Baking! CookieMonster Cupcakes! Recipe!

I just love Cookie Monster ever since I was a child and I've seen many cookie monster recipes over the years and have always wanted to try one. I recently saw one using coconut to make cookie monsters fur and just thought this was a great idea as some cupcake frosting is a bit too sweet and overpowering for me!

So here goes

Regular Vanilla Cupcake recipe:

• 4oz Self Raising Flour
• 4oz Sugar
• 4oz Marg
• 2eggs
• Few drops Vanilla

Put it all in a bowl and mix together.
Fill your cupcake cases and bake for 15-20minutes at 180C

 

Cream cheese frosting:

• Cream cheese
• Butter
• Icing sugar
• Drop of Vanilla Essence

This is all down to personal taste so just mash together and add more of whichever taste you prefer!

Decoration:

• Desidited Coconut
• Blue Food Colouring
• Drop of Water

• Cadbury's White chocolate Buttons
• Liquorish
• Chocolate Chip Cookie

Fill a cup with coconut and add food colouring and a drop of water and mix until you have the right shade of blue for cookie monster!

When your cupcake has cooled using a knife or spoon cover with frosting an dunk into your blue coconut, give it a bit of a shake around to completely coat!

Pop two white chocolate buttons on top for eyes and a slice of liquorish for the pupils and stick a chocolate chip cookie in his mouth!!!

Hope you try this and love recipe! Let me know how yours turn out and send images!!!

Have you seen my Ferrero Rocher Cake post??

Or my simple Chocolate Fudge post??

xx

Random Haul!!

Just back from Wilton where I picked up a few bits and bobs.

Boots

Had to pick up some Garnier Micellar Water (€4.92), Palmers body Moisturiser (€7.99) and some Palmers hand cream (€2.49)! I love Palmer's products they are so moisturising and they smell great!!!

Bits and Bobs

Got some more curling ribbons in more Spring colours! Most of the ones I have are a bit Christmassy! And some purple and green ribbons just because!!! And a doodle book, love stationary!

Euro Giant

Getting my crème egg on with 2 boxes for €5.00, mmm 10 crème eggs!! And some kinder bueno's!



So got my  beauty, craft and chocolate fix!!!
Shopaholic fix sorted!

xx

Baking Love ~ Minions ~ Cookies & Shortbread & Biscuits ~

Another Baking post! You never get tired of them!!

Wanted to share my ebay find with you! So here's a link to my ebay minions cookie cutter. Buying on ebay you can grab some great bargains (€1.58/ £1.23/ $1.76)  once you don't mind the wait for delivery! I forgot about these and was pleasantly surprized when the postman came!

These are great as they are plungers so easily cut your dough and press your little minions faces into it!

Here's their image:

Here's the odlums shortbread recipe, however any cookie recipe could be used with these cutters!

 

Shortbread Ingredients:

125g/4oz Odlums Cream Plain Flour

50g/2oz Cornflour

125g/4oz Butter (softened)

50g/2oz Caster Sugar

Mix all together, roll out, cut and bake for approx. 12 mins at 160C


And my process, (oops burnt a few!)

 

All lined up on the cookie sheet before baking!

 

 

Then I had an idea to ice them but didn't have any fondant icing! Fondant icing is great for these plungers, I would recommend this not my runny icing sugar water combo!!!

 

 

Painted them with a tiny paint brush and food colouring!!! Think I'll post this as a Pinterest fail!!!!

At first it seemed great but the icing kinda melted and ran in my warm kitchen!!! Maybe if I left the icing set overnight, who knows? But I was able to use the plunger on the icing after a few hours with no problem, should have taken a photo of that!!!!

 

 

 

 

Have you any baking fails? Or successes?

 

Any baking products you think I should check out?

 

xx

Get your Cadbury Creme Egg Fix before its all over!!!

If you missed out and didn't get a seat at the Crème Egg Café you can still get your Crème Egg fix here!!! As you know I love pinterest, and I also love crème eggs!!!

These  are some recipe ideas I found on pinterest that I have been trying out!!! There are so many recipes I couldn't get through them all but check them all out here on Pinterest!

 

Hot Cross Crème Egg Pudding

Hot Cross Crème Egg Pudding from Good to Know read more here!
A Crème Egg Twist/Easter on the classic bread and butter pudding!

