Ginger and Walnut Carrot Cake

Yields: 8-12 slices

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE CAKE:

200g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp fine sea salt
175g soft light brown sugar
2 large eggs (at room temperature)
200g vegetable oil (plus more for greasing)
200g carrots (peeled and coarsely grated)
100g walnut pieces (roughly chopped or crumbled)
75g crystallised ginger (finely chopped)

FOR THE ICING:

100g unsalted butter (soft)
100g icing sugar (sieved if lumpy)
1 tsp cornflour
100g full-fat cream cheese (fridge-cold)
1 x 15ml Tbsp fresh ginger (coarsely grated)

TO DECORATE:

25g walnut pieces (roughly chopped or crumbled)
25g crystallised ginger (chopped)

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C & grease the sides & line the base of 20cm/8 inch springform cake tin with baking parchment.
2. Put the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, ground ginger and salt into a bowl & mix thoroughly.
3. Beat the sugar, eggs & oil in another large bowl until they are completely mixed together, then gradually add the flour mixture. Once incorporated, add the carrots and then fold in the walnuts & crystallised ginger, until everything is evenly combined.
4. Pour into the prepared tin & bake for 45–55 minutes when a cake tester will come out with just a few crumbs stuck to it. Transfer to a wire rack & leave to cool in its tin.
5. To prepare icing, beat the butter & icing sugar together & when creamily combined, add the cornflour, followed by half the cream cheese. Once that’s incorporated, beat in the remaining half. Be careful at all times not to over-beat or the icing will get too runny. Squeeze the juice from the grated ginger & beat this into the frosting in its bowl. Cover with cling film & refrigerate.
6. When ready to frost the cake, take the icing out of the fridge & let stand for about 20 minutes. Beat briefly to soften & smoothen the icing. Spread the frosting on top, swirling it a little, then sprinkle the chopped walnuts & ginger on top.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 24 Cookies
Calories 170kcal

Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour 120g
1/2 tsp baking soda 3g
1/2 tsp salt 5g
1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature, 113g
1/3 cup granulated sugar 65g
2/3 cup light-brown sugar 140g, packed
2 tsp pure vanilla extract 10mL
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups rolled oats 135g
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 150g

(can add raisins & chopped nuts too)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda & salt; set aside.
2. Combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
3. Reduce speed to low; add vanilla & eggs. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute.
4. Add flour mixture; mix until almost combined.
5. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips (together with optional raisins & chopped nuts). Chill dough for 2 hours to overnight.
6. Preheat oven to 200°C. 
7. Use a small ice cream scooper (two tablespoons) to drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
8. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, but still soft in the center, 12 minutes.
9. Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely.

Parkin (BBC Good Food)

Ingredients

200g butter, plus extra for greasing
1 large egg
4 tbsp milk
200g golden syrup
85g treacle
85g light soft brown sugar
100g medium oatmeal
250g self-raising flour
1 tbsp ground ginger

Method

1. Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Butter a deep 22cm square cake tin and line with baking parchment. Beat the egg and milk together with a fork.
2. Gently melt the syrup, treacle, sugar and butter together in a large pan until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat. Mix together the oatmeal, flour and ginger and stir into the syrup mixture, followed by the egg and milk.
3. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 50 mins – 1 hr until the cake feels firm and a little crusty on top. Cool in the tin then wrap in more parchment and foil. 
4. Keep for up to five days before eating if you can – it’ll become softer and stickier the longer you leave it, up to two weeks.

Recipe from BBC Good Food

Almond Nougat

Ingredients

200 g Almonds 

125 g sugar 

125 g honey 

1 egg white

Instructions

1. Boil almonds for 3 mins. Drain & remove the skins.
2. Roast the almonds for 10-15 mins at 170°C.
3. Whisk the egg white until thick consistency.
4. Add the sugar & honey to a pan over low heat, whilst mixing constantly until sugar is dissolved.
5. Remove the sugar mix from heat & add the egg white into the pan slowly.
6. Whisk the mixture over low heat until well incorporated.
7. Remove from heat & add warm almonds to the mixture & mix well.
8. Pour in moulds & allow to cool, then refrigerate for 12 hours.
9. Cut into squares & store in air tight container.

