Almond Cookies

Description

Fragrant and crunchy almond cookies. 

  Ingredients

Approximately 25 cookies
2 egg whites
100 g sugar
75 g ground almonds
85 g quick cooking oat flakes
25 almonds
2 drops almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Heat oven to 150C. Beat the egg whites until foamy, gradually adding the sugar. Add the vanilla, ground almonds, oat flakes and almond extract. Mix all thoroughly. Cover a baking tray with baking parchment. Spread the dough with soaked in cold water teaspoon. Stick one almond into the center of each portion. Bake for 20 minutes.

Almond Сake

Description

This lovely almond cake is very easy to cook. Just mix all ingredients in one bowl, bake and enjoy :) 

 Ingredients

80 g flour
70 g ground almonds
100 g butter (at room temperature)
2 eggs
1/2 tbsp sour cream
5 drops almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp cognac
1 tsp baking powder

Instructions

In a small bowl beat the butter with sugar. Add the eggs and continue to beat. Add the almond extract, vanilla extract, cognac and sour cream. Pour the flour, nuts and baking powder, mix well. Put the dough into a baking form. Bake in preheated to 180C oven for 45-50 minutes. To serve, dust with powdered sugar.

Tip: Try to substitute almonds with hazelnuts. In that case do not add almond extract.

Apple Charlotte

Description

A very tasty sponge cake with apples, dried apricots and walnuts. 

Ingredients

For a 16cm diameter round cake tin
1 large apple
1 tbsp lemon juice
120 g flour
100 gr. + 1,5 tbsp sugar
3 egg whites
3 egg yolks
6-8 dried apricots
Walnuts, a handful
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Peel and slice the apple into medium slices. Sprinkle with the lemon juice and 1 tbsp of the sugar and set aside. Chop the nuts and dried apricots into small pieces. Beat the yolks with 100 g of the sugar. Beat the whites until foamy. Gently mix the whites with the yolks, add vanilla extract. Sift in the flour and mix until combined. Line the base of the baking form with baking paper. Scatter the remaining 0,5 tbsp of sugar over the base of the tin. Cover with a layer of chopped nuts, then with the apple slices and finish with the apricots. Pour the batter into the form. Bake at 180C for 50-60 minutes. Allow to cool in tin. Turn out onto a serving plate so that the base is uppermost.

Apple Pie

Description

A nice addition to a cup of tea :)
Use firm and not very sweet apples.

Ingredients

1-2 apples
  200 g flour
120 g butter
  40 g + 2 tbsp. sugar
3-4 tbsp. cold water
Egg white
Lemon juice
Vanilla sugar
Pinch of salt
Hazelnuts or almonds (a few nuts)

Instructions

Mix the flour, 2 tbsp. sugar, vanilla sugar and salt in a bowl. Add cut into small pieces butter and form a dough. Gather the dough into a ball and put into the fridge for 1 hour. Cut the apples into thin slices, mix with 40 g sugar, drizzle with some lemon juice, mix again and leave for 15 minutes. Get the dough from the fridge, roll out a 28 cm round. Put the apples on the top, leaving 5 cm edge. Fold the dough edge over the apples. Smear the edges with egg white, put the pie into preheated to 190 degree oven and bake for 40-45 minutes. Sprinkle with finely chopped nuts for 10 minutes before cooked. 

Apple Soufflé Cake

Description

A gorgeous soufflé cake with sweet apples.

Ingredients

(For a 23cm diameter baking form)
1-2 Pink Lady apples (peeled and cut into small cubes)
Dough:
200 g flour
120 g butter (softened)
2 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp cold water
Pinch of salt
Soufflé:
200 g sour cream
2 eggs
100 g sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar and salt. Then add the butter and water and knead a dough. Place the dough into the fridge for a half an hour. After half an hour get the dough from the fridge. Spread the dough over the baking form. Put the apples into the form on the dough. Beat the eggs, sugar, sour cream and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture over the apples. Bake at 180C for about 45-50 minutes.

Blueberry Cupcakes

Description

Delightful cupcakes are all you need for your afternoon tea.

Ingredients

(For a 6-hole muffin tin)
150 g flour
80-100 g sugar
110 g butter (softened)
2 eggs
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
A handful of blueberries

Instructions

Line the tin with paper muffin cases. Beat the eggs with the butter. Add the sugar, milk and vanilla extract; continue beating. Add gradually the flour and baking powder. Mix thoroughly until smooth. Divide the batter between the cases. Stick 6-7 berries into the each batter portion. Bake at 180C for 20-25 minutes.

Cheese Cookies

Description

Salty cheese cookies with Italian seasoning and sesame seeds. 

 Ingredients

100 g grated cheese (Parmesan, Gauda, Cheddar etc.)
100 g flour
100 g butter (at room temperature)
Italian seasoning
Sesame seeds

Instructions

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. Knead dough until smooth. Shape the dough into a log and cut into a 0,5 cm thick slices. Pour some sesame seeds into a small plate. Roll one side of the each slice of the dough in the seeds. Put the dough onto a baking tray seeds up. Bake at 180C for about 10-15 minutes until golden brown.

