donut muffins. oh yes.

made with love.

red velvets aka crowd pleaser.

couldn't resist.

this blondie has changed lives.

rosy.

chewy chocolate chip and hazelnut cookies...get in my belly.

party cake!