 

Ok so I cheated a little bit with mine, but only because I need a fast desert so I used readymade custard! Not as good as the homemade but an eggcellent dessert none the less!!!!

 Crème Egg Chocolate Fondant

From one of my foodie crushes  Rebecca at Winberry Crumble hear her recipe here!

4 crème eggs
100g butter
150g dark soft brown sugar
3 eggs
50g plain flour

Crème Egg Chocolate Mug Cake

Crème Egg Chocolate Mug Cake from My Fussy Eater read it here!
If you haven't made a mug cake you need to try one, they are so simple and quick to make!!

3 tbsp plain flour

2 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp cocoa powder

½ tsp baking powder

1 egg

3 tbsp plain yogurt

¼ tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp chocolate chips

2 creme eggs

 

Caramel Egg Stuffed Croissants

 

 

Caramel Egg Stuffed Easter Croissants from Taming Twins read here!!

This is a bit of a cheat but caramel eggs are only here for a short time too!!! Another simple recipe and a great breakfast treat!!!

 

Pack of ready to pop croissant dough

6 Cadbury's Caramel Eggs

1 Egg (beaten)

 

Crème Egg Brownies

 

 

 

Crème Egg brownies from Cravings of a Lunatic, read here!

 

8 tablespoons of butter

2 ounces semi sweet chocolate

1 cup sugar

2 eggs. beaten

½ teaspoon vanilla

½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

¼ cup flour

¼ teaspoon salt

10 to 12 mini cadbury creme eggs

 

Crème Egg Cupcakes

 

And this tasty offering from Cupcake Jemma, watch here!!!

 

 

 

So this Crème Egg season, how do you eat yours???

 

xx

Ps. if you missed my homemade Easter eggs find them here!

Homemade Chocolate Easter Egg Recipe Ideas

Yay! Reasons I love Spring.... Chocolate and Sweet Treat Related Holidays!!!

I picked up these Easter Egg Moulds in a discount shop a few years ago and they are just the best thing!!! Everyone loves a homemade treat and these eggs have gone down really well every year I make them!

Theme your eggs towards the recipient.

 

1 "Healthy" Chocolate Egg.

Ok this might not be technically "healthy" but it's the healthiest option here!

• Dark Chocolate
• Dried Cranberries
• Mixed Peel
• Chopped Nuts

I filled the base of he mould with fruit and nuts then poured in the melted dark chocolate
Let it set and join both sides
Eat!!!

2 "Sweets and Treats" Egg

• Milk Chocolate
• Dark Chocolate
• White Chocolate
• Sour Snakes
• Gummy Bears
• Skittles
• M&M's

Again fill the mould with sweets.
Drizzle over one type of chocolate, let set, repeat with next chocolate and repeat again!
Let to set completely
Fill the inside with lots of tasty sweets.
Use some melted chocolate to join both sides.

 

 

3. "Liquorish Allsorts" Egg

• Chocolate
• Liquorish Allsorts

Line up your liquorish allsorts in the mould.
Melt your chocolate.
Start to fill your mould with chocolate to hold sweets in place.
Let your chocolate set.
Fill your egg with remaining sweets.
Then use some melted chocolate to join both sides together and keep sweets inside.

Enjoy!!

4 "Tiramisu" Egg

• Dark Chocolate
• Boudoir Fingers
• Cocoa Powder
• Double Cream
• Mascarpone
• Espresso
• Sugar
• Rum/Baileys etc. (optional)

3/4 coat your egg with melted chocolate, let set so top is open.

Fill with Tiramisu:

Line with boudoir fingers soaked in espresso and rum
Mix mascarpone, cream and sugar together
Pour over fingers
Grate Chocolate over
Repeat layers until egg is full
Top with cocoa powder and grated chocolate
Garnish with a chocolate spoon



See the first one really was the healthy option!!!!

I keep these fresh and display them beautifully by wrapping in cellophane and ribbons.

Hope you feel inspired to treat your loved ones to a homemade egg-elicious treat!!!

So which is your favourite Egg??


xx

Red Velvet Cake in a Jar ~ Recipe ~ Baking Love ~

Just realised I have shown you the baking blogs I love, pinterest pic's, and jar re purposing however after all my Cake in a Jar lovin' I have totally forgotten to tell you about my Cake Jar recipe!

