Sugar Cookies

This weekend was Brooke’s future sister in-laws Kitchen Tea. I am still not entirely sure what the afternoon entails, but I know there was an array of savoury and sweet treats thanks to the leftovers that got brought home! To contribute to the afternoon Brooke volunteered herself to take on the sweets, which included mini lemon meringue pies, cupcakes and lastly sugar cookies.

Sugar cookies are well known throughout America and are usually made at festive times including Christmas, Valentine’s Day or Halloween as they can be easily cut into various shapes. The other great thing about Sugar Cookies is the recipe is so simple and so are the ingredients! Sugar cookies are made from sugar, flour, butter, eggs, vanilla and either baking powder or baking soda. For this recipe Brooke opted for baking powder. When making these cookies you need to make sure you refrigerate your dough first, as the chilled dough makes it so much easier to roll ( it doesn’t stick as much to the rolling pin).

When it comes to decorating the cookies, this is the fun part – although the mess isn’t so much. To decorate it is really your choice whether you wish to decorate with a glaze, royal icing or fondant. For this recipe Brooke opted for a combination of royal icing and a glaze. Royal icing is great for decorating cakes, cupcakes or cookies and is made using egg whites or meringue powder, which is what helps it dry hard. If you want to make a glaze also, I would recommend making a royal icing in addition to pipe around to outside, then put the glaze in the middle as it holds it in place. Remember you will need to work quickly with your royal icing as it does crust quickly.

Brooke’s handy tip if you are using a pipe for the royal icing. Put a damp piece of paper towel in a tall glass and use this to stand your piping bag in. The damp towel will stop your piping nozzle from drying out and blocking the pipe.

For other cookie recipes check out our ginger nut biscuits or florentine biscuits.

Sugar Cookie IngredientsSugar Cookie DoughLove Heart Shaped Sugar CookiesSugar CookiesSugar Cookie HeartsIcing Sugar CookiesSugar Cookies

Sugar cookies – Recipe Instructions

Sugar Cookies
 
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Sugar cookies are great at festive times including Christmas, Valentine’s Day or Halloween as they can be easily cut into various shapes.
Author:
Recipe type: Baked Goods
Cuisine: American
Serves: 30
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies
  • 3 Cups all purpose flours
  • 1 tspn baking powder
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg (large)
  • 1 tspn vanilla extract
Royal Icing Using Egg Whites
  • 2 large (60 grams) egg whites
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3 cups (330 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
Glaze
  • 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
4 tsp Milk
Instructions
Sugar Cookies
  1. Preheat your over to 180 Degrees celcius
  2. Mix all ingredients together, to form round dough
  3. Refrigerate for 30 mins
  4. Remove the dough from the fridge, and roll the dough flat.
  5. Using your preferred cookie cutter, cut the dough into cookies
  6. Put the cookies on a lined baking tray, and bake in the oven for 8 – 10 minutes, or slightly golden.
Royal Icing
  1. In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the egg whites with the lemon juice until combined.
  2. Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth. (The right consistency is when you lift the beater, the ribbon of icing that falls back into the bowl remains on the surface for a few seconds before disappearing. If the icing runs off the edge, thicken the icing by adding a little more confectioners sugar. Conversely, if the icing is too thick, add a little water.)
  3. The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air.
  4. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use
Glaze
  1. Mix with fork. To make it more of a thin glaze, add more milk. To make it a thicker icing, add more powdered sugar.

 

French apple cake recipe

There is something that is so comforting about an a French apple cake – and especially one that is served with warm caramel sauce. Okay maybe the caramel sauce is a bit indulgent considering how delicious the cake is on its own. But if you are looking impress guests or simply feel like a treat, I definitely recommend making the sauce with this easy French apple cake recipe.

If you’re like me and love a classic then you will love this French apple cake recipe. A simple apple cake recipe is a great recipe to keep up your sleeve as apples are something that are available nearly all year round in most countries. Brooke has a few go-to recipes up her sleeve already, however on the weekend she wanted to try something new and came across this delicious French apple cake with fresh apples. If I have my way this cake is definitely going to get added to that list.

This recipe is simple and includes ingredients that nearly all households contain. Yes you may need to take a trip to the liquor store if you don’t have the brandy in your liquor cabinet. However I definitely recommend you add it as adds a nice warmth at the end of each bite and really completes the cake.

It comes together quickly, however you want to make sure you don’t over bake the cake. Simply check around the 50 minute mark with a skewer, and if the skewer comes out clean with no batter then your cake is ready. Be careful not to prick the apples as you go though.

French apple cake recipe adapted via Dorie Greenspan via David Lebovitz  via Sarah at strawberryplum.com

If you like this recipe – then check out our other dessert and sweets recipes – like our recipes for no-bake mars bar sliceginger-nut biscuitseasy raspberry friands, Belgian lemon tea cake or apple and rhubarb crumble.

