bake – Page 5 – My Whisk and I

Wool Bread with Pesto

May 27, 2023May 20, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

125ml warm milk
5ml instant yeast
625ml flour
45ml sugar
5ml salt
95ml boiling water
30ml butter, room temperature
155ml pesto
30ml milk

Pour the milk into a bowl, sprinkle over the yeast, stir and set aside for 10 minutes.
Add the flour, sugar and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook.
Turn the mixer on a low speed and drizzle in the boiling water.
Mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes.
Add the yeast mixture and mix on medium speed for another 3 minutes.
Add the butter a little at a time with the machine running.
Mix/knead for 10 minutes.
Lightly oil a clean bowl, place the dough in it, cover with plastic wrap and stand in a warm place for one hour.
Take the dough from the bowl and place it on a work surface.
Gently fold the dough until deflated.
Divide into 5 even portions and roll each into a ball. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and rest on the work surface for 10 minutes.
Grease a 22cm loose-bottom cake tin with butter and line the base with baking paper. Set aside.
Lightly flour a work surface and roll a dough ball into a 20cm long rectangle.
Cut the bottom half into thin strips. (see Photograph beneath)
Spoon 45ml pesto on the half that isn’t cut and spread it out evenly.
Fold a 1cm edge on the sides, over the pesto and roll that section into a log. Roll over the part that are cut into strips.
Repeat this process with the other 4 dough portions.
Place the logs on the outside perimeter of the prepared cake tin.
Cover with plastic wrap and proof in a warm area for 1 hour.
Preheat your oven to 170℃.
Brush the bread with milk and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove from the oven, stand for 10 minutes and remove from the baking tin.
Cool on a wire rack.
The bread is easily broken into portions and is delicious served slightly warm.

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Mini Poppy Seed Loaves

May 16, 2023May 3, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

These tiny loaves are deliciously moist and lemony and can be baked as cupcakes as well. The recipe yields about 10 mini loaves or 24 cupcakes.

200g flour
1,2ml baking powder
1,2ml bicarbonate of soda
1,2ml salt
15ml poppy seeds
105ml vegetable oil
210g sugar
grated zest of 1 lemon
3 eggs
150g sour cream
7,5ml vanilla
15ml lemon juice

Lemon Buttercream:
200g butter, room temperature
grated zest of half a lemon
10ml vanilla
15ml lemon juice
330g icing sugar, sifted

Preheat your oven to 160℃ and line 12 x mini-loaf tins with paper cups (2 x 12-hole muffin tins).
Sift the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt together.
Add the poppy seeds and set aside.
Add the vegetable oil, sugar and lemon zest to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Turn the mixer on medium-high speed and mix for 1 minute.
Turn the mixer down to a slow speed and add the eggs, one at a time.
Turn off the mixer and scrape down the bowl.
Turn back on to a low speed and add the flour mixture a spoonful at a time.
Now add the sour cream, vanilla and lemon juice and mix until combined.
Divide the batter among the paper cups and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

For the buttercream:
Add the butter and lemon zest to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Mix on high speed for 2 minutes, scrape down the bowl and mix for another 2 minutes.
Add the vanilla and lemon juice and mix until incorporated.
Turn the mixer to medium speed and add the icing sugar a spoonful at a time.
Pipe/spread on to the cupcakes.

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Chocolate Layer Brownies

May 15, 2023May 4, 2023by Karen Claassen1 Comment

145g butter
250g sugar
80g cocoa powder, sifted
1,2ml salt
7,5ml vanilla
2 eggs
65g flour
75g pecan nuts, roughly chopped
2 x 80g slabs of chocolate

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and line a 20cm x 20cm baking tin with baking paper.
Add the butter, sugar, cocoa powder and salt to a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water.
Stir the mixture every now and then until the butter has melted and the mixture is amalgamated.
Remove the bowl from the saucepan and add the vanilla.
Stir through.
Add the eggs one-by-one and beat to incorporate, with a wooden spoon.
Add the flour and beat again to incorporate.
Add the pecan nuts and stir through.
Spoon half the batter in to the prepared baking tin and spread it out evenly.
Place the chocolate slabs, side-to-side, on the batter and cover with the rest of the brownie batter.
Bake in the oven for 25 minutes.
Remove the brownies from the oven and cool completely.
Slice into 16 squares.

