1 minute Nutella brownie

Nutella.

Loved by many, hated by few. If you are one of those very few, then well... I don't really know what to say to you.

My Nutella obsession pretty much stems back from childhood. I used to look forward to the days when I would get a treat in my lunchbox in the form of a nutella white bread, with the crusts cut off sandwich, ahhhh those were the days. It was either that or rainbow sprinkles.

I made this quick and easy nutella brownie in a mug, which literally only takes one minute in the microwave and tastes AMAZEBALLS.

If you want to know how to make it, watch my tutorial below and prepare for a party in your mouth.

Hope you're all having an excellent day,

Infinite x's and o's,

Elena

2 minute super moist mocha mug cake!

Yes, yes I did!
I love  mug cakes. They're quick, easy, no need for an oven and tastes great.
 I've made a few mug cakes previously but they have always ended up dry, spongey or eggy and gross.
I decided to try my own recipe and see if I could fix some of the previous problems I had. Not tooting my own horn, but... I fixed it and I fixed it good.
This literally takes 1 minute in the microwave (if your microwave is set to high which mine is, if not 2 minutes)

To make the cake you will need:

-2 tbsp of self-raising flour
-2 tbsp of caster sugar
-1 tbsp cocoa powder
-1 tbsp of butter or oil, melted.(I used half a tablespoon of butter and half coconut oil)
- 1/2 tbsp of sour cream
-1 tbsp milk
-1 tsp vanilla essence
-1 tsp of strongly brewed espresso coffee (or 1 tsp of instant coffee dissolved in a small amount of water)

Combine all the ingredients in a cup and mix until smooth. Then microwave for 1-2 minutes (depending on your microwave setting) the cake should just spring back when touched.

Once the cake has been cooked, prepare the icing (or you could leave it as is, up to you):

-3 1/2 tbsp of icing sugar
-2 tbsp of cream cheese
-1 tsp strongly brewed espresso coffee (or instant)
- 1 tbsp cocoa
- 1 tsp vanilla
- chocolate for decoration (and nums)

Combine all the ingredients in the bowl until thoroughly mixed and there are no lumps. Spoon over the icing onto the cake, dust with some icing sugar then top with your chocolate and done!

If you would like to watch the video version of this recipe, the link is below:

Happy baking and I hope you're having an excellent start to the week!

Infinite x's and o's,

Elena 

Sunday baking! Triple Chocolate Cheesecake

After just getting back from a trip to Port Stephens for a few days I was itching to bake something.
After a few days of not cooking anything.. I start to get withdrawal symptoms... I dream of cooking, what I'm going to  make, the presentation, the texture, the extensive flavour combinations.
I've come to the conclusion that I'm weird. But hey, Johnny Depp did say everybody is a little weird and we should all celebrate that and not be ashamed of it. I totally agree with that! But to be honest I'd probably agree with anything Johnny says.

I'm a fan of the Australian My Kitchen Rules and after watching Paul and Blair's instant restaurant where Manu gave them a ten out of ten for their triple chocolate cheesecake, I knew I needed to make it. We had friends coming over for dinner so It was the perfect opportunity.  It was surprising easy to make and it tasted aaaamazing. Everyone raved about it! You know it's a good dessert when everyone whips out their phone to instagram it. It is incredibly creamy and delicate and the raspberries in the dark chocolate layer give it that tartness to cut through how rich it is.

Just a word of advice though if you are attempting to make this dessert. Make sure all the ingredients that you combine are at room temperature, for instance when you add the cream cheese to the melted chocolate. if the cream cheese is too cold the chocolate will seize and you won't get that perfectly smooth texture.

Enjoy your Sunday & happy baking!

Infinite x's and o's

Elena

Sunday baking: Chocolate Fondant

During the short time I was an apprentice pastry chef making all sorts of cakes and pastries, I had never made a chocolate fondant. Which seems like one of the most popular desserts and one everyone is raving about so I thought I would give it a go at home.  A word of warning, it is a deceptively simple dessert.

I had been putting it off for a long time, which seems silly but yes, I am afraid of the chocolate oosy middle cake. Why? Well, aside from the fact it originally came from a kitchen mis-hap where the chef under-cooked the cakes but served them anyway, they are incredibly hard to make. One minute over-cooked or under cooked and it's a disaster, which I found out today. 

I made four of them and only baked one a time so I could get the timing right. The one I photographed was my fourth cake and my only hope. The first three were.... well, lets leave that in the past shall we.

I worked out that the baking time is exactly 13 minutes and you have one minute to get it out of the mould before it's over-cooked because it will continue to bake in its ramekin. 

Since it was my first time making a chocolate fondant, I followed a recipe I found on-line. You'd be surprised by how many completely different recipes there are on this "simple" little cake. I figured I would follow the direction of the food goddess herself,  Nigella.  (click on her name for the recipe)

Hope you're all having a fabtastic day. So question, Is there something you're afraid to bake/make?

Infinite x's and o's

Elena