Apple Cake IngredientsFrench Apple Cake Mixture and ApplesFrench Apple Cake BatterFrench Apple Cake in TinFrench Apple CakeFrench Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce

French apple cake with caramel sauce – Recipe Instructions

5.0 from 1 reviews
French Apple Cake
 
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This simple French Apple Cake is incredibly easy yet simply delicious. Enjoy it with this elegant caramel sauce for an extra degree of indulgence.
Author:
Recipe type: Baked Goods
Cuisine: French
Serves: 8
Ingredients
French Apple Cake
  • ¾ cp All-Purpose Flour
  • ¾ tsp Baking Powder
  • pinch of Salt
  • ½ tsp Cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp Nutmeg
  • 2 Eggs
  • ¾ cup Sugar
  • 3 Tbsp Brandy
  • ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 8 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled, plus extra for greasing the pan
  • 4 large Apples (I used 4 Granny Smith), peeled and diced into ½-1 in. chunks
Caramel Sauce
  • ½ cup Sugar
  • ¼ cup Water
  • 3 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • ¼ cup Cream
  • ¼ tsp Sea Salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Thoroughly butter a springform pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, a pinch of salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until light and frothy. Beat in the brandy and vanilla.
  3. Stir half of the flour mixture to the egg mixture. Add half of the melted butter, stir, then add the remaining flour, followed by the remaining butter. Fold the apples into the batter and transfer the batter-covered apples to the already prepared pan.
  4. Set the springform pan on a baking sheet and bake until the centre of the cake is set and a tester comes out clean. Mine took approximately 1 hour, 5 minutes, however, baking times are likely to vary based on the size and moisture content of your apples to be sure to keep an eye on your cake.
  5. Let the cake cool for a few minutes in the pan, then run a knife around the edges, and remove the springform. Allow to cool slightly, then serve with ice cream, whipped cream, or crème fraîche and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
  6. While the cake bakes, make the caramel. Place the sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium-high heat and whisk to dissolve. Cook until the mixture become dark amber in color, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the butter, then slowly stir in the cream and salt. Drizzle over cake. Any leftover sauce can be refrigerated and reheated in a water bath to a pourable consistency.

 

Healthy savoury muffins recipe

When Brooke told me that she was going to make this vegetarian healthy savoury muffins recipe, at first I was a little skeptical. Anything with the word vegetarian typically has me scrunching up my face as my initial reaction. The thing was, as Brooke began to rattle off the list of ingredients including, Kalamata olives, semi sun-dried tomatoes and feta just to name a few I was quickly being won over by this savoury muffins recipe.

The thing about these vegetable muffins is they are incredibly versatile, you can have them for breakfast, lunch or dinner or even just as a lunchbox snack. Brooke and I took them to work with us throughout the following week. Personally, I couldn’t seem to get past morning tea without eating mine. However, Brooke managed to wait and have hers with soup at lunchtime.

Not only are these really tasty savoury muffins, but they are also really filling and pretty healthy too. The beauty of these muffins is you can also freeze them to eat during the week or whenever you feel like a sugar-free snack.

I can definitely see this healthy savoury muffin recipe becoming a go to recipe in case of a snacking emergency. Although I think next time I will sneakily add some bacon or chorizo while Brooke is preoccupied in the kitchen (Insert evil laugh).

If you have a craving for something sweet and vegetable savoury muffins just won’t cut it then check our recipes for blueberry and lemon cupcakes, pecan slice, apple and rhubarb crumble or no bake mars bar slice.

Spinach, Semi Sundried Tomatoes, Feta, Kalamata OlivesSavoury Muffins Mixturehealthy savoury muffins in TinSavoury Muffins in Tinhealthy savoury muffins recipe

Vegetable savoury muffin baking tips

Like all baking practice and precision with measurement makes perfect! However, try these helpful tips to make your vegetable savoury muffins turn out on the first attempt.

Its important that when you wash your baby spinach leaves you remove as much excess water as possible. Running your spinach through a salad spinner is a good way to do this. Alternatively placing the spinach on paper towel and gently drying will work.

Don’t over stir the savoury muffin mixture. Resist the temptation to over beat your batter as this will cause your savoury muffins to become touch. You want the final mixture to be lumpy in texture. It should only take 10-12 strokes with a wooden spoon to blend your mixture.

Don’t skimp of the vegetables. If you don’t like on of the veggies, don’t just leave it out but instead replace it with an alternative.

Thoroughly grease the muffin tin before adding the batter. They tend to turn out better without paper cases or muffin cups. We recommend that you spray the pan with canola oil however you also could use olive oil.