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Chocolate Pudding Cake

May 8, 2023April 20, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

190ml flour
60ml cocoa powder, sifted
80ml granulated sugar
1,2ml salt
10ml baking powder
1 egg
55g butter, melted
80ml milk
5ml vanilla
80g chocolate, chopped
125ml pecan nuts, chopped
80ml granulated sugar
80ml brown sugar
80ml cocoa powder, sifted
375ml strong coffee

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and spray a 20cm x 20cm baking tin with cooking spray.
Add the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt and baking powder to a mixing bowl and stir together with a whisk.
Add the egg, melted butter, milk and vanilla to a jug and whisk together.
Pour the wet ingredients in to the dry ingredients.
Add the chopped chocolate and nuts and stir to mix.
Spoon the batter in to the prepared baking tin.
Add the 80ml granulated and brown sugar and the cocoa powder, to a bowl and mix.
Sprinkle the mixture over the cake batter.
Pour the coffee over and bake in the oven for 25 minutes.
Serve the chocolate pudding cake with cream or ice cream.

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Banana and Carrot Bread

April 21, 2023April 14, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

Serve this Banana and Carrot Bread as is or with a subtle cinnamon frosting to elevate it tot a cake!

500ml flour
250ml sugar
5ml baking powder
2,5ml salt
2,5ml ground cinnamon
2 eggs
250ml mashed banana (about three bananas)
83ml vegetable oil
250ml grated carrot
125ml pecan nuts, chopped

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and line a 25cm x 11cm loaf tin with baking paper.
Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon to a mixing bowl. Set aside.
Add the eggs, mashed banana and oil to a jug and whisk together until amalgamated.
Pour the mixture into the flour and mix just until you can no longer see dry ingredients.
Add the grated carrot and pecan nuts and fold through until evenly distributed.
Place in the oven and bake for 1 hour. Test the bread by inserting a skewer to see if it comes out clean.
Cool in the loaf tin for 10 minutes before removing and cooling on a wire rack.
The bread should be completely cooled before slicing.

Cinnamon Frosting:
110g cream cheese, room temperature
80ml icing sugar, sifted
1,2ml ground cinnamon
5ml vanilla

Beat/whisk together for 1 min.
Smear on the top of the bread and top with pecan nuts.

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Baked Custards

April 19, 2023April 14, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

125ml granulated sugar
5ml instant coffee dissolved in 30ml boiling water
385g can of condensed milk
340ml can of evaporated milk
3 eggs
2,5ml salt

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and set 6 ramekins in an ovenproof dish that is at least 7cm deep.
Place a small saucepan on medium-high heat and pour in the sugar and coffee.
Swirl (do not stir!) the saucepan until the sugar has dissolved.
Now bring the mixture to the boil and turn the heat down to medium.
Simmer for 5 minutes.
Divide the mixture amongst the ramekins.
Set aside so that it can harden.
Add the condensed milk, evaporated milk, eggs and salt to a mixing bowl and whisk together.
Place a fine sieve over a jug and pour the mixture through.
Divide the mixture evenly between the ramekins.
Place the oven dish with the ramekins in the oven and pour enough boiling water into the pan to come two-thirds up the sides of the ramekins.
Bake for 30 minutes. The custard should be just set, with the centres still wobbly.
Remove from the oven and stand for 15 minutes.
Take the ramekins from the oven dish and set aside to cool.
Place the custards in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours.
Loosen the custards from the sides of the ramekins with a small knife and invert on plates to serve.

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Chocolate Hazelnut Cake

April 14, 2023April 7, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

250g whole hazelnuts
200g butter, cubed
200g dark chocolate, chopped
6 eggs, separated
200g caster sugar
45ml orange juice
80g hazelnut flavoured chocolate

Preheat your oven to 200℃.
Spread the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and roast them in the oven for 10 minutes. Give the pan a shake halfway through baking time.
Spread the warm nuts between two tea towels and rub them so that the skins come off.
Turn your oven temperature down to 180℃ and spray a 22cm loose-bottom cake tin with cooking spray. Line the bottom of the tin with baking paper.
Add 200g of the cooled hazelnuts to a food processor and blitz until fine – a similar texture to that of breadcrumbs.
Add the butter and chocolate to a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water and allow to melt.
Remove from the heat and stir in the ground hazelnuts.
Set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
Add the egg yolks and sugar to a mixing bowl and beat for 4 minutes with an electric whisk.
Add it to the hazelnut mixture and stir by hand until well combined.
Pour in the orange juice and stir through.
Add the egg whites to a clean bowl and whisk to stiff peaks.
Spoon a third of the whites into the hazelnut mixture and stir through to loosen.
Now add the remaining whites and gently fold through.
Spoon the batter into the prepared cake tin and bake for 40 minutes.
Remove the cake and leave to cool in the baking tin for 30 minutes.
Unclip the outside ring and invert the cake on a serving plate.
Pull off the baking paper and leave the cake to cool completely.
Melt about 80g of hazelnut chocolate, pour on the cake and sprinkle over the remaining hazelnuts.

