The
letter I chose for Alphabakes this month was D – I really wanted to make
doughnuts but didn’t get the time! Thanks to everyone who found time to bake or
remembered an old blog post to send in.
Kicking
off the tea time table was Kerene aka The Dream Baker, who made these Danish
butter cookies. I remember often having a tin of these sweet sugary biscuits at
Christmas as a child but they would be great at any time of the year. She gives
some useful tips at the end of the blog post about what she learnt from
experimenting with this recipe and the results look very moreish.
Michelle
at Utterly Scrummy has made me quite jealous this month with her cinnamon sugar
mini muffin doughnuts, I will have to try this recipe! They use Greek-style
yogurt and are baked rather than fried, so they actually seem relatively
healthy.
Dessicated
coconut is the D ingredient in this Easter Egg Slice from Johanna at GreenGourmet Giraffe. You can use a bar of
chocolate if you don’t have any Easter eggs left by now! Johanna said these
taste amazing and to have a light dinner if you are making this as dessert as
you won’t be able to stop at one piece!
I made this Doberge cake – apparently a New Orleans classic.
It came from a book of desserts from the city, which my boyfriend’s mum bought
me when she went there, so I made the cake for her birthday. It looks a little
strange – read my full post to understand why – but I can assure you that it
tasted absolutely amazing!
Here’s an imaginative use of the letter D from Stuart at Cakeyboi: a
deconstructed apple pie. He says that it contains all the elements you would
expect in apple pie, created separately then layered up “into bite-sized
deliciousness”. He adds: “It tastes exceedingly good and is ready in under 30
minutes – honest!”
From a classic to something I’ve never heard of, Derby
Squares. They were sent in by Suelle at Mainly Baking who explains the recipe
is based on Kentucky Derby Pie, which is similar to pecan pie but uses walnuts.
Suelle says her recipe didn’t turn out too well, as the top baked hard so
looked cracked when the slices were cut. Some of the nuts and chocolate also
sank – but I think as long as it tastes good, it doesn’t matter what it looks
like!
Ros’s mum sent in this date and walnut loaf, which her
brother pronounced D was for delicious!
Next up we have a chocolate strawberry pavlova by Elizabeth
from Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary. The D is for dark chocolate; this was born of a late-night desire for something
sugary. She uses homemade rhubarb saffron sugar which sounds
interesting, and I find it hard to believe this is Elizabeth’s first ever
pavlova, as it looks great!
Dark
chocolate was also the ingredient chosen by Choclette of Chocolate Log Blog.
She made a ‘free from’ cake that has no gluten, dairy, eggs or sugar. Instead
it uses coconut oil and chickpea flour and is rich and flavoursome, Choclette
says.
This amaretto chocolate torte is also gluten free, sent in
by Linzi at Lancashire Food.
She says it is light, moist and very chocolatey which is all
I want in a cake really!
This luscious lime coconut drizzle cake comes from Jen at
Blue Kitchen Bakes. The tropical flavours are great for this time of year and I’m
sure many of us have a bag of dessicated coconut at the back of the cupboard,
so this is a great way to use it up!
This vinegar cake from Laura at I’d Much Rather Bake Than is
similar to her Christmas cake and full of dried fruits (hence the D). I will
let Laura explain it in her own words: “A supersoft crumb with an almost
sugar crust type exterior holding a mixture of dried fruits and topped with a
delightfully sticky marmalade glaze with soaks into the surface, marrying the
caramel flavours hidden inside giving an affectionate reminder that the whole
is greater than the sum of the parts.”
Dominic from Belleau Kitchen has been a bit cheeky (Dom?
Never!) and sent us this Stoli lemonade and elderflower eton mess Victoria sponge
under the name “Dominic’s cake”. Luckily it looks so good that I had to include
it in the round-up! It just oozes British summertime.
These
date and cashew chocolate drops come from Alexandra, the Lass in the Apron. She
has managed to find a use for some particularly bitter chocolate she bought,
which gives the cookies a great depth of flavour.
Kerene at the Dream Baker has sent us another submission, and
informs me that it was national doughnut day at the beginning of June. How did
I not know this?! She made cinnamon baked doughnut holes, which sound
delicious.
I’ve been taking part in a challenge to bake and cook
dishes from different countries that are taking part in the World Cup. I made
this pionono – essentially a Swiss roll – from Argentina, which is filled with
dulce de leche. I normally buy ready made dulce de leche but this time I made
it from condensed milk.
A lovely selection of bakes and treats - thanks to everyone who took part. My co-host Ros will be announcing the next letter on July 1st at
The More Than Occasional Baker.