Recipe from Vargasavour Recipes

Parkin (Ginger Cake)

Ingredients 

1½ cups steel cut oats (pulsed in food processor) 

¾ cup all purpose/plain flour 

1½ tsp baking powder 

2 tsp ginger powder 

1 tsp all spice 

¼ tsp nutmeg 

¼ tsp salt 

¼ cup golden syrup or corn syrup 

⅔ cup black treacle or molasses 

¾ cup brown sugar 

½ cup butter 

¼ cup crystallized ginger, finely chopped 

1 egg, lightly beaten 

2 Tbsp milk 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Grease an 8” x 8” baking tin. 
2. Measure out the steel cut oats and put through a food processor to break down. The oats should not be a flour and some chunks should remain. 
3. Add all the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl and combine: flour, oats, ginger, nutmeg, all spice, salt, and baking powder. 
4. In a small saucepan add in butter, brown sugar, black treacle/molasses, golden syrup/corn syrup. Stir until the butter and sugar have melted, making sure not to boil. Then remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. 
5. Pour the warm sugar mixture into the dry ingredients, and stir until combined. Then stir in the crystallized ginger pieces, the egg, and milk. 
6. Pour the batter into the baking tin and bake in the oven for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Use a toothpick to check if it is fully baked - it is ready if it comes out clean. Allow the Parkin to cool in the baking tin for a few minutes. 
7. Then turn it face down onto a cutting board, slide the baking tin out, and remove the parchment paper. 
8. Allow the parkin to cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting into equal sized squares. Store in an airtight container and ALLOW IT TO REST FOR 2-3 DAYS. It takes this time for the flavor and sticky texture to fully develop...it WILL be worth the wait so be patient!

Recipe from Susu's Cookbook

Perfect Banana Bread

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 1 hr 5 mins
Total Time 1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients
⅓ cup (80g) butter, melted
4 large ripe bananas, mashed (1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups)
¾ cup (165g) granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1 ½ cups (186g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp kosher salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Prepare an 8x4-inch loaf pan by spraying with nonstick spray.
2. Melt butter and set aside to cool.
3. In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork. (You can use up to 5 regular sized bananas or 6 small bananas in this recipe.)
4. Add butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla. Mix well.
5. Add in flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and mix until ingredients are JUST incorporated. (Be careful not to overmix.)
6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
7. Bake for 45 minutes. (Cover with aluminum foil if browning too quickly.)
8. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with crumbs, but not wet batter.

Nutrition
Calories: 288kcal

Recipe from I Am Baker

Mini Pavlova

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 15 pavlovas

Ingredients
For Pavlova:

6 large egg whites, room temperature
300 g granulated sugar
2 tsp corn starch
1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract

For Cream:

350ml heavy whipping cream (very cold)
2 Tbsp granulated sugar

For Topping/Decor:

950 g fresh fruit, blueberries, kiwi, raspberries, sliced strawberries, etc
15 Mint leaves , for garnish, optional

Instructions

How to Make Pavlova:

1. Preheat the Oven to 225˚ F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Using your stand mixer, beat 6 egg whites on high speed 1 min until soft peaks form. With the mixer on, gradually add 1 1/2 cups sugar and beat 10 min on high speed, or until stiff peaks form. It will be smooth and glossy.
2. Use a spatula to quickly fold in 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice and 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract, then fold in 2 tsp corn starch and mix until well blended.
3. Pipe meringue into 3 to 3 1/2 inches wide nests onto the parchment paper using a Wilton 1M Tip. Indent the center with a spoon to allow room for cream. Bake at 225˚ for 1 hr and 15 min then turn the oven off and without opening the door, let meringue in the hot oven another 30 min. Outsides will be dry and crisp to the tap and very pale cream-colored and insides will still be marshmallow soft.
4. Transfer the pavlova with the parchment paper onto the counter or a cookie rack and allow it to cool to room temp. Once cool, you can top them with whipped cream and fruit or store in an airtight container for 3-5 days at room temperature (in a low humidity place).

How to Make Frosting and Assemble Pavlovas:

1. Beat cold whipping cream with 2 Tbsp sugar in the cold bowl for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes or until whipped and spreadable.
2. Pipe frosting onto the pavlova and top with fresh fruit.*

Recipe Notes
*These should be enjoyed within 4 hours of assembly.

