Showing Tag: " "dairy free"" (Show all posts)

Coconut caramel slice

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, November 26, 2022, In : slices 


This is one of Donna Hay's better-for-you recipes from One Pan Perfect (Fourth Estate, 2022). She swaps out refined sugars and grains for unrefined sweeteners and nut flours. Coconut caramel is easy to make and versatile to use in slices or tarts or a sauce over ice cream.


Coconut caramel:

1 400 g coconut cream

1 1/2 c coconut sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract


Put all the ingredients in a saucepan and stir over high heat until sugar is dissolved and sauce is bubbling. Turn down to medium heat and contin...


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Mexican spice cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, August 14, 2022, In : cookies 

You know chilli and chocolate go so well together. This soft batter can be made two ways: as cookies or brownies. Why not do both like I did?

2 c icing sugar
1/3 c cocoa powder
1/2 tsp each of ground cinnamon and allspice (or nutmeg and clove mix)
pinch cayenne pepper
1 c ground almonds
1/2 tsp sea salt
150 g dark chocolate chips/melts/pieces
1 egg
2 egg whites or 60 ml aquafaba
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 150C.
In a large bowl mix together the icing sugar, cocoa, spices, almonds, salt and choc...
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Lemon meringue pie with olive oil crust

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, In : desserts 

This one is dairy free and refined sugar free. Doesn't stop you serving it with whipped cream if you want though!


Pastry

2 c flour

pinch salt

1/3 c + 1 Tbsp / 100 ml olive oil

1/3 c + 1 Tbsp / 100 ml warm water


Curd:

5 egg yolks

2 whole eggs

1 c lemon juice

1/2 c honey

4 tsp cornflour or arrowroot powder mixed with a little water to make a paste


Meringue:

5 egg whites

2 Tbsp honey or granulated sugar

lemon zest to garnish, optional


Preheat oven to 190C. Line a 20 cm pie tin with baking paper and grease the s...


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Lemon olive oil poppy seed cake

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, June 10, 2022, In : big cakes 


A light and fluffy cake with added nutrition from a melange of seeds. I used poppy, black sesame and black chia but you can use whatever you have to hand. Thanks to Whole and Heavenly for the inspiration.


3 eggs

1 Tbsp lemon zest

1/4 c lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 c granulated sugar

1 c extra virgin olive oil

1/2 milk

2 c flour (I used spelt)

1 Tbsp cornflour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3 Tbsp black seeds (poppy, sesame, chia)


Drizzle:

1/2 c icing sugar

lemon juice

lemon zest...


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Viennese hearts

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, May 20, 2022, In : cookies 

I don't have great piping skills so I tend to avoid doing it. But I made an effort with these biscuits and they turned out alright. Icing and sprinkles will cover all manner of sins. I made mine gluten free and vegan.


Makes 10-15

125 g butter or dairy-free spread, softened

125 g / 1 c flour (if using gluten-free , add 1/2 tsp xanthan gum)

40 g / 1/4 c icing sugar

25 g ground almonds

25 g cornflour

1 tsp vanilla extract, or lemon zest if doing lemon version

1-2 tsp milk


Icing:

1/2 c icing sugar

few Tbsp ...


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Miso caramels

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, In : sweets 


Mmmm miso and nutmeg make a nice-flavoured caramel! You'll need a candy thermometer to get the exact balling temperature. Benjamina Ebuehi calls these nutmeg caramels in A Good Day to Bake (Hardie Grant, 2022) but I upped the miso content to suit my preference.

1 c coconut cream or cream

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 tsp white miso

2 1/2 Tbsp brown rice syrup (or maple or golden)

2/3 c granulated sugar (I used coconut)

2/3 c light brown or muscovado sugar

55 g butter or dairy-free spread


Line a 20 cm square tin f...


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Chocolate truffles two ways

Posted by Frances Chan on Sunday, April 24, 2022, In : sweets 

A packet of goji berries had been sitting in the pantry for too long so I put them in these delicious vegan truffles. My other favourite flavour at the moment is rum and raisin so I made those too. I found Lagusta Yearwood's recipe in Sweet & Salty (Da Capo Lifelong, 2019) very easy and with lots of flavour options.


Master ganache recipe makes 2 cups:

200 g coconut milk or cream

1/4 c coconut oil

1 Tbsp water

340 g dark chocolate, broken into small pieces


Flavourings:

1/2 c goji berries, soaked unti...


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Chocolate cupcakes

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, In : small cakes 


A great go-to recipe if you need to bake a free-from treat. Swap out flours, milks as you need. Another one by Jo Pratt from The Flexible Baker (White Lion, 2022)

Makes 12

1 1/3 c milk of choice

2 tsp vinegar

1 3/4 c self-raising flour (if using normal flour add 1 1/2 tsp baking powder)

1/3 c cocoa powder

1 c sugar of choice, fine

1/2 c light vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla paste or extract

sprinkles 


Preheat oven to 180C. Line 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.

In a jug mix the milk and vinegar together ...


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Lemon polenta shortbread

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, April 16, 2022, In : slices 

Polenta adds colour and crunch to this crispy olive oil shortbread. It's from The Flexible Baker by Jo Pratt (White Lion, 2022).


2 1/4 c / 225 g ground almonds or flour of choice

1 1/2 c / 225 g fine polenta

1 1/4 c / 175 g icing sugar

zest of 2 lemons

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 c olive oil

1 Tbsp caster sugar


Preheat oven to 170C. Have a 20 cm square tin or similar ready.

In a large bowl mix all the dry ingredients together with the zest. Stir in the olive oil and bring together as a crumbly dough.

Press even...


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Oaty mushroom scones

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, April 16, 2022, In : savoury 

Love a flexible recipe. And this is what Jo Pratt is all about. Her recipes can be adapted to be gluten, dairy or nut free and vegan. I've been enjoying her latest, The Flexible Baker (White Lion, 2022). I usually make cheese scones but mushrooms are a nice change for a savoury bite.


Makes 8

15 g dried porcini mushrooms

4 Tbsp boiled water

1 1/4 c  / 175 g Tbsp oats

3/4 c / 75 g ground almonds

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp paprika

1 tsp sea salt

1/2...


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Chocolate macadamia brownies

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, In : slices 

The healthiest, fudgiest brownie you'll ever make.


3 Tbsp ground flaxseed

6 Tbsp milk of choice

2 cups dates, pitted and soaked in boiling for 15 minutes

2 Tbsp almond butter

2 Tbsp milk of choice

1 c flour of choice (I used ground almonds)

1/4 c cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 c milk of choice

200g dark chocolate, melted

1/2 c chopped macadamias plus 1/4 c

1/4 c dark chocolate chips


Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 20 cm square tin with baking paper.

Mix the flaxseed and milk together in a small bowl a...


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Amaretti

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, April 3, 2022, In : cookies 

A lovely chewy bite, ideal with coffee. Fika your heart out.

Makes 24

2 egg whites

1 c caster sugar

1 1/2 tsp honey

1 tsp vanilla paste

zest of a lemon, orange or grapefruit

3 c ground almonds

1/2 tsp sea salt flakes

1/2 c icing sugar


Preheat oven to 180C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

Beat egg whites in a large bowl until frothy. Add sugar and beat until thick and glossy. Mix in honey, vanilla and zest.

Stir in the almonds and salt with a spoon or spatula until just combined. It will be a soft ...


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Chocolate coconut marble cake

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, March 31, 2022, In : big cakes 

I like the surprise element of a marble cake - never know what pattern you'll get!

2 c flour (I used gluten free and added 1/2 tsp xanthan gum)

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

110 g milk chocolate

140 g butter or dairy-free spread

1 c sugar

1/2 tsp sea salt

 3 eggs at room temperature

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 c coconut milk or cream

1/3 c desiccated or shredded coconut


Preheat oven to 160C. Line a loaf tin with baking paper.

In a small bowl whisk the flour, baking soda and baking powder t...


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Ginger biscuits

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, March 28, 2022, In : cookies 

Another easy ginger biscuit with crystallised ginger for extra chewiness and sweetness. Mary Berry's recipe doesn't disappoint.


50 g butter or non-dairy spread

1 Tbsp golden syrup (or rice syrup, maple, agave)

175 g self-raising flour or normal flour with 1 tsp baking powder

1 Tbsp ground ginger

75 g crystallised ginger, chopped

1 tsp baking soda

50 g demerara sugar

50 g light brown sugar or coconut sugar

1 egg, beaten


Preheat the oven to 160C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

Heat the butter and ...


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Lime slice

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, March 24, 2022, In : slices 

I dedicate this to my friend who gave me limes from her tree. It's a lemon bar recipe but you can substitute with any type of citrus.


Makes 16 squares

Base:

160 g flour

50 g sugar

120 g cold butter or dairy-free spread, cubed


Filling:

160 ml / 2/3 c lime juice (about 8 small limes)

zest from limes, optional

250 g coconut cream

250 g caster sugar

6 Tbsp cornflour

few drops green food colouring (if you're using lemons you can add 1/4 tsp turmeric or yellow food colouring)


icing sugar to dust


Preheat oven to ...


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Chocolate ganache cake

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, In : big cakes 



This decadent recipe is by Dorie Greenspan (Baking with Dorie, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021). She calls it her Lisbon Chocolate Cake, after tasting something similar at Lisbon's Landeau Chocolate cafe. She says the three layers are essential to make the whole - a fudgy brownie-like cake, a whipped moussey ganache and a cocoa dusting.


1/3 c / 28 g cocoa

1 1/2 Tbsp cornflour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp sea salt

113 g butter or dairy-free spread

142 g dark chocolate, chopped

1/2 c sugar

3 cold eggs...


