Chocolate Sweet Shop Cake

A really quick post today as I'm currently on holidays and will be travelling for the next few weeks. I made this for a colleague's son's birthday. Looking back, I've made his birthday cake for the past 3 years (Bin Weevils, Trash Pack, Football Pinata Cake) and they've always been a huge success.  He told his mum that he didn't want a shop bought cake, only a Ros cake! Well how could I disappoint? He initially asked for a playstation 4 cake but my cake decorating skills do not extend that far and I was really pressed for time. Instead I made this chocolate cake and decorated it with Kit Kat fingers, Maltesers, Jelly beans, Smarties and Skittles. He was absolutely delighted with the cake and wrote me a really sweet thank you note which you can see below. 

The cake and buttercream is the same as the Chocolate Easter Cake I made earlier this year and the decorations are as simple as they look here. A short blog holiday for now, see you back in mid-May!

Marvellous Mix Up Cookies

I've been seeing advertisements for Cadbury's Marvellous Mix Ups everywhere. It contains mini oreos, cadbury pebbles, white chocolate buttons and milk chocolate buttons. It sounds delicious and I just couldn't resist especially when they were on special offer in Tesco. I decided to bake them into a cookie using my candy cookie recipe. I baked them for an event at work and everyone really enjoyed them. The cookies have a crisp edge and soft centre and the filling was a surprise as each cookie was different. Definitely a crowd pleaser and would be brilliant at kids parties or for entertaining. I think they would also work well in a brownie.

 I also added a bag of cadbury pebbles 

 adding marvellous mix ups to the cookie dough

 ready to go in the oven

 the marvellous mix ups and pebbles remained intact after baking. I love how the mini oreos peek through and how the pebbles add a lovely splash of colour. 

175g caster sugar
110g brown sugar
225g unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
450g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
55ml milk (you may need less)
1 bag of Cadbury's marvellous mix ups and 1 bag of cadbury's pebbles

• Preheat the oven to 180C
• Cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. 
• Add in the eggs, one at a time and mix well. 
• Mix in the vanilla extract. 
• Stir in the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
• Gradually add the milk until a soft dough forms (be careful not to add too much milk or the dough will be too sticky) 
• Sitr in the marvellous mix ups and pebbles by hand. 
• Use a small ice cream scoop to place small scoops of dough spaced apart on a lined baking tray.
• Bake for approximately 8-9 minutes or until they are golden brown but still slightly soft.
• Allow to cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. 
• The cookies will harden as they cool. 

Edible Cupcake Box: A Valentine's Treat

I saw these on sweet simple stuff last night and thought I HAVE to make this... IMMEDIATELY!! They are so super cute and perfect for Valentine's which is coming up. They are really easy to make and there's no baking involved (unless you want to bake your own meringues)  They are not perfect but I am really, really pleased with them. I have a big smile on my face and can't wait to give them out! These would be great as party favours or gifts and they can be adapted for different holidays... the possibilities are endless!

I am linking this to Sweet Luv @Zesty Palette

and to Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party hosted by Kitchen Fun with my 3 sons.

 I used mini cupcake liners 

 Melt strawberry buttons (available in the supermarket) or candy melts and spread a thin layer over the case. I did 2 layers to make the cases sturdier. 

 Fill with little goodies - I used love hearts - and top with a meringue

 I used edible glue to stick the hearts and sprinkles on the meringue. 

 For detailed instructions and lovely pictures, click here 

Halloween Candy

The last of my halloween baking this year. I made these for the trick or treaters who couldn't believe that I made these myself! I went to Hobbycraft at the weekend for the first time - how have I never discovered this before?! Anyway, better late than never right? I spent more than an hour there browsing and filling up my basket very quickly. I bought supplies for my cake pops (tip 1: candy melts here are cheaper than if you buy from amazon or other online stores; tip 2: buy oasis floral foam blocks to hold your cake pops) and came across this halloween candy making kit which was on sale. Of course I had to buy it and it was the last one! 

It comes with 3 moulds, wilton candy melts (light cocoa, orange, white and red), 20 lollipop sticks, 4 disposable decorating bags, 1 decorating brush and 20 party bags.  All for £9.99! I was really pleased with the final results. Will definitely be making more of these next year. 

 melt the candy melts in the microwave using the disposable decorating bags