Keep an eye on the baking time. Because of the variation in the water content in your ingredients and because all ovens are different you want to monitor them closely. If you take them out too early your savoury muffins could be uncooked in the middle. Bake them too long and they can become dry. Use a skewer to test your savoury muffins a couple of minutes before the end of the bake. If your skewer comes out clean then they should be perfectly cooked.

How to store your savoury muffins

Once you’ve made such great savoury muffins you will be keen to ensure you get to enjoy them all. While to some that could mean trying to eat as many as soon as possible if you store them properly they can be enjoyed over a longer period of time. These are our tips for storing muffins;

Leave your savoury muffins for around 3-5mins after cooking to allow them to firm up before you transfer to a cooling rack.

The muffins you don’t eat warm, ensure they cool completely on a wire rack. Storing your muffins when they are even a little bit warm will result in condensation which you need to avoid, or you will be left with soggy muffins.

Depending on how many muffins you have made you may either want to store dry, refrigerate or freeze your muffins.

We always like to freeze savoury muffins, its such a great way to store them and if they are properly frozen they will be good for at least 2 months (but will remain safe well past then). For best quality we like to individually wrap muffins in clingfilm and then transfer them into containers or Ziplock freezer bags. To reheat – just pop them out of the freezer and place them back in the muffin tin. Reheat at 170c (350f) until heated through. Alternatively, allow them to thaw and reheat them in the microwave.

You can refrigerate them muffins, however this tends to alter the texture of the muffin and we don’t recommend this.

Storing muffins at room temperature is better than refrigeration when it comes to retaining the quality of the flavour. The best way to store them is to line an air tight container with kitchen paper, and place them on top, if you have two layers worth then add another sheet of baking paper in between before seeling the lid. The paper should help to avoid any moisture build up. If you live in a warm climate I recommend only storing for a day or 2 at room temperature. Make sure you freeze them if you don’t think they will be gone in 2 days

Savoury muffins recipe instructions

4.7 from 3 reviews
Savoury Muffins
 
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Yummy savoury muffins with Kalamata olives, semi sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and feta and more.
Author:
Recipe type: Baked Goods
Cuisine: Australian
Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 2½ cups self-raising flour
  • ½ bunch spinach
  • 150g feta cheese
  • ½ cup semi-sundried tomatoes
  • ¼ cup Kalamata sliced olives
  • 2tbspn parmesan
  • 1⅓ cup milk
  • 50g melted butter
  • 1 egg
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 200c and brush a 12 muffin pan with canola oil.
  2. Sift the flour into a large bowl. Add shredded spinach, crumbled feta cheese, chopped sundried tomatoes, olives, parmesan and stir to combine. Whisk together the melted butter, milk and egg until just combined and add to the dry ingredients. Mix together.
  3. Spoon mixture into prepared pans. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn onto a wire rack to cool. Serve warm with some butter or avocado if you prefer. Yum!
Notes
You can easily change the filling to whatever you like – bacon, corn, asparagus, fresh tomato etc.

 

Melting Moments with Jam

Melting moments, which are also known as yo-yo biscuits, and are a shortbread-like biscuit. The traditional biscuits are then sandwiched together using a simple buttercream, and with our recipe with the addition of jam to make these delicious melting moments with jam.

Don’t let the amount of butter scare you off, these tasty biscuits have a light, fragile and crumbly texture that as the name says simply melt in your mouth. This traditional biscuit is perfect for a morning or afternoon tea.

There are a few variations for melting moment recipes, however this recipe will give you exactly 15 biscuits. The addition of custard powered in this recipe also gives the biscuits a nice even colour and sweetness. When choosing your jam, I prefer it to have a slight tartness like raspberry or plum. However, you can use any flavour you want or even not include jam.

To ensure an even bake and colour, it is also advised you bake the biscuits on a low temperature and for a longer time. This should ensure the biscuits don’t brown around the edges, and a uniform colour across the bottom. Another trick Brooke has also picked up along the way, is to pipe the buttercream around the edge of the biscuit before filling it with jammy goodness.

These melting moments with jam biscuits sure are an oldie but a goodie!

If you like biscuits and cookies then try some other tasty treats including our oatmeal and raisin cookies, ginger nut biscuits or florentine biscuits.