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Brown sugar sponge with fruit

Posted by Frances Chan on Sunday, March 20, 2022, In : big cakes 


Another versatile recipe from Lazy Baking by Jessica Elliot Dennison (Hardie Grant Books, 2021). Just use whatever seasonal fruit you have on hand. I like a recipe that uses no more than 2 eggs. For some reason I find 3 or more eggcessive! You can use other sugars if you don't have soft brown. Ground coconut sugar will be delicious too. This cake is like a warm hug.


175 g butter or dairy-free spread, softened

150 g soft brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla paste

125 g ground almonds

175 g flour (I used...


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White chocolate & macadamia cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, March 18, 2022, In : cookies 

Very straightforward recipe to make these crowd pleasers. I quickly whipped up a batch to have for after school. White chocolate - the kid's favourite; macadamias - mine.


Makes 12

110 g butter or non-dairy spread

1/2 c caster sugar

1/4 c soft brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

180 g flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 Tbsp milk of choice

50 g white chocolate, roughly chopped (use dairy-free if going vegan), plus 2 Tbsp for topping

50 g macadamia nuts, roughly chopped (or cashews), plus 1 Tbsp for topping


Preheat o...


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Caramel white chocolate blondies

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, February 6, 2022, In : slices 

An on-the-fly recipe to use up almond pulp from making almond milk and some failed caramel that split. You can use any flour you wish and if you don't have caramel handy you can omit or marble the top with melted chocolate.

150 g coconut oil (or butter)

1/3 c granulated sugar

1/3 c brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs

2 c almond pulp or meal 
1 tsp baking powder

3/4 c white chocolate chips

3/4 c caramel or butterscotch sauce


Preheat oven to 180C. Line a brownie tin with baking paper.

In a large bowl...


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Butterscotch tart

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, February 3, 2022, In : desserts 

Another better-for-you treat by Jerrelle Guy that uses more wholesome ingredients than your standard caramel tart. I finally learnt that caramel is traditionally made with white sugar and a small proportion of butter and butterscotch with brown sugar and a higher proportion of butter. There is a difference in flavour, however, I now often make such syrups with coconut cream, coconut oil and coconut sugar so you can have vegan/dairy free versions too. It's adapted from Black Girl Baking (Page ...


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Sun-dried tomato and seed crackers

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, January 30, 2022, In : savoury 

The tomatoes add a tasty tang and sweetness to these crunchy bites. The key is to spread out as thin as possible. It's from Jerrelle Guy's Black Girl Baking (Page Street, 2018).


1/2 c ground flaxseeds

1 c hot water

1 1/2 c pumpkin seeds

1 c sunflower seeds

fresh or 1 tsp dried oregano

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp onion powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 c sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped


Preheat oven to 180C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.

Mix the flaxseeds and water in a small bowl and let thicken for 10 ...


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Cashew coconut cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, In : cookies 

So nutty and crunchy! My niece suggested to sandwich them with ice cream and that was a winner after dinner. This is adapted from Better Baking by Genevieve Ko (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016). She uses peanuts, which would be tasty too. Feel free to experiment with whatever nuts you have on hand.

1 c roasted, salted cashews
1/2 c desiccated coconut
1/2 toasted sesame seeds
3/4 c icing sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

Add all the ingredients except oil a...

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Mocha chip cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, January 23, 2022, In : cookies 

One of the best flavour combos - chocolate and coffee - in one biscuit! It's from Better Baking by Genevieve Ko (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016). I have a few favourites from this book that utilises wholesome ingredients. It's important to chill the dough for several hours so make it in the morning or the night before.

Makes around 36
2 c flour (I used wholemeal spelt)
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c coconut sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1/3 c neutral oil
2/3 c cold espresso coff...
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Banana bread

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, In : big cakes 

This is similar to another banana bread recipe on Bake Club. The additional chocolate drops in this one adds nice melty surprises.

3 ripe bananas, mashed

1 c milk (I used rice)

1/2 c softened coconut oil or neutral oil

1 c coconut sugar

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

2 c flour (I used wholemeal spelt)

1 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 c chocolate drops. optional


Preheat oven to 190C. Line a loaf tin with baking paper.

In a large bowl whisk together the bananas, milk, oil, sugar and vanilla. ...


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Nut bars

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, January 2, 2022, In : slices 

I have made many granola and muesli bars on Bake Club. You gotta try them all to see what (literally) sticks. This one is just nuts, seeds and fruit, and the ground flaxseeds act as a binder. It's from Black Girl Baking by Jerrelle Guy (Page Street, 2018).


1 1/2 c almonds

1/2 c cashews

1 c sunflower or pumpkin seeds (or mix of both)

1/2 c ground flax or chia seeds

1/2 dried fruit (I used cranberries)

1/2 tsp cinnamon, optional

1/2 c honey or brown rice syrup or maple syrup (I used a mix)

2 Tbsp olive...


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Raw berry bounty bars

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, In : sweets 

I made berry bounty bars by combining two tried and true favourites - coconut bars and berry chia jam, then coated bite-size morsels in chocolate. A virtuous sweet treat.

Coconut layer:
2 c desiccated coconut
1/3 c maple or brown rice syrup
1/4 c coconut oil, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch sea salt

Berry layer:
4 dates, pitted
1/3 c water
2 c fresh or frozen berries
2 Tbsp chia seeds

500g chocolate of choice (70% dark chocolate is best)
Sprinkles of choice such as shredded coconut, freeze-dried or d...
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Healthy chocolate nut butter truffles

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, In : sweets 

For the ultimate healthy but still decadent chocolate truffle, these ones don't take much effort or fancy ingredients, and you can do it all one pot. Adapted from Melissa Hemsley's Eat Happy (Ebury Press, 2018).


Makes around 30

1/2 c coconut oil

1/2 c maple syrup

1 c cocoa powder

1 3/4 c nut or seed butter

pinch sea salt


toasted coatings:

desiccated or shredded coconut

chopped pistachios

freeze-dried strawberry powder or pieces


Put all the ingredients in a small pot and melt over low heat, stirring unti...


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Raw cheesecake with berry coulis

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, December 18, 2021, In : desserts 

A fresh and zingy dessert with no refined sugars or processed ingredients.


Base:

1 c almonds

1/4 c dates

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

pinch sea salt

1/2 tsp each cinnamon, ginger, if desired


Filling:

2 c cashews, soaked for at least an hour

1/2 c filtered water

1/2 c honey or rice syrup

2-3 Tbsp lemon juice

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 c + 2 Tbsp coconut oil, softened

1/2 tsp xanthan gum or 1 Tbsp lecithin powder or 1 tsp psyllium powder

fresh strawberries, if desired


Coulis:

2 c fresh or frozen berries of choice...


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Raw apple raisin cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, December 16, 2021, In : cookies 

With the oven still bung I made these wholesome raw cookies in the dehydrator. Dehydrated food sometimes doesn't look the most appetising so I tszujed these up with some white chocolate decoration. This recipe is adapted from The Complete Book of Raw Food (Hatherleigh Press, 2005).

Makes around 30 small cookies
2 c sunflower seeds, soaked for 6-8 hours and rinsed
2 apples, cored
2 bananas
1/2 c dates
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1 c raisins or cranberries
1 c walnuts, soaked for 6-8 hours and ...
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Raw chocolate thumbprint cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, In : cookies 

My oven broke down a week before Xmas! So I've turned to my trusty dehydrator to whip up some raw treats (not quickly though). This is a basic recipe for a raw cookies. You can substitute any nuts or dried fruit if you wish, add spices or essences such as peppermint or orange.

Makes 25-30 small cookies
1 1/2 c cashews
1 c almonds
1 c dates
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp coconut oil 
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 c cocoa powder
Pinch sea salt
1/2 c jam (I used berry chia jam)

Blitz the nuts in a food processor u...

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Hazelnut truffles (homemade Ferrero Rocher)

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, November 19, 2021, In : sweets 

The ubiquitous Ferrero Rocher chocolates are a familiar sight at celebrations of all kinds, especially at Christmas. It's all about the hazelnut and wafer combo that Pietro Ferrero nailed in Alba back in 1942 that has stood the test of time. I've never had enough hazelnuts on hand to try making my own but since I bought that kilo from Mt Hyde Hazelnuts in Dunedin, I gave it a go from scratch. This is adapted from Bigger Bolder Baking.

Makes 35-40
Filling:
2 c toasted hazelnuts
1/2 c maple syrup (...
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Peanut butter fudge and chocolate fudge

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, November 8, 2021, In : sweets 

A couple of options for sugar-free treats that you don't need many ingredients for or special equipment. If you don't have silicone moulds you can use mini muffin tins, or a loaf tin and cut into squares once firm.


Peanut butter fudge:

1/4 c cacao butter, melted

1/2 c peanut butter

2 Tbsp maple syrup, brown rice syrup or honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

pinch sea salt

silicone moulds


Melt the cacao butter in a bowl. Whisk in peanut butter until fully incorporated and smooth. Whisk in sweetener and vanilla...


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Apricot tea bread

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, November 7, 2021, In : bread 

I wanted to make an easy sweet loaf that featured the lovely unsulphured apricots I get from Ceres. Decided to riff on a yeast-free, gluten-free, dairy-free version to prove it can be done and it uses beer as a raising agent. You can make a plain loaf by omitting the apricots and honey and increasing the salt to 1 Tbsp. This is adapted from Pure Delicious by Heather Christo (Pam Krauss Books, 2016).


1/2 c dried apricots, chopped

1/4 c water

4 c flour of choice (I used a GF wholemeal mix)

1 1/2 ts...


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Snickerdoodles

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, October 29, 2021, In : cookies 

A snickerdoodle is a crisp and chewy cookie originating from New England. It's basically a plain cookie rolled in cinnamon sugar but the inclusion of cream of tartar gives it a sourness that is quite endearing. 