Recipe from Natasha's Kitchen

Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 11 mins
Total Time 21 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients
225g Cold Butter cut into small cubes
213g Brown Sugar
100g Sugar
2 Eggs
1 1/2 cups Cake Flour*
1 1/2 cups Flour
1 tsp Cornstarch
3/4 tsp Baking Soda
3/4 tsp Salt
340g Chocolate Chips
240g Walnuts roughly chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 210 degrees Celsius.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together cold cubed butter, brown sugar, and sugar for 4 minutes or until creamy.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each one.
4. Stir in flours, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Mix until just combined to avoid overmixing. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
5. Separate dough into large balls and place on lightly colored cookie sheet. They are bigger than you think! You will fit 4 cookies on one large cookie sheet. The dough makes 8 extra large cookies.
6. Bake for 9-12 minutes or until golden brown on the top. Let them rest for at least 10 minutes to set.

Notes
*can substitute all-purpose flour for cake flour
*Levain Bakery has stated they don't use vanilla extract in their cookies. If you would like to add vanilla extract, I would suggest adding 1 teaspoon when adding the eggs to the batter.

Author: Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey 

2-Day Chocolate Chip Cookies

PREP TIME: 45 MINUTES 

COOK TIME: 20 MINUTES 

TOTAL TIME: 2 DAYS 65 MINUTES 

INGREDIENTS 

Toffee 

85g unsalted butter 

150g light brown sugar, lightly packed 

1 tsp kosher salt 

Water, as needed 

Cookie Dough 

226g unsalted butter 

4 ice cubes 

150g granulated sugar 

300g light brown sugar, packed 

2 tsp espresso powder 

2 tsp kosher salt 

½ tsp baking soda 

2 large eggs 

2 tsp vanilla extract 

300g all-purpose flour 

168g 50-70% cacao chocolate, chopped 

Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling 

PREPARATION 

1. Make the toffee: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. In a medium nonstick saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, brown sugar, and salt, stirring until evenly incorporated. If there are grainy lumps or if the fat starts to separate, add a couple splashes of water and stir vigorously to emulsify. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 143°C, about 10-15 minutes. 
3. Pour the toffee onto the prepared baking sheet and spread out slightly with a spatula. Freeze until ready to use, about 30 minutes. 
4. Make the cookie dough: Add the butter to a medium nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter turns dark brown and smells nutty. Watch carefully so the butter does not burn. Remove the pot from the heat. 
5. Add an ice cube to the butter and slowly let it melt. It may froth and bubble. Add the remaining 3 ice cubes and gently stir until melted. 
6. In a large bowl, combine the granulated and brown sugar, espresso powder, salt, and baking soda. 
7. Pour the brown butter into the sugar mixture and mix until combined. Don’t worry if it looks separated. 
8. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and vanilla. Pour into the sugar and butter mixture and whisk until glossy and smooth. 
9. Add the flour and fold with a rubber spatula to incorporate until the dough has no visible flour streaks. 
10. Remove the toffee from the freezer (it should be a frozen disc) and break it into chunks that will fit inside a gallon zip-top bag. Double bag the toffee and seal both bags. With a rolling pin, break the toffee into small pieces. 
11. Fold the crushed toffee and chopped chocolate into the dough until evenly distributed. 
12. Using a large ice cream scoop or a ½ cup measure, scoop the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Wrap the baking sheet in plastic wrap, but leave a small opening at the corner of the tray. 
13. Let the dough rest in the refrigerator for at least 48 hours. This will allow the flavor to develop and the dough to dry out a little as it rests, which will result in less spread when it bakes. 
14. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 163°C. Line 2 baking sheet with parchment paper. 
15. Arrange the cookies on the baking sheets, leaving at least 2 inches of space between the cookies and away from the edges of the pan. 
16. Bake until the cookies are golden brown with crispy edges, but are still slightly soft in the center, 18-20 minutes. Immediately sprinkle the cookies with flaky sea salt. then let cool completely. The cookies will be very soft at first but will set after they are fully cooled. 