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Easter Hunt Cupcakes

April 10, 2023April 7, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

You can top these cupcakes with a chocolate ganache icing or leave them plain – I prefer plain as they are sweet and gooey with the melted Easter egg on the inside.

200g butter, room temperature
200g sugar
200g flour
83ml cocoa powder, sifted
7,5ml baking powder
1,2ml bicarbonate of soda
2,5ml salt
150ml sour cream
2 eggs, lightly beaten
7,5ml vanilla
12 small, filled chocolate eggs

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cups.
Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Cream together on high speed, scrape down the bowl and mix again on high speed.
Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt.
Mix on low speed until the ingredients are incorporated.
Remove the mixing bowl from the mixer and add the sour cream, eggs and vanilla.
Stir through by hand until just incorporated.
Divide the batter between the 12 paper cups and insert a filled chocolate egg in each.
Bake the cupcakes for 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

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Biscoff Mini Cakes

April 5, 2023April 1, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

These little cakes can be baked in a 12-hole muffin tin when lined with paper cups. Baking time remains the same.

175g butter, room temperature
175g brown sugar
30g + 200g Biscoff spread
3 eggs
175g self-raising flour

Preheat your oven to 160℃ and spray 6 ramekins with cooking spray.
Add the butter, sugar and Biscoff spread to a mixing bowl.
Whisk with an electric mixer until smooth.
Add the eggs one at a time while mixing.
Add the self-raising flour and mix on low speed until incorporated.
Divide the batter between the 6 ramekins.
Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Cool the cakes on a wire rack.

Decant about 200g of Biscoff spread and place in the microwave oven for 20 second spurts.
Stir the spread and micro again until you have a pourable consistency.
Place the cooled cakes on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet and pour over the spread.
Stand for 30 minutes until set.

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Vanilla Cake

March 31, 2023March 30, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

If there had to be a cake that I could not live without, it would be this Vanilla Cake. It is plain and simple, has the finest, most delicate crumb and can be dressed up or down with icing, cream, fresh fruit, steamed fruit or a compote. Whichever way you choose to eat yours, I hope this becomes one of your very favourite cakes too! Please note: THERE ARE DIFFERENT BAKING TIMES DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU BAKE THE CAKE IN ONE OR TWO CAKE TINS.

500ml flour
12,5ml baking powder
1,2ml salt
4 eggs, room temperature
375ml caster sugar
115g butter, cubed
250ml milk
15ml vanilla
15ml vegetable oil

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and spray two 22cm loose-bottom cake tins and line the base and sides with baking paper.
Add the flour, baking powder and salt to a mixing bowl and whisk to mix through.
Add the eggs to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed for 30 seconds.
Slowly pour in the sugar with the mixer still running.
Now beat on high speed until the mixture is three times its original volume – about 7 minutes or so.
Scatter a third of the flour on the surface and mix on the lowest speed until the flour is just incorporated. Keep going until there is no flour left.
Add the butter and milk to a saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir until the butter has melted and the mixture is warm when you put your finger in it. NB: you want the butter to melt but NOT boil the milk!
Pour the milk-mixture into a large mixing bowl.
Add the vanilla and vegetable oil and whisk through with a hand whisk.
Add about 250ml of the egg and flour mixture and vigorously whisk to combine. The batter must be smooth.
Turn the mixer on to a low speed and very slowly pour in the milk mixture.
Scrape down the sides and base of the bowl. Beat on low speed for 20 seconds.
Divide the batter between the prepared cake tins.
Lift each tin 5cm from the work surface and drop it – repeat a few times to knock out the large air bubbles.
Place the cake tins in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove and cool in the tins for 15 minutes before turning out onto cooling racks and removing the baking paper.
Leave to cool completely before filling with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

BAKING TIME FOR ONE PAN: 50 minutes