Most recipes use butter and refined sugar and flour but this one is gluten- and dairy-free. You can also use an egg replacer if you are vegan. It makes a lot of dough so you can freeze some for later use. The dough needs to chill in the fridge for a few hours so prepare ahead!


3 1/2 c f...


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Chocolate brownie

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, October 28, 2021, In : slices 

Everyone needs a go-to brownie recipe. Here's a gluten-free, dairy-free version if you feel so inclined.


1 1/2 c flour of choice (I used wholemeal and white spelt)

1 tsp xanthan gum, if using gluten-free flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp espresso or instant coffee

1 c coconut oil, softened

1 1/2 c / 220 g dark chocolate chips or chopped (I use Whittaker's 72%)

1 c granulated sugar (I used coconut)

1/2 c soft brown sugar

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

3 eggs

1 c toasted chopped nuts (I used walnuts)


Prehe...


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Cherry clafoutis

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, October 21, 2021, In : desserts 

Clafoutis is a cross between a custard and a flan and makes a quick dessert because everything is just whizzed in the blender. You can easily make yours gluten-free, dairy-free or sugar-free too. Use whatever fresh, frozen or tinned fruit you have on hand. It can be served warm or cold, for breakfast even!


½ c any milk of choice

½ c ricotta (or use milk)

3 eggs

½ c natural sweetener such as brown rice syrup (or maple or honey)

½ c flour of choice 

1 tsp vanilla extract

Lemon zest, optional

Granul...


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Vegan date pudding with caramel sauce

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, In : desserts 

This recipe can be made as individual puddings, muffins, a loaf or cake. Just adjust the baking time to suit. It's a healthified version of your standard date pud as it's free of gluten, dairy, eggs and refined sugar. Even the sauce is vegan. Thanks to Eight Forest Lane.


Makes 8 individual puddings

1 c dates

2 Tbsp maple or brown rice syrup, optional

1 tsp baking soda

boiling water

1/2 c coconut sugar

1/2 c vegetable or coconut oil, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 c flour (I used wholemeal gluten-fre...


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Bliss slice

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, In : sweets 

Bliss balls are the easiest cheat sweet. Just bung everything in a food processor and press the button. Start with a base of nuts or seeds, add your dried fruit of choice and bind with sticky sweeteners such as maple syrup, dates, brown rice syrup, or nut butters. It's a good way to use up things that have bene neglected in your pantry.
If you're time constrained or just too lazy to roll into balls, just make into a slice.

200g dried fruit (I used apricots, use whatever mix you like. Get tropic...
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Almond meal crackers

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, In : savoury 

I like to make almond milk occasionally and one of the byproducts is almond pulp, which you can then dry out and grind to make almond meal. You can make these crackers with any almond meal or ground almonds or almond flour, or you can substitute with oat flour. The key is to roll out as thin as possible to make a really snappy cracker. The Minimalist Baker has some great recipes that include almond meal.

3/4 c flour (I used rice)
2/3 c almond meal
2 Tbsp ground flaxseed
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 t...
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Apple cranberry galette with vanilla ice cream

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, September 26, 2021, In : desserts 

The finale of my French week is a galette - a freeform fruity pie for dessert. But you can also have it for breakfast and lunch! It's important to keep the pastry cold so chill it before rolling out, and chill the whole pie for half an hour after you put the filling in, while you're heating up the oven. Apple and cranberry is a great combo but feel free to use whatever mix of ingredients you have on hand - pear and walnut, apple and dried apricots or prunes, apple and berries, fresh stone fru...


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Chocolate mint thins

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, September 17, 2021, In : cookies 

Better than store-bought for sure! It's a three-part process but definitely worth the delight in biting into your own fancy chocolate and mint biscuit. The recipe from @kitchenoftreats can be easily adapted to be gluten and dairy free. These store well in the freezer.

Makes 24-28

1 c flour of choice

1/3 c cocoa

60 g butter or non-dairy spread

1/2 c  sugar

1 egg


Filling:

1 1/2 c icing sugar

4 tsp milk of choice

1/2 tsp peppermint essence


1 Tbsp jam mixed with a little hot water


Coating:

250 g dark chocolat...


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Citrus peel cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, September 16, 2021, In : cookies 

Needed a quick bake to use up some mixed peel that's been sitting in the pantry for too long! It's worth the extra effort to add the tangy drizzle icing. You can swap out the butter for a non-dairy spread and use whatever flour you like.

125 g butter or non-dairy spread

1/3 c sugar

1 c flour (I used gluten free)

pinch salt

fine zest of 1 lemon, lime or orange

1/2 c mixed peel


For the icing mix 1/2 c icing sugar with the juice of 1 lemon, lime or orange to make a drizzling consistency.


In a bowl cream...


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Banana bread cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, September 11, 2021, In : cookies 

This is adapted from Donna Hay's ingenious 4-ingredient recipe. I just used less banana to more flour ratio so the mixture wouldn't be so soft. They are not very good-looking cookies so you can jazz them up to look more appealing. The cookies have a crispy shell and a soft banana bread middle - a real wholesome treat.

Makes about 15
3/4 c mashed banana (about 2 medium)
3 c almond flour or almond meal (I grind almonds in a coffee grinder then sieve)
1/2 c coconut sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
To sprinkle: 1 ...
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Caramel cashew fudge

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, September 6, 2021, In : sweets 

This is Donna Hay's simple recipe for a better-for-you fudge - only 4 ingredients! You can use another nut butter and mix or match your nuts if you prefer, such as almond, hazelnut, macadamia, pistachios or tahini. It's best to use roasted nuts for flavour. You can also add dried fruit, such as sour cherries or cranberries, but there is already enough dates to make the fudge sweet.


2/3 c cashew butter

400 g fresh pitted dates (medjool are best but you can use any other kind. Dried dates too can...


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Cherry choconut slice

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, In : slices 

Raw slices are great to make because they keep in the freezer for months and you can just take out slice as you need and defrost for half an hour before eating. You could also use other berries for the filling such as blueberries, raspberries or strawberries. This is from Donna Hay's Modern Baking (Fourth Estate, 2018).


Base:

1 c cashews

1 c desiccated coconut

1/4 c brown rice syrup


Filling:

1 c desiccated coconut

120 g fresh medjool dates (about 6-7)

1/3 c melted coconut oil

1 tsp vanilla extract or ...


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Chocolate cuts

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, In : cookies 

200g coconut oil or butter, softened

1 c sugar

2 1/2 c /300g flour (I used white and wholemeal spelt)

6 Tbsp cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder


Egg wash:

1 egg lightly beaten with 1/2 quantity of milk (2-3 Tbsp)


Sprinkles or pearl sugar


Preheat oven to 175C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

In a bowl mix the coconut oil and sugar until well combined. If using butter, cream until pale and fluffy. Sift in remaining ingredients and mix together until just combined into a dough. If it's too crumbly ad...


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White chocolate almond cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, August 12, 2021, In : cookies 

Coconut oil not only helps make a crisp biscuit, it's also easy to soften and there's no creaming required. Soft brown sugar dissolves and mixes in quickly too. You can use any chopped nuts you prefer but I like flaked almonds as they're easier to bite into. Mix and match whatever chocolate and nut or dried fruit variety you like. It's a good way to use up what's in your pantry.

Makes 16

1/4 c coconut oil, softened (it's already soft at room temperature in summer or microwave for 20 sec)

1 c bro...


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Chocolate molasses cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, July 11, 2021, In : cookies 

With our impending trip to the snow upon us, I wanted a sturdy, robust cookie that would provide tasty sustenance on the slopes. So I made a spicy molasses cookie and added chocolate chunks - how good?!


Makes 24-26

1 1/2 c flour (I used white and wholemeal spelt)

1/2 c oat flour (oats ground in a coffee grinder)

1 1/2 c sugar (I used a mix of coconut and cane)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

ground spices:

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger (double the ginger if you want a gingernut!)

1/2 ts...


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Jaffa bliss balls

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, July 1, 2021, In : sweets 

For you lovers of chocolate and orange, here's a quick bliss ball. You can leave them uncoated but I think coating them in chocolate makes them extra special.

Makes about 18

1 1/2 c walnuts

8 medjool dates, pitted

1/3 c almond butter

1/4 c cacao powder

zest of 1 orange

t tsp orange essence or 3 drops orange essential oil


coating:

1/2 c cacao butter

1/2 c cacao powder

1/4 c maple syrup to taste

1/2 tsp orange essence

pinch sea salt


Blitz all the ingredients in a food processor. Roll into balls and refrigera...


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Ginger cardamom gems

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, June 11, 2021, In : small cakes 

You can use this batter in any-sized tin - I used stars and mini muffins here. If you're not keen on the cardamom flavour just leave it out.

2 c flour (I used gluten free)

1 tsp baking soda

1 c granulated sugar (I used organic golden)

3 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cardamom

2 Tbsp maple, golden or rice syrup

100g butter (I used non-dairy Olivani)

2 eggs

1 c milk (I used rice)


Preheat oven to 200C. Grease your tins - equivalent of 12 muffins/gems or 24 mini muffins.

In a large bowl mix all the dry ingr...


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Chocolate orange mousse

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, June 10, 2021, In : desserts 

This mousse couldn't be easier: melt the chocolate, whisk the aquafaba and mix; refrigerate then tszuj it up with toppings. Strangely, my husband is averse to chocolate and orange together. I found this out when I got him a classic Terry's Chocolate Orange for Xmas. The look of disappointment on his face when he opened the wrapping! Followed by the joy on mine when I realised I could eat the whole thing myself! So now it's a running joke when I make chocolate-orangey things.


100g chilled water...