Chocolate Cherry Cake

Description

This chocolate cake are cooked in microwave oven. So grab this recipe if you want to bake something quickly and without much effort.

Ingredients

100 g flour
110 g butter (softened)
100-120 g sugar
2 eggs
2,5 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
Cherries from compote (pitted)
Powdered sugar

Instructions

In a small bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar. Add the butter and vanilla extract; beat again. Pour the flour and cocoa gradually, stirring constantly. Place half of the batter into a microwave dish. Put the cherries in one layer. Put the rest of the batter on top. Bake at full power (900W) about 7 minutes. Allow to cool in the dish. To serve, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Chocolate Prune Cake

Description

A dark chocolate cake with prunes. Simply delicious...

Ingredients

125 g dark cooking chocolate
100 g flour + 1 tsp
125 g butter
100 g sugar
4 eggs
6-8 moist prunes
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Powder sugar 

Instructions

Cut the prunes into cubes and roll in the flour (1 tsp flour). Melt the chocolate. Beat the butter. Beat the egg whites until foamy. Mix the melted chocolate, butter and egg yolks. Add the sugar, vanilla extract, flour and beaten egg whites. Mix all gently. Heat oven to 170C. Put the dough into a baking dish and bake about 1 hour-1 hour 20 minutes. Test for readiness by inserting a wooden stick into the cake. If the stick comes out clean, the cake is ready. Remove the cake from the oven. Allow the cake to cool and dust with powdered sugar.

Tip: You can add cherries (fresh or frozen) instead of prunes. Frozen cherries need to be defrost. Do not forget to press out an excess liquid.

Chocolate Walnut Cookies

Description

Soft cookies with chocolate and walnuts flavor.

Ingredients

Approximately 25 cookies

250 g flour
120 g sugar
120 g butter (at room temperature)
70 g walnuts, finely chopped
1,5 tbsp cocoa powder
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
Brown sugar (for decoration)

Instructions

In a bowl mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, salt and nuts. Add cut into small pieces butter, egg, vanilla extract and form a dough. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Heat oven to 170C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Shape the dough into a log and cut into a 0,5 cm thick slices. Transfer the cookies to the baking sheet. Put some brown sugar atop the cookies. Bake about 15 minutes.

Cranberry Cookies

Description

Fragrant cranberry cookies with pine nuts.

Ingredients

(For 18 cookies)
230 g flour
180 g butter (softened)
70 g sugar
150 g dried cranberries
Pine nuts (for decorating)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

In a bowl, combine the flour and sugar. Add chopped into pieces butter and vanilla extract. Knead a dough. Stir in the cranberries. Shape the dough into a log and put into the fridge for half an hour. Slice the log into 1cm-thick rounds and place on a baking tray. Decorate with pine nuts. Bake at 180C for 12-15 minutes.

Gingerbread with Jam

Description

Easy to cook gingerbread. You can use any jam you like.

 Ingredients

250 g flour
2 tbsp butter
2,5 tbsp honey
1 egg
2 tbsp jam
Dried ginger half tsp
Cinnamon half tsp
Vanilla sugar
Pinch of baking soda or baking powder

Instructions

Put all the ingredients (excepting the jam) into a bowl and knead until the mix turns into a soft dough. Gather the dough into a ball and put into the fridge for a half an hour. Get the dough from the fridge and divide into two parts. Roll out each part on a lightly floured surface. Put one part onto a baking sheet and smear with jam, leaving the edges clean. Put the other part onto the top and seal the dough around the edges. Put the cake into preheated to 250C oven. Bake for 3-5 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 200C and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until ready. Remove gingerbread from the oven and smear with syrup (the syrup - heat 2 tbsp sugar with 1 tbsp water, stirring constantly until smooth).

Marble Cake

Description

Indulge yourself with this gorgeous marble cake.

Ingredients

60 g plain chocolate
3 tbsp milk
70 g butter (softened)
90 g sugar
1 egg
3 tbsp sour cream
120 g self-raising flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Grease a 450g loaf tin and line the base with baking paper. Melt the chocolate with the milk. Beat the butter and sugar. Add the sour cream and egg; beat again. Sift the flour, baking powder and mix gently. Divide the dough into two parts. Mix one part with the vanilla, the other - with the chocolate mixture. Spoon the chocolate and vanilla doughs alternately into the tin. Swirl lightly in several places with a knife or skewer. Bake in a preheated to 160C oven for 40-45 minutes.

Oatmeal Cookies

Description

Oatmeal cookies from my childhood.

