Homemade honey lemon cake

Hey Everyone, I hope your day has been well.

I haven’t really baked from scratch in a while and I had the urge to bake something sweet so here is my honey lemon cake. I enjoy baking but I don’t want to make a habit of eating too much sweet stuff especially if its unhealthy. This cake was much thinner than expected, as I half a recipe that was used for inspiration but the flavour is rich enough, so this size worked out fine. The honey provides a subtle sweetness and the lemon is also sweet but tangy. This will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 days and you could also freeze it.

Makes 5 small slices – if you want a decent sized loaf then double the recipe 🙂

Ingredients

50g butter

40g honey

1 egg

55g plain flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

Pinch of salt

1 lemon, zested

1 tbsp lemon juice

Honey lemon drizzle: 1 tbsp honey mixed with 1 tbsp lemon juice

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170 C and line a loaf tin with baking paper
2. Cream the butter and honey together until smooth
3. Add the egg and mix well
4. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt together then gradually add to the butter mix
5. Mix the in the lemon zest and juice then put into the loaf tin
6. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until fully cooked
7. In the meantime mix the honey lemon drizzle together
8. Place the cake on a wire rack and spoon over the drizzle.
9. Enjoy warm or cold

What’s your favourite cake flavour?

Thanks for reading, A

Honey Flapjacks 🍯

Hey Everyone, I hope your day has been well!

Today I made flapjacks!! I haven’t made flapjacks for a while so it was quite nostalgic for me. I think I used to make them often because they were quick and simple and you could make them plain or add peanut butter / chocolate chips / raisins / nuts etc… the options are endless and you get a different but tasty result each time.

They did stay in the oven a little longer than planned, hence the darker colours but that didn’t stop them tasting great. I love baking with oats because they are nutritious and a good source of fibre which supports gut health. I also used honey for a change as I didn’t have golden syrup and the flapjacks held together really well.

Makes 8 bars

Ingredients
140g oats
115g butter, melted
115g honey
10 Brazil nuts, chopped
Small handful of raisins

Method

• Preheat the fan oven to 160 degrees C and line a small baking tray with baking paper.
• Heat the butter and honey together. I used the microwave but a pot on the cooker works just as well.
• In a large bowl, add the oats, Brazil nuts and raisins.
• Once the butter has melted, pour over the oat mixture and combine until everything is fully coated.
• Evenly spread the flapjack mix on the baking tray, about 1.5cm thick and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.

What extras would you add to your flapjack?

Thanks for reading, A.

Quick French Toast

Hey Everyone, I hope your day has been well.

Today I make French toast! Something I make every now and then but this time using seeded bread for those additional nutrients. It’s quick and something you could easily make in the mornings before work. Topped off with some fresh strawberries and a hearty drizzle of maple syrup.

I ate this for breakfast but it would be a lovely dessert too. Also, any berries of your choice would go well.

Makes 1 portion

Ingredients

2 eggs

2 slices of seeded bread

1/2 tsp oil (or spray oil)

6 sliced trawberries

Heaped tbsp maple syrup

Method

• Heat oil in a pan and in the meantime whisk 2 eggs together.
• Cut the bread in half and add to the mixed eggs. Repeating with all slices.
• Once the pan is hot, add each soaked bread to the pan cooking for 4-5 minutes on each side until fully cooked and lightly golden.
• Place the cooked French toast on a plate, add the sliced strawberries and drizzle with maple syrup.
• Enjoy warm!

Thanks for reading, A

Chocolate chips shortbread

Hey Everyone, I hope your day has been well.

I made these shortbread on a day when I felt like a sweet treat and they were perfect! Shortbread alone is delicious, but with a few chocolate chips in each piece… so tasty!! Something quick and simple to make 🙂

Ingredients

Butter

Caster sugar

Flour

Chocolate chips

Method

• Preheat the oven to gas mark 5 and line a baking tray with paper.
• combine all of the ingredients together to form a smooth dough, leaving in the fridge for 30 minutes.
• Lightly dust a surface with flour and roll out the chilled dough about 1cm thick.
• Use a small cutter to cut out the shortbread pieces and place on the tray.
• Once all are done, bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes until fully cooked.
• Leave to cool before eating.

Thanks for reading, A.

Chocolate Orange Cake

Hey Everyone, I hope your day has been well.

I baked this delicious sweet chocolate and zesty orange cake. A classic combination and it’s really simple to make. The smell of the orange filled the whole kitchen as it was baking, once done leave to cool but definitely make sure to try some whilst its still warm as you really get to taste the soft orange and chocolate flavours. This cake was a delicious dessert along with vanilla ice cream and I imagine just as good with custard. It was quite a runny cake mixture so make sure it is fully cooked before taking out of the oven.

Ingredients (1 tray)

150g butter

150g caster sugar

2 eggs

170g self raising flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

Zest of 1 orange

25g cocoa powder

30ml orange juice

30ml milk (I used coconut milk)

Method

• Line a baking tray with parchment paper and preheat the oven to gas mark 5.
• Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until pale, before adding the eggs one at a time.
• Sift in the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder gently mixing in.
• Next, add the zest, juice and milk.
• Carefully place into the tray and bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes until fully cooked. Testing with a sharp knife.

Serve slightly warm with vanilla ice cream or custard.