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Vegan coffee cake with cashew cinnamon icing

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, June 7, 2021, In : big cakes 

Some people call 'coffee cake' any kind of cake that's served with coffee. But this is an actual coffee-flavoured cake that's made with wholefoods and is vegan to boot. Also easy to use gluten-free flour. The coconut sugar gives it a gorgeous dark caramel colour. It's a light, fluffy cake great with a cuppa, of course. It's from Deliciously Ella: A Plant-based Cookbook (Yellow Kite, 2018). 


3 Tbsp instant coffee granules (or strong espresso coffee)

2 Tbsp boiling water

450g flour (I used wholeme...


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Healthy caramel slice

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, In : slices 

Here's a lockdown baking experiment - i wanted to make a healthy caramel slice. This recipe fits a loaf tin but you could double it to fit a 20 x 20 cm square tin.


Makes about 10 slices

Base:

1 c almond meal or flour

2 1/2 tbsp coconut sugar

2-3 tbsp coconut oil, melted or softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

pinch sea salt


Caramel:

1 c dates, soaked overnight then drained

1 tbsp cashew butter (or any smooth nut butter)

pinch sea salt


Topping:

1/2 c cacao butter

2-3 tbsp maple syrup (or honey or rice syrup)

1/2 c...


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Passionfruit coconut slice

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, February 18, 2021, In : slices 

Is it a cake or is it a slice? It reminds me of a Louise cake/slice with a meringue-esque topping, but with a passionfruit tang.


Base:

120 g desiccated coconut 

100 g ground almonds

80 g flour of choice

4 Tbsp caster sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 egg yolks, lightly beaten

½ cup passionfruit pulp (about 5 or 6 fruit), plus extra to drizzle 

1/3 c milk of choice

1 tsp vanilla extract


Topping:

2 egg whites

1/4 cup caster sugar

80 g desiccated coconut

50 g ground almonds

juice of 2 or 3 passionfruit (...


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Ginger citrus shortbread

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, November 2, 2020, In : cookies 

If you need to, any recipe can be made dairy and gluten free. In this case, it's easy shortbread that can be done in the food processor, adapted from Bluebells Cakery (Random House, 2013) by Karla Goodwin.

2 1/3 c + 1 tbsp flour (I used a GF mix)
1/3 c cornflour
250g butter or non-dairy spread (I used Olivani)
1/2 c + 1 tbsp caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
2/3 g crystallised ginger, finely chopped
zest of 1 lemon
zest of 1 orange

Sift flours together in a large bowl or food processor. Rub in ...
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Tiramisu ice cream

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, September 26, 2020, In : desserts 


When I see tiramisu on a menu, I am compelled to order it! The there's nothing quite like a creamy, coffee, spongey dessert to end your meal. This healthy ice cream version is tiramisu reimagined, in a good way. It's from Jessica Sepel's Living the Healthy Life (Macmillan, 2017)

2 frozen bananas

1 tbsp tahini

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp instant coffee/espresso/Inka

1 tbsp cacao powder

pinch sea salt

1 c coconut cream or milk

few ice cubes, optional


crushed roasted peanuts and chocolate flakes to garnish


Just ...


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Black Forest gateau

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, September 16, 2020, In : big cakes 


Here's another excellent vegan chocolate cake (another one here) zhujed up with some cherries in the chocolate ganache. A 3-tiered cake means business! Thanks to Nadia Lim for the foolproof recipe. She says you can use any liquid but coffee gives more depth and richness to the cake.

2 1/2 c self-raising flour or plain flour with 3 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 c cocoa

1 1/2 c sugar (I used coconut)

1 tsp baking soda
pinch salt

2 c coffee, water or milk (I used decaffeinated coffee)

2 tsp vanilla extract...


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Healthy florentines

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, September 7, 2020, In : sweets 

A refined-sugar-free treat for any time of the day. I think the thinness of a florentine is the secret to its success, so use flaked or slivered almonds. Pepitas and oats add extra nutrition.


Makes about 25

1/2 c rolled oats

1/3 c almonds

1/3 c finely chopped walnuts

1/3 c pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

1/3 c finely chopped apple-sweetened cranberries (I didn't have any so used sulphur-free apricots. Other tangy dried fruit would work well too, such as cherries or blueberries)

1 tsp mixed spice (or a mix o...


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Choconutty popcorn cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, August 29, 2020, In : cookies 

Heidi Swanson calls these carnival cookies, not the sickly sweet artificial-coloured kind, but wholesome sugar-free bites packed with nutrients. The popcorn and chocolate chips bring to mind amusement park snacks.


Makes 22-24

1 1/2 c rolled oats

1/2 c almond meal or ground almonds

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 1/2 c mashed bananas (about 3 or 4)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 c coconut oil, softened or just melted

1 1/2 c popcorn

1 c chocolate of choice (chopped, chips, buttons or b...


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Banana chocolate muffins

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, In : small cakes 

What's the secret to soft fluffy muffins? Don't overmix the batter. This is Nadia Lim's very easy recipe and it works well. You can swap out whatever flours/sugars/flavours you want or have on hand. You can even use replace the egg with a flaxseed egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tbsp water).

Makes 12
2 c self-raising flour (or use any flour mixed with 2 1/2 tsp baking powder)
3/4 c sugar (I used coconut), or use 1/2 c honey/rice syrup/maple syrup
1/2 c chocolate chips/buttons/chopped bit...
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Peanut butter & jam brownie

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, July 27, 2020, In : slices 

This is the most dense, fudgey, gooey brownie I've ever attempted. It will last a while, as you only need a small slice to accompany your cuppa. The jam and berries really help to lighten the brownie with a bit of tartness. It's from Bosh! by Henry Firth and Ian Theasby (HQ, 2018) but I've reduced the quantities of sugar and cocoa.

2 3/4 c flour (I used spelt)
2 1/2 c coconut sugar (or muscovado)
1 1/2 c cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 c peanut butter, runny
220ml water
220ml vegetabl...
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Vegan chocolate cake

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, July 10, 2020, In : big cakes 

A very similar riff to my go-to chocolate ganache cake. This recipe uses larger quantities so will easily fill 2 sponge tins and once you lavish with ganache it's makes a tall and impressive cake! Thanks to Fearne Cotton's Cook Happy Cook Healthy (Orion Publishing, 2016).

300g spelt flour
100g cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
150g coconut oil, melted
350g natural liquid sweetener (I used brown rice syrup, you can use maple or honey)
2 tsp vanilla extract
460ml no...
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Coconut panna cotta & berry coulis

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, May 15, 2020, In : desserts 

I make jellies often for our daughter with just fruit juice and agar -  panna cotta is pretty much the same thing. Berry coulis is the perfect accompaniment for this dessert. Thanks to Heidi Swanson in Super Natural Cooking (Celestial Arts, 2007) for this easy recipe. 


1 can coconut milk or cream

1 1/4 c milk (I used rice milk)

1/3 c cane sugar

3/4 tsp agar powder (or 1 1/2 tbsp agar flakes)


Coulis:

2 c berries, fresh or frozen (I used raspberries and blueberries)

1/4 c honey or rice syrup

juice half...


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Orange polenta cake with chocolate ganache

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, In : big cakes 

I fell asleep last night thinking of an orange polenta cake with chocolate ganache. I woke up this morning thinking of the same cake. Here is the physical manifestation of my craving! 

3 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 1/2 c water
1/2 c rice syrup (or maple or honey)
3/4 c olive oil
2 c ground almonds
1 c polenta
3 tsp baking powder
Zest and juice of 1 large orange
2 tsp orange extract or essence

Chocolate ganache:
1 can coconut cream or milk
250g dark chocolate (I use Whittaker’s 72%)

Orange jam or ma...

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Granola bars

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, April 21, 2020, In : slices 

I think we don't eat enough seeds in our life so a granola packed with them is a protein punch.

Minimalist Baker has more than one vegan, gluten-free granola bar on her website but I like this one the best. You don't need to add chopped dried fruit as the recipe already contains a cup of dates. It's a no-bake recipe but toasting the nuts and seeds first adds much to the flavour.


1 1/2 c oats

1/2 c nuts of choice (I used almonds)

2 tbsp sunflower seeds

2 tbsp pumpkin seeds

2 tbsp flaxseed

2 tbsp chia...


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Crumpets

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, April 17, 2020, In : bread 


I've made crumpets before - here's another recipe. Just chuck all the ingredients in a bowl, wait for an hour, then fry on the griddle. My tip would be to make a double batch and freeze some for later.

Makes 10
Mix together 225g flour of choice, 1 tsp dried yeast, 1/2 tsp baking soda, pinch salt, 150ml warmed milk of choice and 200ml warm water. Cover and leave for 1 hour to froth up. Heat some oil in a fry pan and place your rings inside. Pour 1/3 c of batter in each ring and cook for about 6 ...
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Pea flour cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, April 16, 2020, In : cookies 

You can make cookies from any flour, really. Yellow pea flour makes a wholesome cookie and the molasses gives them a dark brown caramelly chewiness. The dough is quite soft and sticky so best to refrigerate for an hour before shaping. Thanks Ginny for her flour leftovers!

Makes around 20
Mix all the wet ingredients in a bowl:
2 tbsp flaxmeal mixed with 3 tbsp water
1 tbsp molasses
2 tbsp maple syrup (or rice syrup or honey)
1/3 c coconut sugar (or brown)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 c vegetable or rice...
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Oat lace cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, April 3, 2020, In : cookies 

These are very fragile cookies! But lovely for a dainty afternoon tea. Drizzling with chocolate is completely optional; I think they are tasty without.