Mango Swiss Roll

Difficulty: easy

Preparation time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Serving size: 8 slices

Ingredients
Sponge

3 large eggs
120 g caster sugar, plus 1 Tbsp
70 g self-raising flour

Filling
200 g double cream
80 g Greek yoghurt
50 g icing sugar, plus extra for dusting
100 g ripe mango, sliced (5 mm)

Preparation

Sponge

1. Preheat oven to 180°C and line a swiss roll tin (30 cm x 20 cm x 1 cm) with baking paper.
2. Insert butterfly whisk. Place eggs and sugar in mixing bowl then whisk 6 min/speed 3.
3. Place a small bowl on mixing bowl lid and weigh in flour. Remove then sieve flour into mixing bowl and mix 15 sec/speed 2.5. Remove butterfly whisk. 
4. Transfer mixture to prepared tin, gently smoothing out into corners. Bake for 14-16 minutes (180°C) until well risen and just firm to the touch. 
5. Meanwhile, clean mixing bowl and butterfly whisk then scatter 1 Tbsp sugar over a piece of baking paper larger than the swiss roll tin.
6. Once sponge is cooked, immediately tip out onto sugar coated baking paper. Carefully remove baking paper lining, then make an incision about 1 cm in from the short edge, being careful not to cut through the sponge - this makes it easier to roll up. Gently roll up sponge, with sugar coated paper inside. Cover with a damp tea towel then set aside to cool.

Filling

1. Once sponge is cool, prepare filling. Insert butterfly whisk. Place cream, yoghurt and icing sugar in mixing bowl then whip until soft peaks form/speed 3, watching carefully to avoid over-whipping.
2. Remove butterfly whisk then fold in sliced mango with spatula.
3. Unroll cooled sponge, then spread filling evenly over surface, leaving a 1 cm border around the edge. Roll up, leaving behind the baking paper, then transfer to a serving plate. Dust with icing sugar and serve.

Tau Foo Fah (Thermomix)

Ingredients

150g soy bean (soaked for at least 4 hours beforehand)
700g water

2 pandan leaves (knotted)

2 Tbsp corn flour

1/4 tsp GDL

Method:

1. Add soya beans & 150g water into bowl & blend 30s/speed 8.
2. Pour the mixture into a filter cloth & clean the bowl.
3. Remove the bubbles from the soya milk & pour into the TM bowl.
4. Add 500g water & knotted pandan leaves and cook for 20min/98C/Speed 2.
5. Meanwhile, add 50g water, corn flour and GDL & mix well.
6. Pour the cooked soya bean milk from a good height into the corn flour mixture & remove the bubbles.
7. Cover it & let it solidify for 1 or 2 hours & it'll be ready to serve with your preferred syrup.

Mexican Coffee Buns (Thermomix)

Ingredients 

For dough bread
200g full cream milk
40g caster sugar
1 ½ tsp dried yeast powder
300g bread flour, sieved
10g milk powder
¼ tsp salt
30g salted butter, soften at room temperature
40g salted butter, cut in cubes (2 cm x 2 cm), cold temperature

For coffee topping
80g salted butter, soften at room temperature
80g brown sugar
1 tbsp instant coffee granules
2 tsp water
1 egg, room temperature
80g cake flour

Preparation
Bread dough

1. Place milk, sugar, and yeast in mixing bowl, mix 3 min/37°C / speed 2.
2. Add bread flour, milk powder and salt, Knead Dough mode / 1 min.
3. Add 30g soften butter, Knead Dough mode / 3 min. 
4. Prepare pastry mat, shape the dough into a ball. Cover loosely with cling film and let dough rise for 60 min. 
5. Divide dough into 8 equal portions (approx. 70 g each) and roll into ball. 
6. Gently flatten a dough with rolling pin, put a cube of butter in the center of the dough. Wrap the dough, roll into ball and arrange doughs at least 5 cm apart from each other. Repeat this step until finished. 
7. Cover loosely with cling film and let dough rise for 60 min.

Coffee topping

1. Insert butterfly whisk. Place butter and sugar in mixing bowl, mix 2min / speed 3. Meanwhile, mix instant coffee granules with water.
2. Add egg and instant coffee mixture, mix 10 sec / speed 3.
3. Add flour, mix 20 sec / speed 3. Remove butterfly whisk.
4. Transfer mixture into piping bag and refrigerate until ready to use. 
5. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a parchment paper on baking tray and transfer doughs on a baking tray. 
6. Pipe out the coffee topping in circular motion on the buns. Bake for 15 - 20 min (180°C) until golden brown. Serve warm.

Tips:

• To wrap the butter filling into the dough, freeze the butter filling after cutting them into cubes.
• Mexican coffee bun is best eaten freshly baked while still warm. You may re-bake the buns for 5 min (180°C) to get the crispy crust texture again.

