August Updates from the JC Kitchen

It's been a busy month here. Lots of yummy orders going out. I've also been pretty busy with Pink Chilli VA with some new clients and working on future plans.

So who is on Instagram? You can follow me here.

I'll be sharing a recipe post next week so be sure to pop back! You can also sign up for my Newsletter by entering your email in the box on the right hand side of the post.

Ruffle Rainbow Cakes

Gruffalo Cupcakes

Cute Owls

Elegant Ruffles

More ruffles

Giant Cupcakes

I've also been pretty busy with classes. To celebrate I have a special offer going. See below for details!

September already!

I can't believe how quickly this year is going by. Not long until Christmas!!!

Here are a few cupcake highlights

White chocolate and Raspberry Cupcakes- divine!

Giant Cupcakes

Cupcakes created in one of my cupcake classes

I also did a little tea party with my cousin and friends :-) I was in charge of cakes! Great fun!

The weekend just gone I was a bridesmaid for my best friend Catherine, it was a wonderful day and was great I could share it with her.

I did some experimenting the other day with seasonal flavours and created these fab Blackberry and apple Cupcakes. You must try them!!! Here is the recipe:

Blackberry and Apple Cupcakes

Ingredients

230g unsalted butter

220g golden caster sugar

225g self raising flour

4 large free range eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 – 2 tablespoons milk

2 large apples

3 tablespoons water

20g golden caster sugar

Jam filling

275g fresh blackberries

2 tablespoons water

20g caster sugar

Cream cheese Icing

250g soft cream cheese

150g butter

400g icing sugar

Method

You will need a 12 hole muffin tin and line with 12 cupcake cases and a large piping bag with nozzle.

Top tip: Make sure the baking ingredients are at room temperature and try not over mix the mixture once the eggs and flour are added.

1. preheat oven to 170-180, gas mark 4 (fan assist 150-170)

2. peel the apples and then chop into small cubes then gently cook with the sugar and water in a small covered pan, until slightly soften. Strain apple and put to one side to cool.

3. In the same pan put the fresh blackberries, sugar and water and cook until it looks like the consistency of a thin jam- about 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and leave to cool in the fridge.

4. in mixer cream butter with sugar and vanilla extract, beat until light and fluffy.

5. gently mix in the beaten egg and fold sifted flour with a wooden spoon.

6. fold the cooled apple pieces into the cake batter and add a tablespoon or two of milk if required to form a dropping consistency. Don’t make it too thin as the apples won’t hold in the batter.

7. Spoon mixture into the 12 cupcake cases & fill until three quarters full.

8. cook for 20 minutes or until golden. Test with skewer (it should come out clean). Remove tray from oven and leave for a few minutes. Place cupcakes onto wire tray to cool completely.

Top tip: Always bake cupcakes on the middle shelf of the oven where possible

9. cut out a teaspoon sized piece from the cupcake. Add a teaspoon of the blackberry jam to the centre.

10. To make the cream cheese frosting mix all the ingredients together and place into a piping bag. Pipe onto the cupcakes and top with a fresh blackberry. These are best enjoyed straight away but can be eaten up to 2 days after but remove the blackberry on top.

For bakes sake!

It's been very busy in the Jessica's Cupcakes household. We are moving house in 12 days so lots of packing going on. As it's bank holiday Monday tomorrow we are also going to do a car boot to get rid of some things. Plus I can have a mooch around for some vintage china bits.

Cake wise I've done a giant cupcake

Congratulations Cupcakes

A cupcake party

I'm shortly going to be adding decorated cookies to the range. As with cupcakes these can be for any occasion: wedding, birthday, hen party, engagement, baby shower...the list goes on. I'm really excited about the cookies so watch this space!

A few other bakes I've done this week are banana bread (love this with a bit of butter spread over it), chocolate brownies (the best yet), millionaire shortbread, lemon macaroons and pistachio macaroons.

I want to share the banana bread recipe with you as it's so yummy:

Banana Bread- makes about 8 slices

Ingredients

270g soft light brown sugar

2 eggs

200g peeled bananas, mashed

280g plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

140g unsalted butter, melted

1. Grease a 23x13cm loaf tin and dust with flour. Preheat the oven to 170C / 325F / GM3

2. Put the sugar and eggs in an electric mixer with a paddle attachment and beat until well incorporated. Beat in the mashed bananas.

3. Add the flour, baking powder, bicarb of soda, cinnamon and ginger to the sugar mix. Mix it until all the dry ingredients have been incorporated into the egg mixture. Pour in the melted butter and beat until all the ingredients ar well mixed.

4. Place mixture into the loaf tin and smooth over. Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour or until firm to the touch and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool for about 15 minutes in the tin before turning out to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

5. Enjoy!