Makes about 20 cookies

1/2 c rolled oats

1/4 c almonds

90g butter or non-dairy spread

1/3 c crystallised sugar

1/3 c brown sugar

1 tbsp rice flour/tapioca/cornflour/arrowroot

2 tsp orange zest

1 tsp vanilla extract

pinch sea salt


100g melted chocolate, if desired


Preheat oven to 180C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

In a food processor or coffee gri...


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White chocolate chip cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, In : cookies 

With an hour to go before our 7-year-old daughter arrives back home with a play date (first boy from school!) I whipped up these white chocolate chip cookies. Add some fancy sprinkles and it's an afternoon delight!


Makes around 24 small or 18 large cookies

2 c flour (I used half white spelt and half wholemeal spelt, you can use GF flour if you like)

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 c sugar-free chocolate chips or drops, plus extra for topping

1/2 c fine coconut sugar or rapad...


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Almond rosewater cake

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, In : big cakes 


A very simple cake with a hint of rosewater, but it's just what your fika needs!


2 c ground almonds

1/2 c honey/maple syrup/rice syrup

1/3 c coconut oil or butter, softened
3 eggs

zest of 2 lemons

2 tbsp rose water

1 tsp baking soda

1/3 c flaked or chopped almonds


Preheat oven to 160C. Line a 20cm cake tin with baking paper.

Put all the ingredients except the flaked almonds in a bowl and mix well. Or blitz in a food processor.

Scrape batter into the cake tin and scatter almonds on top.

Bake for around 35...


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Chocolate almond biscotti

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, March 15, 2020, In : cookies 

These chocolate biscotti have a coffee-tinged flavour - perfect with coffee!

1 1/2 c ground almonds

2 tbsp arrowroot or cornflour

3 tbsp cacao powder

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 c brown rice syrup or maple syrup


Preheat oven to 180C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir in vanilla and rice syrup until a firm dough forms.

Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Shape each one into a log about 10cm long, 5cm high and 4cm wid...


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Healthy millionaire's shortbread

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, March 2, 2020, In : slices 

The classic millionaire's shortbread usually involves sugar, butter, condensed milk, egg, golden syrup and sometimes cream. This version is free from refined sugar and dairy and can be gluten too.

Tastes amazing, with that mix of crunch, salty/sweet caramel and silky chocolate. I guarantee you'll be pleased you switched to a healthier version!


For the base:

200g flour of choice (I used spelt)

pinch salt

100g coconut oil, room temperature

50g cane sugar or stevia


For the caramel:

300g pitted dates

150g...


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Banana coconut cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, In : cookies 

Just two ingredients to make these delicious cookies. I like them very thin to produce a crispiness and caramelisation on the edges. You can go crazy with your extras and add your favourite flavourings.

Makes 12-16 

1 ripe banana
3/4 c desiccated coconut

Optional:
1/4 c chocolate chips
pinch sea salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c chopped dried fruit

Preheat oven to 180C. Link a baking sheet with baking paper.

Mash the banana in a bowl and mix in coconut. Add your extras. Scoop out...


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Coconut macaroons

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, February 13, 2020, In : cookies 

Such a wholesome healthy version of macaroons! But dipping in chocolate makes them extra special. This is adapted from Caroline Du Pont's The New Enlightened Eating (Book Publishing Company, 2012).

Makes 16

3/4 c ground almonds
2 tbsp ground flaxseed
2 c desiccated or shredded coconut
pinch salt
1/2 c maple syrup
1/4 c tahini
1 tsp vanilla extract

For dipping:
100g chocolate of choice

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.

Grind the almonds and flaxseed in a coffee grin...


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Lavender biscuits

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, February 13, 2020, In : cookies 

These biscuits are perfectly fine without icing, as our 7-year-old informed me, but I think the icing adds a zing, and lavender and lemon go well together. Being free of sugar and dairy, you can add a couple more to your lunchbox.

You'll need a tray that will fit into your freezer.

1 1/2 tbsp dried lavender flowers
165g flour of choice
1 tsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp coconut oil or butter, melted
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c honey
1 tsp stevia

Icing:
1/2 c powder...


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Chocolate peanut butter cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, February 9, 2020, In : cookies 

These a nice little chewy bites, great for lunchboxes.

90g oat flour
80g ground almonds
2 tbsp cacao powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
50g coconut sugar (or another unrefined sugar)
4 tbsp stevia
2 eggs
120g peanut butter (or any nut butter)
100g coconut oil, melted
100g cacao nibs or chocolate buttons

Preheat oven to 180C. Line 2 trays with baking paper.

In a bowl mix the flour, almonds, cacao, baking soda, sugar and stevia. In another bowl mix the eggs, peanut butter and coconut oil.

Mix the wet ing...


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Chocolate cashew truffles

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, December 12, 2019, In : sweets 

First attempt - used stick blender and only did one coat of chocolate - very nice


Second attempt - doubled the recipe, used Omniblend, double coat of chocolate - extremely nice

Yum - guilt-free treats that are full of nutrients. Everything tastes better coated in homemade chocolate, right? A stick blender is best for this recipe. I tried processing the filling in my Omniblend but there wasn't enough mixture for the blades to mix.

Makes 14
100g cashews
3 tbsp coconut oil
3 tbsp date syrup
1 tbsp caca...
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Almond pulp bliss balls

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, December 8, 2019, In : sweets 

A useful recipe to use up almond pulp from making almond milk.

1 c almond pulp (I didn't have enough so added whole almonds)
1 c dates
1/2 c desiccated coconut
3 tsp cacao or cocoa powder
1 tsp soft coconut oil
grated zest from 1 orange
pinch sea salt

Blitz all ingredients in a food processor until sticky and hold together. Roll into balls and coat in coconut and place in an airtight container in the freezer to firm up. You can also roll in cacao powder or cinnamon, finely chopped nuts or c...


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Almond pulp crackers

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, December 6, 2019, In : savoury 

You've made your own almond milk, now what do you do with the pulp? Chuck all these ingredients in a bowl, roll out thin and Bob's your cracker! Thanks to Detoxinista for the inspiration.

1 c almond pulp (from making almond milk)
1 tbsp ground flaxseeds (you could also use chia)
3 tbsp olive oil (or coconut oil)
2 tbsp sesame seeds
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 minced garlic clove, optional
finely chopped herbs are also optional (2 tbsp fresh or 2 tsp dried)

Preheat oven to 170C. 

Mix all the ingredie...


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Honey maca ice cream

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, December 5, 2019, In : desserts 

I decided to make a dairy-free ice cream from scratch, and that included the almond milk. The xanthan gum really helps to make the ice cream smooth and creamy. When you make almond milk you have almond pulp left over, so I'll also post two recipes to use up the almond pulp.

200g almonds
500ml water
1/2 c honey
1 tsp maca powder
1 tsp vanilla extract or paste
1 tsp xanthan gum

If you have an ice cream make, put the bowl in the freezer for at least 24 hours.
Soak the almonds in a bowl of water for at l...
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Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, November 28, 2019, In : cookies 

This will be the 14th chocolate chip cookies recipe on Bake Club! And it's a good variation - adding oats and being free of gluten, sugar and dairy if you need to bake for special dietary requirements. Thanks to Minimalist Baker for the inspo.

3/4 c rolled oats, or quick cook oats
3/4 c ground almonds
1/4 c desiccated coconut
3/4 tsp baking powder
14 tsp salt
1/4 c dark chocolate chips
1/4 c chopped dried fruit, optional (I used apricots but I've also used prunes and freeze-dried blueberries)
1/4 c a...
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Coffee biscotti

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, In : cookies 

A solid biscuit for grown-ups! Perfect for dunking in coffee, of course.

1 c flour (I used spelt)
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp ground coffee
1/4 c soft brown sugar
pinch sea salt
1 or 2 eggs
1/4 c dark chocolate drops or chips
1/4 c lightly toasted hazelnuts (pistachios, macadamias or pecans are also nice)

Preheat oven to 160C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
In a bowl mix the flour, baking powder, coffee, sugar and salt. Break in 1 egg and mix in with the chocolate bits and nuts. If dough is still...
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Matcha mint slice

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, November 15, 2019, In : slices 

I must admit when I first made this I didn't get much green tea or mint flavour, so I've upped my quantities and now use a larger tin to get thinner slices. Whatever works for you though, thick slices are just as good too. Thanks to Lola Berry's Food to Make You Glow (Plum, 2017) for the inspiration.

Base:
1 c desiccated coconut
1 c almond meal (I ground almonds in a coffee grinder)
2 tbsp almond butter (or any nut butter you prefer)
1 c dates (medjool are best but I also use deglet nour)...


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Chocolate mud brownies

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, October 27, 2019, In : slices 

You can make this batter into brownies, cakes, muffins - whatever suits your occasion. I usually go for a square or rectangle tin so it's easier to cut for lunch boxes or to serve many people. The best thing is that the food processor does all the work. Thanks Rachel Khoo for a winning free-from recipe from The Little Swedish Kitchen (Michael Joseph, 2018).

250g pitted dates
90ml hot espresso coffee
80g ground flaxseed
180ml vegetable oil
1 x 400g can black beans, drained (reserve 1/2 c of the liq...


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Lemon drizzle cake

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, October 25, 2019, In : big cakes 

This is a light, gluten-free, sugar-free cake with a gooey sauce.

3 eggs, separated
1/2 c milk of choice
1/3 c vegetable oil
juice and zest of 2 lemons (reserve 1 tbsp juice for drizzle)
1/3 c rice syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 c ground almonds
1/4 c coconut flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

Drizzle:
1/2 c coconut milk
1/4 c rice syrup
1 tbsp lemon juice

Preheat oven to 160C. Line a cake tin with baking paper.
In a large bowl whisk egg yolks, milk, oil, juice and zest, rice syrup and vanilla unti...
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Lemon coconut cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, September 19, 2019, In : cookies 


This recipe called these biscuits 'washboards', which I love, but you can shape the dough into circles too. You can replace the lemon with lime or orange. All citrus flavours go well with coconut.

