Festive Baking Treats

Hello lovelies! Todays post is something that will appeal to your sweet tooth! Christmas is always a good excuse to make some festive sweet treats, either for yourself or too bring along to a family gathering. Here are three of my festive baking favourites...

Melting Snowman Cookies

What you will need

200g fondant icing sugar

6 white marshmallows 

6 large cookies

24 mini chocolate beans

6 pretzel sticks

Tube of black writing icing

Method

1. Put icing sugar into bowl and add cold water a teaspoon at a time until the mixture is runny but thick enough to coat a spoon.

2. Snip the marshmallows in half

3. Spoon a little icing onto each cookie and attach half a marshmallow. Using a little icing, stick the other half on top at an angle. Drizzle a little more icing onto a cookie to make melted snow

4.  Break pretzel sticks in half and place on cookie for arms. Stick orange chocolate beans on for noses. Stick 3 chocolate beans to each cookie to represent buttons.

5. Using the writing icing. Pipe small blobs for eyes and mouth- leave to set.

Gingerbread Cupcakes

These are delicious warmly spiced cupcakes perfect for indulging in over the festive season. Here's how to make then:

What you will need

150g butter (at room temperature)

150g soft brown sugar

3 eggs

150g self-raising flour

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

1 tbsp of milk

Frosting Ingredients 

200g butter

50g soft brown sugar

3 tbsp milk

200g icing sugar

Pinch of ground cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180c/160c fan/Gas 4

2. Cream together butter and sugar until light & fluffy

3. Sift flour together with spices

4. Gradually mix eggs into creamed butter & sugar alternate with the flour to stop mix from curdling. Finally, stir through milk

5. Place 12 paper cupcake cases into muffin tin and divide mixture between them.

6. Bake for 15/20 minutes 

Frosting Method

1. While cupcakes are cooking- place 50g of butter in a pan with the brown sugar and cook over a low heat until melted. Add 2 tablespoons of milk and stir to form thick glossy toffee sauce. Leave to cool.

2. In a large mixing bowl heat the butter smooth, then start to sift in the icing sugar, stirring regularly. Add a splash  more of the milk if the mixture seems to thick- the frosting should be light and creamy.

3. Put the frosting in a piping bag and pipe onto cupcakes. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon.

Chocolate Mint Cookies

What you will need

For the cookies

100g soft butter 

150g soft light brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract 

1 large egg

150g plain flour

35g cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking powder 

200g dark chocolate chips

For the glaze

75g icing sugar

2 tablespoons boiling water 

1 tablespoon of cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon of peppermint essence

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180c / gas mark 4

2. Cream butter and sugar, then beat in vanilla extract and egg.

3. Mix flour, cocoa and baking powder in bowl and gradually beat in creamed mixture, then fold in chocolate chips.

4. Using a rounded 15ml tablespoon measure, spoon out scoops of cookie dough onto lined baking sheet, leaving space between each one.

5.  Bake in oven for 12 minutes. Meanwhile put the glaze ingredients into a saucepan and heat until combined. 

I hope you've enjoyed todays post!

What are your favourite things to bake at Christmas?

Carly x

Coffee 101

Have you ever walked into a coffee shop and been completely mind boggled at the vast array of coffees on the menu? Hopefully this post giving you the low down on some of the most popular coffees and will help you in the decision making process next time you are getting your morning caffeine fix!

Americano

• 1/3 espresso based (you can ask for a single or double strength)
• 2/3 hot water
• Can drink black or add hot milk
• Thin layer of foam at the top (crema)

Cortado

• An espresso cut with a small amount of steamed milk
• Usually served in a special glass with a metal wire handle
• Quite similar to a less foamy cappuccino 

Cappuccino

• 1/3 espresso
• 1/3 heated milk
• 1/3 milk foam
• A good option if you want a mild caffeine hit

Café latte

• 1/3 espresso
• 2/3 heated milk
• 1cm foam
• Usually served in a glass on a saucer
• Flavourings can be added such as vanilla, chocolate or caramel
• If you ask for this in Italy you will get a glass of hot/cold milk!

Café au lait

• 1 part hot coffee
• 1 part steamed milk
• This is similar to the café latte but with more coffee is added

Cafe Mocha

• 1/3 espresso
• 2/3 steamed milk
• portion of chocolate (usually in syrup form)
• Can be served with whipped cream & marshmallows
• Great if you have a sweet tooth 

Ristretto

• A less watered down version of the regular espresso
• Hailed as the most delicious part of the espresso as it avoid the burnt taste many have

Flat White

• Steamed milk (poured from the bottom of a pitcher) over a single or double shot of espresso.
• Similar to latte and café au lait
• Typically served in a small cup
• Uses microfoam instead of dry foam
• Usually made with whole milk

I hope this post helps all you coffee lovers decipher the abundant coffee options out there!

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend!

Carly x

(Images taken from weheartit.com)

Mini Energy Bites Recipe

Today I will be sharing a quick and simple recipe for mini no bake energy bites that are great for snacking and defeating that late afternoon sugar slump! 

What you will need

1 cup of dates

3/4 cup of almonds

2 tablespoons of chia seeds

1 tablespoon of coconut oil

1 tablespoon of coco powder

2 tablespoons of linseed

Directions

1. Place almonds in food processor and blend for 1 minute until they are crushed.

Then add the dates and all the other ingredients and blend until the mixture is nice and sticky.

2. Roll into bite sized balls, place in freezer for one hour to allow them to set then store in fridge.

Then enjoy with a cup of coffee :)

Carly x

Quick & Easy Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day, but when you are rushing out to work in the morning it can get a bit tricky deciding what too make and eat. Here are some of my favourite quick and easy breakfast ideas that I hope will inspire you to try out! 

Avocado & Egg on toast

This is my favourite meal to start the day and it's so quick and easy to make! All you need is a ripe avocado, 1 egg and a

slice of wholegrain bread too toast. You can serve the egg a number of different ways; fried, scrambled or my favourite poached, mash up the desired amount of avocado on freshly toasted bread, place egg on top, add a bit of salt & pepper and you are good to go!

Fruit & Yoghurt

This is really a quick and simple breakfast recipe and is great for warmer summer weather. All you need is a handful of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries and a dollop or two of low fat natural yoghurt. Mix together in a mug or a small bowl and it's ready to eat! It you fancy a bit more flavour you could try sprinkling some cinnamon over the top. 

Cinnamon porridge with bananas and berries

Porridge for breakfast is a great way to give yourself a good boost of energy that will keep you going until lunch time. All you need for this delicious breakfast idea is porridge oats, cinnamon, sugar (if you'd prefer it a bit sweeter) 1 banana, a handful of strawberries and 1 pot of fat- free natural yoghurt. 

First things first! In a medium-sized saucepan, mix the oats, cinnamon, sugar, milk and the sliced banana. Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally. Turn down the heat and cook for 4-5 mins, stirring all the time. Once placed into bowl serve with strawberries, a dollop of yogurt and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

What are your favourite quick and easy breakfast recipes?

x