Ginger Milk Curd

Ingredients

150-200 g ginger, fresh & peeled and cut into pieces
500 g full cream milk
20-40 g sugar

Method

1. Put ginger into TM bowl, grind at 5 sec/sp 10. Use a spatula to scrape ginger down . Grind again at 5 sec/sp10, scrape it down again, Then blend at 30 sec/sp 3. Transfer mashed ginger to a very fine-mesh strainer and press with spoon to squeeze out the juice. You should get at least 25g of ginger juice. Pour juice equally to 3 small bowls.
2. Put milk and sugar in the cleaned TM bowl, heat 6 min/75°C/sp 1. Immediately pour the warm milk from a high place equally into the 3 bowls of ginger juice. Don’t move the bowls, let it set for about 15 minutes or until it solidifies. Have it warm or refrigerate it. Enjoy!

Almond Sugee Cake (Thermomix)

PREP TIME 15 mins

COOK TIME 50 mins
RESTING TIME 2 hrs
TOTAL TIME 3 hrs 5 mins

SERVINGS 1 8" square

INGREDIENTS
(A)
250 g butter softened at room temp
130 g castor sugar
6 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
40 g superfine cake flour sifted
120 g sugee flour
120 g ground almond

(B)
2 egg whites
20 g castor sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

CONVENTIONAL METHOD

1. Separate egg yolks and whites. For best results, ensure the bowl that you're using to beat the egg whites is clean, and that there are no traces of yolk in the egg whites as it will ruin the meringue's ability to fluff up.
2. Cream softened butter with sugar on med speed until it becomes pale, light and fluffy - this may take up to 3-4 minutes.
3. Add in egg yolk, one at a time. Beat well after each addition of egg until creamy.
4. Add in vanilla and mix until well incorporated. If using brandy, this is when you would incorporate into the mixture.
5. Add flour, sugee flour and ground almond, mix until well combined.
6. Cover and leave to soak for 2 hours.
7. After 2 hours, preheat oven to 180°C.
8. Whisk egg whites on medium low speed until foamy then add in sugar. Beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-high and beat until stiff peak.
9. Fold egg white meringue into egg yolk mixture in 2-3 batches until evenly mixed.
10. Pour batter into a lined and greased 8" square cake pan and level the top evenly. Bake for 50 minutes or until skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. If cake is browning too fast, cover with foil during the last 10 minutes.
11. Remove cake from oven. Let cool for 5 minutes then unmould and leave on wire rack for 20-30 minutes until completely cool before cutting to serve.

THERMOMIX METHOD

1. Separate egg yolks and whites. If you have two TM bowls, the egg whites can go into 1 of them. For best results, ensure the bowl that you're using to hold the egg whites is clean, and that there are no traces of yolk in the egg whites as it will ruin the meringue's ability to fluff up.
2. Add butter and sugar in the TM bowl and beat for 10 secs/speed 5. Insert butterfly attachment, and whip for 2 mins/speed 3.5. Mixture should be light and fluffy now.
3. Over 50 seconds on speed 3.5, while the blade is moving, add egg yolks one at a time through the hole of TM lid. Add vanilla extract and beat 10 seconds/speed 3.5. If using brandy, add it along with the vanilla extract.
4. Scrape batter down. Add sifted cake flour and sugee flour, and mix 20 sec/speed 3.5. Scrape batter again, add ground almond, mix 20 sec/speed 3.5. Pour batter into another big bowl and rest for 2 hours.
5. After 2 hours, preheat oven to 180°C.
6. In your clean and dry TM bowl, insert clean butterfly whisk in and add the egg whites. Whip for 1 min/speed 3.5 with the MC off. Add sugar in, and whip for 2 min/speed 3.5.
7. Using a spatula, manually fold egg white meringue into egg yolk mixture in 2-3 batches until evenly mixed.
8. Pour batter into a lined and greased 8" square cake pan and level the top evenly. Bake for 50 minutes or until skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. If cake is browning too fast, cover with foil during the last 10 minutes.
9. Remove cake from oven. Let cool for 5 minutes then unmould and leave on wire rack for 20-30 minutes until completely cool before cutting to serve.