Makes 32
2 tbsp non-dairy milk
1 tsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 c coconut oil, room temperature
1 c unrefined sugar
1 egg or flax egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 c desiccated coconut
1 tbsp lemon zest
2 c flour (I used spelt)
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt

Preheat o...


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Havreflarn (oat thins)

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, August 25, 2019, In : cookies 

Here's a healthy twist on a classic Swedish havreflarn (thin oat biscuits). I've used banana instead of sugar and added toppings for variety. Sometimes chocolate is sandwiched in between 2 biscuits; I've just spread one side with chocolate, like a chocolate digestive.

Makes around 20
2 c rolled oats
2 bananas, mashed
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch sea salt
1 tbsp coconut oil, melted (optional)
toppings if desired: threaded coconut, black sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds
125g dark chocolate

Preheat oven to 175...
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Spiced honey cake

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, In : big cakes 

This is an easy one-bowl mix - you can veganise it too.

75g butter or non-dairy spread

1/2 c honey

1/3 c unrefined sugar

75g water

1 egg or 1 tbsp flaxseed mixed with 3 tbsp water

1 1/2 c flour (I used wholemeal spelt)

1 tsp baking soda

3 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Preheat oven to 160C. Line a loaf tine with baking paper.

Melt the butter, honey, sugar and water in a medium saucepan.

Add rest of ingredi...


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Orange spelt biscuits

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, July 15, 2019, In : cookies 

A healthyish biscuit!

50g rolled oats
250g wholemeal spelt flour
1 tsp baking powder
juice and grated zest of 1 orange
60ml extra virgin olive oil
50g unrefined sugar (I used coconut)
2 tbsp honey
pinch salt

Icing:
150g icing sugar
1 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp orange zest

Grind oats in a coffee grinder or food processor until fine. Mix with flour and baking powder in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl whisk together orange juice and zest, oil, sugar, honey and salt. Pour into flour bowl and mix unti...


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Chocolate chip cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, June 10, 2019, In : cookies 

What to do when the child is home sick - bake, of course! Here's another version of a healthy choc chip cookie. This one uses a flaxseed egg.

Makes 16-20 cookies
1 tbsp flaxseed
3 tbsp water
2 c ground almonds
1/2 c brown rice flour (or another gluten free flour or almond flour)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 c maple syrup (or rice syrup or honey)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 c melted coconut oil
3/4 c dark chocolate chips or chunks

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
Mix flaxseed a...
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Vegan banana cake

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, June 2, 2019, In : big cakes 


Cake, loaf, bread - whatever you wanna call it - cooking up ripe bananas brings such a warm, homely aroma to the house.
This one-bowl wonder can be whisked up in no time and you'll be munching within the hour.

3 ripe bananas
75g vegetable oil
100g unrefined sugar, such as coconut or rapadura
225g flour (I used wholemeal and white spelt)
3 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon or mixed spice, optional
50g chopped dried fruit or nuts, optional

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a loaf tin with baking paper.
Mash the ...
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Pumpkin seed and sesame crackers

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, May 10, 2019, In : savoury 

These crackers have a lovely salty sweet taste with a honey and soy glaze. I ate a lot of these as is but also ideal for dips and spreads. Another recipe from Miranda Gore Browne's 'Biscuit'.

Makes 48 long crackers
2 1/2 c flour (I used a mix of spelt and wheat, you can use all GF flour)
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
85g butter or non-dairy spread, softened
200g yoghurt or coconut/soy yoghurt
1/3 c sesame seeds
1/3 c pumpkin seeds

For the glaze:
1 egg (or 3 tbsp non-dairy milk)
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tbsp...
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Olive oil shortbread

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, In : cookies 

This recipe is adapted from an Italian vegetarian cookbook. They called it a crisp olive oil cake, which is it, but I'd say it would be more commonly known as a shortbread. The Italians don't cut the biscuit into shapes, they just break it off in pieces, but I decided to cut before baking using a pizza cutter. I like that you don't even need a bowl for this recipe, just work straight off your kitchen counter.

4 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 c sugar
finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1/4 c vermouth or...
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Baci di dama (lady's kisses)

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, In : cookies 

Oh so cute! These little Italian kisses can be made with hazelnuts or almonds. You can fill with plain melted chocolate or chocolate ganache (chocolate mixed with coconut cream). This is from Biscuit by Miranda Gore Browne (Ebury Publishing, 2012).

Makes about 25 sandwiched biscuits
75g ground almonds
50g whole almonds, toasted
125g caster sugar
125g butter, softened and chopped (or non-dairy spread)
125g flour (I used spelt)
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt
200g dark chocolate

Preheat oven to 180C. Li...
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Lemon bliss balls

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, May 4, 2019, In : sweets 

Sometimes I get bored of chocolate truffles so I made lemon ones for a change. I used a mixture of almond, hazelnut and brazil nut meal - you whatever you have around.

Makes around 20

1 3/4 c desiccated coconut
1 c almond meal (or any nut meal)
juice and zest of a lemon
pinch salt
1 tsp vaniila extract
1/3 c coconut oil, melted
1/3 c honey

1/4 c desiccated coconut for rolling

Blend all ingredients in a food processor (except last measure of coconut) until fully combined and sticky. Roll into...


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Caraway breadsticks

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, May 2, 2019, In : bread 

It's fun to make your breadsticks and they don't take very long as you don't need to wait for the dough to rise. Instead of caraway you can use poppy or sesame seeds.

Makes 20
2/3 c warm water
1/2 tsp dried yeast
pinch sugar
2 c flour (I used spelt)
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp caraway seeds

Mix water, yeast and sugar in a cup. Leave for 10 min until bubbles appear.

Mix flour, salt and seeds in a bowl. Make a well in the centre and pour in yeast mixture. Mix until a soft dough forms.

Preheat oven to 2...


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Lime and poppy seed drizzle cake

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, In : big cakes 

I was lucky to receive a bag of limes so I put them to good use in this tangy cake. Of course you can use lemons or oranges instead. You can make the cake with or without the syrup and with or without the icing, or just by itself - all options work just fine!

Wet ingredients:
200ml non-dairy milk (I used rice)
1/4 c coconut oil, melted
1/2 c natural sweetener (I used maple and rice syrup)
4 tbsp lime juice, about 1/4 c
2 tbsp lime zest
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt

Dry ingredients:
1 1/4 c...


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Hazelnut thins

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, April 28, 2019, In : cookies 

This is a sophisticated biscuit for grown-ups. The thins are lovely as they are but you can take it to the next level by sandwiching them with a hazelnut chocolate ganache! This is from Biscuit by Miranda Gore Browne (Ebury Press, 2012).

Makes 32 singles or 16 sandwich cookies
110g butter or non-dairy spread, softened
55g soft brown sugar
170g flour (I used wholemeal and white spelt)
120g hazelnuts, toasted and ground

Chocolate hazelnut ganache
150ml coconut cream
150g dark chocolate, broken into pie...
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Crumpets

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, April 25, 2019, In : bread 

I never knew crumpets were so easy! Allow an hour or so for proving and they do take a few minutes to cook, so set a timer and go and do something else while the bubbles rise.

Makes 8-10
2 tsp dried yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/2 c non-dairy milk
1/2 c water
1 3/4 c flour (I used a mix of white and wholemeal spelt)
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 c lukewarm water

9 or 10cm egg/crumpet rings

Heat milk and water in a cup until lukewarm. Add yeast and sugar and mix. Leave for 10 minutes until frothy....


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Chocolate banana cake

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, In : big cakes 

When you want a chocolate and banana hit - have both in your cake!

2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 tbsp cocoa
3/4 c rice syrup
2 tbsp molasses
2 eggs OR 2 flaxseed eggs (4 tbsp flaxseed mixed with 8 tbsp water)
1/4 c non-dairy milk
1/4 c vegetable oil
2 ripe bananas, mashed

For the icing:
125g dark chocolate
1 c coconut cream

50g white chocolate
1/4 c coconut cream

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a loaf tin or 20 round cake tin with baking paper.
Sift flour, baking powder and cocoa in a large bowl.
In another bowl...
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Vegan hot cross buns

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, April 14, 2019, In : bread 


My first attempt at hot cross buns turned out pretty well!

Dough:
2 1/2 tsp dried yeast
1/2 c warm water
1 tsp sugar
3/4 c non-dairy milk, lukewarm
1/3 c vegetable oil
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 c unrefined sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp lemon zest
1 tbsp orange zest
3 1/2 - 4 c flour
1/2 c raisins
1/4 c currants 

Glaze:
1 tbsp sugar mix with
1 tbsp boiling water
OR
2 tbsp jam, heated, then sieved to remove any lumps

Icing:
1/2 c icing sugar
2 1/2 tsp non-dairy milk
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

In a larg...


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Sesame seed bread

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, April 14, 2019, In : bread 


Yum yum - wholemeal buns with a hint of sesame. This is a good-looking loaf!

2 tsp dried yeast
1 1/2 c lukewarm water
1 1/2 c white flour
1 1/2 c wholemeal flour
2 tsp salt
1/2 c toasted sesame seeds
non-dairy milk for glazing
2 tbsp sesame seeds for sprinkling

Combine yeast and half the water in a small bowl and leave to become frothy. In a large bowl combine the flours and salt. Make a well in the centre and pour in the yeast mixture and remaining water. Stir with a wooden spoon and once incorporate...
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Vegan vanilla cupcakes with chocolate ganache

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, In : small cakes 

Mini cupcakes are ideal to make for a small gathering of people - you can have one or two and not feel like a glutton! I'm taking these to Boomerang Bags Dominion Rd tonight for our regular sewing bee - making free resuable cloth bags for shoppers.