Ingredients

100 g oat flakes
150 g brown sugar
100 g butter
1 egg
160 g flour
1 tbsp milk
1/3 tsp soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
Lemon juice, a few drops
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Mix soda with lemon juice (a few drops). Fry the oats in a dry frying pan until golden brown. Grind lightly in a blender. Mix all the ingredients and form a dough. Put the dough into the fridge for half hour. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Roll out the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap and cut out small circles. Place on the baking tray. Bake in a preheated to 180C oven for 12-15 minutes.

Panforte

Description

Try this gorgeous Italian cake, made from nuts and dried fruits. 

Ingredients

100 g dried apricots
100 g roasted hazelnuts
1 tbsp cocoa
1 tbsp flour
2.5 tbsp liquid honey
2.5 tbsp sugar
1 / 4 tsp cinnamon
Vanilla sugar
Powdered sugar

Instruction

Chop the apricots and nuts (not too finely). In a small bowl, mix the hazelnuts, apricots, cocoa, flour, cinnamon and vanilla sugar. Heat the sugar and honey in a pan, stirring well, for 1-2 minutes. Mix the dry and liquid ingredients together. Heat oven to 150C. Line a 16cm round baking form with parchment paper. Spoon the mix into the form and smooth. Put into the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, cool and dust with powdered sugar.

Pear Apple Cake

Description

This is one of my favorite fruit cakes. Your guests will ask the recipe :) 

Ingredients

For a 16cm diameter round cake tin
1 small apple
1 small pear
1 tbsp lemon juice
160 g flour
2 eggs
100 g butter (melted)
1 tbsp sour cream
100-120 g sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
Powdered sugar 

Instructions

Peel the fruits. Cut into small cubes and sprinkle with the lemon juice. Beat the eggs and sugar. Add the butter, sour cream and vanilla essence. Slowly add the flour, stirring constantly. Add the fruits and mix. Put the mix into the baking tin. Bake at 180C for about 45 minutes until golden brown. Cool, remove from the tin and dust with powdered sugar.

Plum Cake

Description

This plum cake is a real family treat. Works well with nectarines, peaches and apricots. 

Ingredients

For a 25cm diameter round baking pan
400 g plums, sliced
130 g flour
130 g Greek yogurt  
110 g butter (softened)
80 g + 1 tbsp sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Sprinkle the plums with the lemon juice, add 1 tbsp sugar and mix. Beat the butter with the remaining sugar. Add the yogurt, egg and vanilla extract; continue beating. Pour the flour, salt and baking powder, mixing well until you will have a smooth batter. Put the batter into the tin, lined with parchment paper. Arrange the plums atop the batter. Bake at 200C for about 30 minutes.

Raspberry Cupcakes

Description

Using the same ingredients for the batter as in this recipe, you can make these nice little raspberry cupcakes with almonds. 

Ingredients

For a 6-hole muffin tin
200 g raspberries
160 g flour
100 g butter (softened)
100 g sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp sour cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Almond flakes

Instructions

Line the tin with paper muffin cases. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients except the raspberries and almonds. Divide a half of the batter between the cases. Put several raspberries into each case. Put the remaining batter on top. Sprinkle with the almonds, place in a preheated 200C oven and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Shortbread Cookies with Walnuts

Description

Theese shortbread cookies just melt in a mouth and disappear very quickly :)

 Ingredients

320 g flour
160 g butter
2 eggs
160 g sugar
120 g walnuts (or any other nuts)
2 tspn vanilla extract

Instructions

Finely chop the nuts. Cut the butter into small pieces. Combine the flour with the sugar. Add 1 egg and 1 egg yolk, butter and vanilla extract. Knead a dough, roll into a ball and put into the fridge for half an hour. After half an hour get the dough from the fridge and roll out into a 0,5cm thick disk. Cut out cookies. Transfer the cookies onto a baking tray, brush with the remaining egg white and sprinkle with the nuts. Bake at 190C about 8-12 minutes until just golden brown.

Strawberry Cake

Description

A fragrant strawberry cake with honey and almonds.

Ingredients

For a 16cm diameter round cake tin
100 g flour
100 g ground almonds
1 egg
100 g butter (softened)
80-100 g brown sugar.
5 tblsp honey
200 g strawberries
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Slice the strawberries. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients except strawberries. Place half the mixture into the tin. Cover with strawberries. Spread the remaining dough over the strawberries and smooth. Bake at 180C for about 1 hour.

Walnut Honey Croissants

Description

For cooking these croissants I usually use a ready-made puff pastry. The dough recipe, presented here, also works very well. 

Ingredients

For 16 croissants
300 g flour
130 g butter
2 tbsp white sugar
3 tbsp water
Pinch of salt
120 g walnuts
1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg, beaten

Instructions

Combine the flour, butter, white sugar, water and salt in a bowl and knead a dough. Place the dough into the fridge for 30 minutes. Chop the nuts not too finely and mix with the brown sugar, honey and vanilla. Get the dough from the fridge, divide into 2 parts and roll out two 25cm diameter rounds. Cut each round into 8 triangles. Spread the filling and form croissants. Smear the croissants with the beaten egg. Bake at 180C for 20-25 minutes.