NOTES

FLOUR SUBSTITUTE
If you do not have superfine cake flour on hand, you can also use all purpose plain flour.
CAN I USE WHOLE EGGS INSTEAD?
Not with this recipe, no. Beating air into the egg yolks and egg white separately will give you a light and fluffy cake.
Please do not substitute lesser egg yolks with more egg whites - it doesn't work that way. Stick to the ratio for a deliciously rich cake! As for the remaining 4 egg whites, I just turn them into frittata or egg white omelette for breakfast the next morning.
GROUND ALMOND SUBSTITUTE
If you're wondering if ground almond is the same as almond flour or almond meal and if they can be interchangeable, do read on.
My recipe above calls for ground almond which is almond flour - this is finely grounded blanched almonds, with skins removed. This is what you'd want to use to achieve light, airy cakes. Almond meal on the other hand, contains the skin and typically has a more coarse grind. You may also use almond meal, but I wouldn't recommend as it may affect the texture of the cake.
VARIATION
If you like the addition of alcohol in your cake, you may add 2-3 tsp of brandy into the mixture. You would do so, along with the vanilla extract.
Or you can also add some orange zest into the mix.
BAKING TIN CONVERSION
If you do not have an 8-inch square baking tin, you could also use a 9-inch (23cm) round tin which would give you the same volume/height. Do note that if you are using a smaller baking tin, this would mean your cake would be taller and therefore requires for the baking time to be adjusted.

Sponge Cake (Thermomix)

Ingredients

80 g raw cane sugar
250 g eggs (5 eggs)
80 g self raising flour
6" cake tin

Method

1. Pre heat oven to 170C
2. Insert butterfly, place sugar and eggs to beat 10 mins 40C Speed 3.5.
3. Continue to beat 5 min Speed 4
4. Add flour 5 secs Speed 4.
5. Pour batter in greased baking tin and bake at 170C for 25-30 mins.

Pineapple Tarts (Thermomix)

Pineapple filling

Ingredients
1500 g fresh pineapple (core removed, cut in chunks)
120 g sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Preparation

1. Place pineapple into mixing bowl, 5sec / Speed 5. Scrape down and repeat 3 times. Drain blended pineapple with Varoma dish to discard the liquid.
2. Please drained pineapple, sugar and lemon juice, cinnamon stick into mixing bowl, 30mins / 120deg / Speed 2. Place simmering basket on the lid to prevent splattering.
3. To dry up the paste, 10mins / Varoma / Speed 2, prolong time until desired texture achieved.
4. Remove and set aside to cool down before roll into little ball.

Tip : Reduce the time if the paste looks dry before the required cooking time.
Tip: Extend by 3-5min each time at varoma if the paste is still not dry enough but please monitor.

Pineapple Dough
Ingredients
350 g plain flour
20 g milk powder
20 g sugar
A pinch of salt
2 egg yolks (cold & lightly beaten)
250 g unsalted butter (cold from fridge, cut in cubes)

Preparation

1. Add plain flour, milk powder, sugar, salt & butter into mixing bowl, 15secs / Speed 6.
2. Remove from mixing bowl, and rest in chiller for half an hour before use. 

Egg Wash
Ingredient
1 egg yolk (lightly beaten)

Wrapping Process

1. Pinch a bit of pastry to wrap around a pineapple ball. Place on a lined baking tray. Repeat this process until all pineapple ball are wrapped with pastry dough.
2. Glaze pastry with beaten egg yolk and bake in a pre-heated oven at 180degree for 20 minutes or until pasty turn slightly brown.
3. Cool down tarts before store in airtight container.

Butter Cake (Thermomix)

Ingredients:

250 g salted butter, softened (room temperature) and cut in cubes 
150 g low GI brown sugar
½ tsp natural vanilla extract
5 eggs, A size
50 g fresh milk
250 g self-raising flour

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 170°C. Line a 20 cm x 20 cm square cake tin with baking paper. Set aside.
2. Crack eggs into a bowl, weigh in milk and vanilla extract. Set aside.
3. Pour brown sugar into mixing bowl. Mill at 10 sec, speed 10 and turn into icing sugar.
4. Insert butterfly whisk. Place butter and sugar in mixing bowl, beat 1 min 30 sec/speed 3.0.
5. Mix 40 sec/speed 3.0, adding vanilla extract, eggs one at a time and fresh milk through hole in mixing bowl lid onto rotating blades to beat the mixture into a smooth batter.
6. Add self-raising flour, mix 30 sec/speed 3. Remove butterfly whisk.  Don't extend mixing time even if you see there's flour not mixed well. Just use spatula to mix lightly with batter.
7. Transfer cake mixture to prepared square cake tin.
8. Bake for 45 minutes (170°C), top and bottom heat (no fan!) or until a cake tester skewer or toothpick comes out clean when it is inserted in the centre of the cake. Allow to cool in cake pan for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate and let cool completely. Cut and serve.