Makes 40 mini cupcakes or 12 large cupcakes

3/4 c non-dairy milk
2 tsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
1 3/4 c flour (I used spelt)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 c melted coconut oil
1/3 c non-dairy yoghurt (or milk)
3/4 c unrefined sugar...


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Vegan beet brownies with salted caramel frosting

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, April 7, 2019, In : slices 

These chocolate brownies taste so decadent but they are in fact free from refined sugar, gluten and dairy PLUS fully loaded with folic acid, manganese and potassium from the beetroot.

2 tbsp ground flaxseed
6 tbsp water
2 beetroot, cooked or grated raw
1 1/4 c coconut milk or cream
1 tbsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 1/2 c flour (I used a spelt mix but you can use ground almonds, oat flour or other GF flours)
3/4 c unrefined sugar 
3/4 c cocoa
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp s...


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Fully loaded chocolate chunk cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, March 29, 2019, In : cookies 

These cookies are pretty serious about themselves and they are seriously good cookies!

Makes 24 cookies

185g butter or non-dairy spread
3/4 c coconut sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 c flour (I used white and wholemeal spelt)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c activated buckwheat groats
1/2 c cranberries
1/2 c chopped hazelnuts
1 c dark chocolate chips or chunks

Preheat oven to 180V. Line 2 bnaking trays with baking paper.

In a large bowl cream the non-dairy spread/butter and sugar until ...


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Vegan gingerbread

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, March 11, 2019, In : small cakes 

The hankering for gingerbread came late on a Sunday night. I'm sure I dreamt about them. So I knew what I had to do on Monday morning...

2 tbsp ground flaxseed
115 g butter or non-dairy spread
1/2 c unrefined sugar (I used panela)
1/2 c molasses
1 1/2 c flour (I used wholemeal spelt)
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
up to 1 c boiling water

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 20cm square tin with baking paper.

In a small cup mix the...


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Vegan cheezy crackers

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, March 9, 2019, In : savoury 

These are nice and cheesy without the cheese!

1 c flour (I used oat)
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp black sesame seeds, optional
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp coconut oil or vegan butter
1 tsp lemon juice
5-6 tbsp cold water, as needed

Preheat oven to 180C. 

In a medium bowl mix all the dry ingredients together. Add the oils and juice and mix with a fork. Add enough cold water to form a dough.

Roll dough in betwe...


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Prune muffins

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, February 28, 2019, In : small cakes 

How I do love prunes, and they add such sweetness and moistness to cakes and muffins. Keeps you regular too!

1 egg
1 c milk (I used rice)
1/4 c vegetable oil (I used rice bran)
1/4 c honey or brown rice syrup
2 tbsp panela or coconut sugar
2 c flour (I used wholemeal spelt)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 c prunes, diced

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with muffin cases

In a small bowl mix egg, milk, oil, sweetener and sugar.

In a large bowl sift in flou...


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Sesame nori crackers

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, February 23, 2019, In : savoury 

I just don't have enough black sesame seeds in my life! This recipe only uses a tablespoon but it really adds to the flavour. It's from Superfood Energy Balls & Bites by Nicola Graimes (Ryland Peters & Small, 2018). You can use other flours if you don't have buckwheat on hand but buckwheat is particularly high in protein and fibre.

Makes 12 crackers
1/3 c white sesame seeds
1/2 c buckwheat flour (I made mine by grinding buckwheat groats in a coffee grinder)
1 tbsp sea salt
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbs...


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Healthy popcorn balls

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, February 21, 2019, In : sweets 

What to make for the school picnic? Something bite size, sweet and healthy - who doesn't love popcorn?

Makes 20 balls

1/4 c popcorn kernels
1/4 c tahini or nut butter
1/2 c rice syrup or honey
1 tbsp coconut oil
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp sesame seeds
3 tbsp desiccated coconut

Pop the corn (on stove top or microwave) and put in a large bowl; discard kernels that haven't popped.

In a small saucepan melt the tahini, rice syrup and coconut oil. Let bubble vigorously for a few minutes, remove from hea...


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Vegan gingernuts

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, In : cookies 

I've made a few gingernuts in my time but I wanted to use molasses in these ones to add a depth of flavour. I also think to get the best crispiness in a biscuit you need to cream your butter and sugar first. Vegan butter and unrefined sugar work just as well as your bog-standard alternative, and are much healthier of course.

Makes 24
60g dairy-free spread (I used Olivani)
3/4 c coconut or brown sugar
1/4 c molasses
1/2 tsp vanilla extract, optional
2 c flour (I used spelt)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking...


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Vegan chocolate cranberry muffins

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, In : small cakes 

No eggs - no worries! You can still whip up a batch of yummy muffins, and make them sugar-free and gluten-free too. I got these done in less than an hour and took them to a Connect the Dots art appreciation event. This charity connects and engages older people and people living with dementia in art tours and workshops in galleries around Auckland. I help out at Pah Homestead, such a lovely venue.

4 tbsp flaxmeal (ground flaxseed)
10 tbsp filtered water
1/4 c maple syrup
3/4 c rice syrup
1/4 c coco...
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Beetroot carrot crackers

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, February 16, 2019, In : savoury 

These raw crackers are pretty tasty. Great by themselves or with dips and spreads. It's from The Unbakery by Megan May (Beatnik, 2014). You'll need a dehydrator - the crispier the better.

1 cup sunflower seeds, soaked 4-6 hours
1 cup sunflower seeds, soaked 4-6 hours
1 cup flaxseed, ground (I use a coffee grinder)
1/4 c flaxseed
1 beetroot, grated
1 carrot, grated
1 red onion, finely chopped
3/4 c filtered water
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp rosemary or thyme, choppe...
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Vegan banana bread

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, February 16, 2019, In : big cakes 


An easy peasy loaf for very ripe bananas. Great with a slathering of butter/non-dairy spread/honey/nut butter.

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 c coconut oil, softened or 100g dairy-free spread
1/2 c rice malt syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 c flour (I used a mix of buckwheat and wholemeal spelt)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
dairy-free milk if required

Preheat oven to 170C. Line a loaf tin with baking paper.
In a large bowl whisk the oil/dairy-free spread with rice syru...

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Amaretti

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, January 25, 2019, In : cookies 

Crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle - the perfect amaretti. To get the crispiness you need to use granulated sugar. You could use coconut sugar for a darker colour, or at least use organic. And to get that lovely crackle look, roll in icing sugar before baking.

Makes 32
3 egg whites or aquafaba from a can of drained chickpeas
2 1/2 c ground almonds
1 c sugar (if I have to use granulated sugar I use organic golden sugar from Ceres)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
20ml a...


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Caramel slice - version 4

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, January 25, 2019, In : slices 

Here's another version of a raw caramel slice. I've tweaked the ingredients to make it simpler. If you're not averse to peanuts, peanut butter makes a very good caramel base. The prunes add a lovely sweetness to the base.

Base:
1/2 c pitted dates
1/3 c prunes, optional
1 c almonds (toasted if you like)
1 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
pinch sea salt

Caramel:
1/2 c pitted dates (or date syrup)
1/2 c maple syrup
1/3 c peanut butter (I prefer smooth)
1/4 c coconut oil

Topping:
1/4 c cacao powder
1/4 c coconut oil, so...


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Strawberry coconut bounty bars

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, December 28, 2018, In : sweets 

Would you believe our oven broke down two days before Xmas! I couldn't bake any cakes so a good excuse to make raw treats. I updated my usual bounty bars with strawberry chia jam. Thanks to Little Bird Goodness by Megan May (Penguin, 2017) for the inspiration. The jam is so versatile - it can be used to jazz up muffins, granola, ice cream and swirl it into these bounty bars to make a healthy 'cherry ripe'.

Berry jam:
1/4 c ground chia seeds
1/4 c filtered water
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp honey
1 tsp...
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Rocky road

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, December 19, 2018, In : sweets 

Quick and easy rocky road to give to the teachers this year, and for random visitors to our house this festive season.
1 c cacao butter
1 c cacao or cocoa powder
1/4 c maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt
1/2 c cranberries
1/2 c toasted hazelnuts
1/2 c mini marshmallows

Line a loaf tin with baking paper.
Melt the cacao butter in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan with 2-3 cm water. Heat on a low-medium heat until melted.
Take off the heat and stir in the maple syrup, cacao powder, vanilla, sal...
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Vegan neapolitan ice cream

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, December 17, 2018, In : desserts 


This is my go-to recipe for dairy-free ice cream. I went all out and made three kinds for neaopolitan thrills.

Vanilla ice cream:
2 cans coconut cream
1 tsp vanilla extract (use vanilla bean paste for extra yummy flavour and looks)
1/4 c maple or rice syrup
pinch salt

Blitz all the ingredients in a blender then transfer to an ice cream maker and churn for 10-15 min. Pour into a litre container and freeze. If you don't have an ice cream maker you can just freeze for a couple of hours then blitz agai...

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Banoffee chia pudding

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, December 10, 2018, In : desserts 

Banoffee is usually a mix of bananas, cream and toffee but this one is banana, coconut cream and coffee - brilliant! It's a super easy pudding/mousse/parfait that can be indulged in any time of day. In the morning top it with yoghurt and granola or for dessert add whipped coconut cream and nuts. The recipe is from Kings Plant Barn.

Makes 8 servings
1 can coconut cream
2 c cooled espresso coffee (if making for kids, use a non-dairy milk)
1 c ground chia seeds (I like mine ground, for a smoother pu...
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Vegan chocolate muffins

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, December 7, 2018, In : small cakes 


A good, basic muffin that you can jazz up with icing and sprinkles for the kiddies. Ok, they look like cupcakes now but you don't have to cream the butter and sugar in this recipe.