Well problem solved here it is:

Ingredients:

3oz Self Raising Flour

1oz Cocoa Powder

4oz Marg

4oz Caster Sugar

2 Eggs

Vanilla Essence

Red food colouring

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• Cream
• Cream Cheese
• Icing Sugar
• Vanilla Essence

Pretty simple just mix everything together and bake!!!
I baked mine in lined cake tins and baked for 10-20 mins at 160C

Again for the frosting just mix it all together, I know I have no measurements, I just put a spoon of cream and cheese in a bowl and mix and hope for the best!!! Add your sugar a little at a time to your own persona taste!!!

Now the Jar part!

Ok you probably have seen my organisation, I love storage Jars post, (if not tut tut here it is) so I have repurposed my old food jars.

Once my cake has cooled I used the open jar to cut cake to the right size to get into the Jar. Then I started layering inside the jar with cake, raspberry jam, creamy frosting and repeat.

Delicious and because I used chalk paint on my jars I can write peoples names and what it is on the jars! (and reuse for others later)

Hope you like it!!!

xx

Mothers Day Gift Ideas

Mothers Day is Sunday the 6th of March this year!!! But it in your calendar and do not forget it if you know what's good for you!!!

Here are some of my gift suggestions:

Flowers

Simple, these are some options I found at the Cork Flower Studio, this is a great little shop as it does cute cards and gifts too! As well as lovely coffee!!! Support your local independent florist for one off magical arrangements!

Plants

Especially if your Mum has green fingers, plants are a must! And hopefully they last longer than flowers. You can usually pick up Mothers day themed plant arrangements everywhere!

I like to make my own arrangement, just grab a basket or nice ceramic pot and fill it with your mums favourite plants and flowers!!

Here's a plant, chocolate and wine hamper from Debenhams!

Perfume

You know what she likes and what she's getting low on so just pick it up!!!

Lancôme and YSL are always good choices!!!

Chocolate

Every woman loves a box of chocolate!!! Team them up with flowers and tea!

Breakfast in Bed

A must of all little people, mum just loves the pitter patter of little feet and the clatter of spilled orange juice and tea making its way to her crisp clean sheets!

Afternoon Tea

I love baking and suggest you bake afternoon tea, have a lovely table cloth, doileys, cute tea pot and fine bone china, cupcakes, biscuits ooh love it!!! Check out my Valentines baking blog love for some great ideas, show your mum some love!!!

Or bring Mummy out for Afternoon tea in your local 5* Hotel!

Or check out Marks and Spencer's Afternoon Tea Basket!

Spa Break

A little pricier but why not spoil mum with a nice weekend away and some spa treatments!

Home Décor

This cute cushion also from M&S is  perfect!

I love a cute Cake stand, Tea pot or cup so I would always get some for my mum when I see something we both would like!!

Get her something she wants!!!

I always say this, it doesn't have to be your typical seasonal gift. If there is something your mum has been looking at for a while be it a new handbag or a new hoover, you might as well get it for her now! There is no point getting someone a gift that they don't want or won't use!!!

Card

Don't forget the card!!! Fill it with confetti or glitter (make sure you got her that hoover!!!)

Whatever you decide on tell your mum how much she means to you, show her some love, and enjoy the day!!!

xx




If you need some more baking inspiration check out my previous posts:

Ferrero Rocher Cake

Chocolate Fudge

Simple Chocolate Fudge Recipe ~ Baking Love ~ Blog Love ~

I love baking and chocolate so I thought it was time for another baking post. Also I have to share links to all the lovely people/bloggers I've enjoyed chatting to this week!

Last Thursday while waiting for the #USBloggerChat and browsing Twitter I came across this beauty Rebecca @winberrycrumble and her post on Popping Candy Fudge (see the full recipe here!) and what good timing as the chat was all about FOOD!!! My favourite! (thanks to the lovely host Meg(z)han @gotmeghan)

So I set about making this delicious treat!

Ingredients:

397g (1 tin) condensed milk
400g milk chocolate
25g unsalted butter, softened
100g icing sugar
Colourful sugar strands (I used stars)
3 packets of popping candy (about 15g)

I luckily had all the ingredients in my cupboard, (randomly had popping candy left over from Halloween)

Such a simple recipe, but be careful I almost burnt the pot with my chocolate!

So show this blog some love and make yourself some fudge!!!!

Share your recipes and pics with me!

xx