Melting Moments Whipped ButterMelting Moments DoughMelting Moments Marking with ForkMelting Moments Piping ButtercreamAssembling Melting Moments with JamMelting Moments with Jam

Melting moments with jam – Recipe Instructions

Melting Moments with Jam
 
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Melting Moments are a shortbread-like biscuit. The traditional biscuits are then sandwiched together using a simple buttercream, and with our recipe with the addition of jam!
Author:
Recipe type: Baked Goods
Cuisine: Australian
Serves: 15
Ingredients
Melting Moments
  • 250 g butter, room temperature
  • ½ tsp vanilla bean pasta
  • 250g plain flour
  • 85g icing sugar
  • 40 g custard powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
ButterCream
  • 75g butter, room temperature
  • 150g icing sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
  • pinch salt
  • jam
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 160C (140C fan-forced) and line two baking trays
  2. Place the butter and vanilla into a large mixing bowl and beat together until smooth and creamy
  3. Sift the remaining ingredients into the bowl and gently mix together until you form a soft dough (you can use a wooden spoon or your hands).
  4. Using your hands roll the dough into small balls, and place onto the prepared trays ensuring you leave an inch or two between each ball.
  5. Using a fork, press the fork onto the centre of each biscuit leaving an indent.
  6. Bake the biscuits in the preheated oven for 20 - 25 minutes.
  7. Allow to cool on baking trays for five minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Whilst the biscuits are cooling, make the buttercream.
  8. Place the butter into a large bowl and beat together until smooth and creamy, then slowly add in the icing sugar little at a time, beating until fully combined. Once you have added all the sugar add the vanilla and salt and beat together until light and fluffy.
  9. To assemble the biscuits, place the buttercream in a piping bag and pipe a circle of buttercream around the edges of half the biscuits. Fill the hole with some jam and top with a second biscuit.
  10. These will keep well for around three to four days in an airtight container.
Notes
Brooke likes to pair her biscuits before filling to ensure an even fit.

 

Choc Chip Snickers Cookies

What’s not to love about a snickers chocolate bar? They are the perfect combination of sweet and salty. They have the satisfying crunch of the salty peanuts and then the sweet gooey nougat. Then when added to a classic choc chip cookie recipe, they make for the most addictive cookie ever! Here comes the test of my will power again! These choc chip snickers cookies are too tough to resist.

The base to this recipe is a classic choc chip cookie recipe that is very straight forward. To start you need to cream the butter, eggs, sugars and vanilla well. This kept Brooke happy as it meant she got to use her kitchen-aid again! After beating the ingredients for about 5 minutes. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined before adding the snickers and choc chips.

The beauty of this recipe is you can choose to substitute the snickers with any other chocolate (Mars Bar, M’n’Ms, Milky Way etc) however, our personal favourite is making choc chip snickers cookies. The trick to keep in mind though is, before baking add extra snickers pieces to the top and sides of the cookies for extra lava explosions as I like to think of them.

The other thing I love about this recipe, is chewy texture of the cookies that is always a crowd pleaser. Through adding corn flour to this recipe, it helps keep the cookies soft and light. However, the most important thing to remember is not to over bake the cookies. To ensure you have a soft chewy cookie, bake your cookies for 8 or 9 minutes. Do not bake the cookies for more than 10 minutes, even if they don’t look cooked. I guarantee the cookies will crisp when you take them out of the oven an leave to cool.

As I said before, these cookies are extremely addictive. I recommend for those who have no will power like me, that you make the cookies then distribute to friends and family once you have had your fair share.

If you like biscuits and cookies then try some other tasty treats including our melting moments with jam, oatmeal and raisin cookies, ginger nut biscuits, afghan biscuits or florentine biscuits.

Choc Chip Snickers Cookies DoughChoc Chip Snickers CookiesChoc Chip Snickers Cookies

Choc chip snickers cookies – Recipe Instructions

Choc Chip Snickers Cookies
 
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These Choc Chip Snickers Cookies are the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Adding Snickers to a classic choc chip cookie recipe takes indulgence to the next level.
Author:
Recipe type: Baked Goods
Cuisine: American
Serves: 20
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup caster sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons corn flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch salt, optional and to taste
  • 1 heaping cup Snickers, diced small and loosely piled in measuring cup (or any alternative chocolate)
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to a moderate temperature.
  2. Combine the butter, sugars, egg, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until well-creamed, light and fluffy, about 5 minutes (or use a hand mixer and beat for at least 7 minutes).
  3. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, optional salt, and mix until just combined, about 1 minute.
  4. Add the Snickers, chocolate chips, and beat momentarily to incorporate, or fold in by hand. (Keep extra snickers pieces to add to dough mounds on tops and sides).
  5. Scoop the mixture into heaped tablespoonfuls on a lined baking tray. Flatten mounds slightly.
  6. Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, or until edges have set and tops are just beginning to set, even if slightly undercooked, pale and glossy in the center. Do not bake longer than 10 minutes as cookies will firm up as they cool.
  7. Store cookies in a airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Alternatively, unbaked cookie dough can be stored airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
If you have time, refrigerate your dough for 2 hours before baking. If you bake straight away like we did, your cookies will tend to be slightly thinner.