Castella Cake (Thermomix)

Difficulty : easy

Preparation time : 15 min
Total time : 1h 45 min
Serving size : 16 slices

Ingredients
7 eggs, medium (about 60 g)
250 g of sugar
60 g of milk
80 g of honey
200 g of flour

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 ° C. Line a pan (23cm x 23cm) with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Place the butterfly. Place eggs and sugar in mixing bowl , whisk 8 min / 37 ° C / speed. 3.5 .
3. Add milk and honey, mix 2 min / 37 ° C / speed. 3.5 .
4. Combine flour around butterfly and mix 5 sec / speed. 3 . Remove the butterfly . Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, level with the spatula and bake in a hot oven for 20 minutes (180 ° C). Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake another 20-25 minutes (180 ° C). Carefully remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Turn out of the mold by inverting and allow to cool on a wire rack for 40 minutes. Serve by cutting into rectangular slices.

Tipsy Laird

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 0 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients
10 ounces sponge cake (or pound cake, halved and cut into thick slices)
10 ounces fresh raspberries (Scottish is preferred)
6 tablespoons whisky (or Drambuie)
2 cups custard sauce (thick, ready-made)
2 cups double cream (or heavy cream or whipping cream, softly whipped)
Handful flaked almonds (toasted)

Method

1. Line the bottom of a large glass dish or individual glasses with the already cut thick cake slices. If you are using one large bowl use all the cake in one layer if you can. 
2. Reserve a few of the fresh raspberries for decoration, then layer the remainder evenly over the cake slices. Again, in the large trifle, one thick layer is good.
3. Sprinkle with the whisky, making sure it soaks down to the cake. 
4. Spoon over the ready-made custard, again in another thick layer.
5. Finish with a further thick layer of whipped cream, either spooned over or piped using a piping bag.
6. Finish the tipsy laird by decorating with the reserved raspberries and a few toasted, flaked, almonds.
7. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

1. A tipsy laird doesn't keep well. Prepare and serve fresh for best results.
2. You can omit the whisky if you are serving the tipsy laird trifle to children.

The delightfully sounding Scottish trifle dessert of tipsy laird truly is, without a doubt, a thing of beauty. The light dessert is traditionally is served on Burns Night or at Hogmanay, but, having said that, this dessert is so delicious and so very easy to make, why save it for just one night a year? It is far too good for that.

The beauty of the dessert is not just the flavor, tipsy laird is pretty to look at too and unbelievably easy to make. What is not to like?

A tipsy laird is essentially the same as a classic English Trifle, the pudding that has graced British tables for centuries, but this Scottish one uses whisky, not sherry, and (where possible but not essential) uses Scottish raspberries. Scottish raspberries are renowned worldwide for being the best, so if you are lucky enough to be able to use them, then great.

However, any good, fresh raspberries will do the job. Do not, however, ever use frozen: they do not work.

Jelly may not always be used, but no trifle is complete without custard. This trifle though is so quick and easy to make, as it uses ready-made custard or you can make it with custard powder following the packet instructions. For an even richer dessert, finish the trifle by grating dark or white chocolate over.

Cherry Sauce

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients
4 cups (552 g) sweet cherries (fresh or frozen), pitted*
1/4 to 1/3 cups (60 ml) water
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp sugar

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan (off the heat), add water (use 1/3 cup for fresh cherries and 1/4 cup water for frozen cherries). Whisk in 1 Tbsp cornstarch, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, and 2 Tbsp sugar.
2. Place over medium heat and whisk constantly until the mixture starts to thicken.
3. Add cherries and cook stirring occasionally until sauce is at a light boil (about 6-10 minutes for fresh cherries and 12-15 minutes for frozen). The sauce should be thickened and uniformly bubbling, not just at the edges, then remove from heat.
4. Cool to room temperature then cover and store in the refrigerator in a glass mason jar or Tupperware container until ready to use. It will thicken more as it stands.

To accompany cheesecake.