1 1/2 c flour (I used wholemeal spelt, you can use oat flour or almond flour for other gf options)
1 c cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c water, plus up to 1/4 c
1/2 c non-dairy milk
1/4 c coconut or rapadura sugar
1/4 c maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c coconut oil, melted

Icing:
1/2 c dairy-free butte...


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Vegan chocolate biscotti

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, In : cookies 

1/4 c ground chia seeds
1 c hot water
1/2 c coconut sugar or raw sugar
1/4 c brown rice syrup or maple syrup
1/2 c olive oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
2 c flour (I use spelt)
3/4 c cocoa or cacao powder
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 c desiccated coconut
100g dark chocolate for dipping

Preheat oven to 160C. Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper.

Put chia seeds and hot water in a blender and let soak for 5 minutes. Add sweeteners, oil, vanilla and salt and blitz until smooth.

Sift flour, cacao...


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Healthy chocolate cereal

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, November 8, 2018, In : sweets 

When the 6-year-old won't eat porridge or muesli it's time to make cereal a bit more appealing. Homemade cacao puffs are simple to make and you can swap out with any puffed grain or activated buckwheat groats.

4 cups puffed spelt (or wheat, rice, amaranth puffs)
1/4 c coconut oil
1/4 c maple syrup or brown rice syrup
1/4 c cacao powder

Preheat oven to 170C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Put the puffs in a large bowl.

In a small bowl heat or microwave the oil until melted. Stir in...


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Chocolate chip cranberry cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, November 2, 2018, In : cookies 

Only 4 basic ingredients in these cookies! Inspired by Wholefood Simply, you can swap out nut butters, sweeteners and flour and add spices or dried fruit if you like too.

Makes 16-20
4 tbsp almond butter (or peanut butter or cashew butter)
3 tbsp brown rice syrup (or maple syrup or honey)
1 1/4c almond meal
1/4 c dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa)
1/4 c cranberries (this is my favourite combo to give the cookie some tartness)

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a ba...


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Witch fingers

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, October 30, 2018, In : cookies 

Happy halloween! I was determined to make something vaguely healthy for the school's Freaky Friday bake sale and for the trick or treaters. This is free of sugar, gluten and dairy. You can also make it paleo by using almond meal instead of flour.

Makes 16
1/2 c coconut oil, softened to the consistency of butter
1/3 c maple syrup (or rice syrup)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
pinch salt
1 1/4 c flour (I use spelt)
16 blanched almonds
black food colouring (if desired)

Strawberry...


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Seed crackers

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, October 26, 2018, In : savoury 

Crunchy salty goodness!

Makes 80-100 small crackers

1/2 c pumpkin seeds
1/2 c sunflower seeds
1/2 c sesame seeds
1/4 c black sesame seeds
2 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp poppy seeds
2 c flour (I used rye and spelt)
2 tsp cumin seeds, toasted and crushed
1 tsp coriander seeds, toasted and crushed
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 c olive oil
3/4 c cold water

Grind pumpkin and sunflower seeds in a coffee grinder or food processor until crumbly. Add to a bowl and mix in all the other ingredients by hand o...


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Chocolate yoyos

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, October 15, 2018, In : cookies 

Y is for yoyos! Those classic filled shortbread cookies with a chocolate twist, aka melting moments. It is easy to make them vegan, as I have done.

Makes 40
250g non-dairy spread, or butter
100g coconut sugar or cane sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
200g flour (I used a gluten-free mix)
1/2 tsp guar or xanthan gum (if you're using g-f flour)
65g cornflour
40g cocoa powder

Buttercream filling:
50g non-dairy spread or butter
85g icing sugar
few drops of lemon juice

Ganache filling:
1/2 c coconut cream
50g dark cho...
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Xmas cake

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, October 1, 2018, In : big cakes 

X is for Xmas cake - with only 3 ingredients! This is an Annabel Langbein recipe, which I have made before. It's no. 24 of 26 alphabetical bakes.

1kg dried fruit (I used prunes, apricots, raisins, cranberries, banana)
2 1/2 c milk (I used rice)
2 3/4 c flour (I used spelt)

Extras - you can add a couple tbsp brandy/rum/sherry, some chopped nuts or spices (eg cinnamon, nutmeg) if you like

In a large bowl soak the fruit in the milk overnight.

Preheat the oven to 160C. Line a 23cm cake tin ...


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Vegan vanilla ice cream

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, In : desserts 

V is for vegan vanilla ice cream with vegan chocolate sauce. No. 22 of 26 alphabetical bakes! OK, not technically a 'bake' but a recipe well worth trying.

Ice cream:
2 cans coconut cream or milk
1/2 c brown rice syrup
1 tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla paste with seeds or seeds from 1 vanilla pod
pinch salt

Chocolate sauce:
1/2 c water 
1/2 c cacao or cocoa powder
2 tbsp cacao butter
pinch sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the ice cream, put all ingredients in a blender and whiz. Churn in an ice cream...


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Vegan tiramisu

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, August 26, 2018, In : desserts 

My rustic vegan tiramisu was inspired by itdoesn'ttastelikechicken.com. Great name, great recipe! It's no. 20 of 26 alphabetical bakes!

Sponge cake:

1 3/4 flour (I used spelt)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 c unrefined sugar
1/4 c brown rice syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
100ml vegetable oil
150ml cold filtered water

Espresso syrup:

4 shots espresso coffee
2 tbsp liqueur of choice
water

Cream:

1 c cashews, soaked overnight or for at least 30 min in boiling water
1/2 c non-dairy milk
3 tbsp liquid natural...


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Vegan salted caramel chocolates

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, August 13, 2018, In : sweets 

S is for salted caramels - no. 19 of 26 alphabetical bakes! I was pretty pleased with how these turned out. You CAN make caramels without cream, and I used unrefined sugars too. 

Makes 36-40 

400ml can coconut milk or cream
1/2 c rice syrup
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp sea salt
1 3/4 c coconut sugar (or rapadura)
3/4 c water
450g dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa, dairy free)
digital sugar thermometer

Line a 20cm x 20cm square tin with baking paper.

In a small saucepan heat the coconut cream, r...


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Vegan rainbow cupcakes

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, August 12, 2018, In : small cakes 

After making the indulgent rainbow cake with cream cheese icing for our daughter's 6th birthday I wanted to see if I could make a healthier version. It may take a bit of time colouring 6 bowls of batter and layering them in the patty tins but the result is worth it - and makes the lunchbox extra special!

Makes 12 cupcakes
1 cup milk (I used rice)
1 tbsp lemon juice
zest of 1 lemon
1/3 c olive oil
1 cup natural sweetener (I used rice syrup with a little bit of date syrup)
2 c flour (I used a...


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Quinoa carrot breakfast cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, August 2, 2018, In : cookies 


Cooking 1 cup of quinoa 'seeds' yields a lot of quinoa! Enough to make 2 different batches of sweet cookies. These full-o-goodness chunky breakfast cookies are adapted from Healthful Pursuit. It's a bonus bake in my list of 26 alphabetical bakes!

Makes 18 cookies
1 1/2 c cooked quinoa
1 c flour (I used oat)
1/2 c ground flaxseed
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
pinch salt
1/2 c liquid natural sweetener (I used rice syrup and a bit of date syrup. Maple syrup is also g...


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Orange cake

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, July 1, 2018, In : big cakes 

A tangy, moist cake for no. 15 of 26 alphabetical bakes!


2 oranges or tangelos
1 1/2 c pitted dates, soaked in water while the oranges cook
6 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 15 tbsp water
1 c ground almonds
1/2 c fine polenta
1 tsp baking powder

Icing:
3/4 c cashews, soaked overnight or for 30 min in boiling water
3 tbsp brown rice syrup or maple syrup
1 tbsp orange zest
3 tbsp orange juice
1 tsp orange extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp melted coconut oil

Put oranges in a small saucepan, cove...


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Nut brittle

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, In : sweets 

Buckwheat groats and puffed rice add more goodness to this healthy nut brittle. If nuts aren't your thing you can replace them with sunflower and pumpkin seeds. This is no. 14 of 26 alphabetical bakes!

1/2 c buckwheat groats
1/2 c puffed rice
1/2 c almonds, slivered or roughly chopped (you can use any nuts you like)
1/4 c cashews
pinch sea salt
4 tsp coconut oil
1/2 c maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Warm ...


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Minty bites

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, In : sweets 

These are rather like after dinner mints, but you won't feel guilty having one, two, or more... It's no. 13 of 26 alphabetical bakes!

Makes 36

3 x 12 mini muffin tins
1 c desiccated coconut
1 c cashews
2 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp coconut oil, warmed

chocolate coating:
1 c cacao butter
3-4 tbsp maple syrup or brown rice syrup
1 c cacao powder
pinch salt

Blitz the coconut and cashews in a food processor until crumbly. Add the peppermint, honey and coconut oil and mix until fu...


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Graham crackers

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, In : cookies 

Fran Costigan makes a mean oat cinnamon graham cracker, as they call them in the US - very similar to these digestives, which is what we call them in NZ, Australia and the UK. For me, the key is the thinner the better, and coconut sugar adds a lovely caramely crunchiness.

To make ginger snaps, just swap out the cinnamon for ground ginger.

Makes around 30 biscuits

1 1/2 c oat flour, toasted in a 175C oven for 10 min
1/4 c ground coconut sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp se...


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Lunchbox slice

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, June 16, 2018, In : slices 

This is another great recipe from Wholefood Simply to which I zhujed up with a chocolate marble topping to increase the appeal to a 6 year old. You can swap out seeds for nuts or tahini for another nut butter. I have not met anyone yet who did not like this slice! This is no.12 of 26 alphabetical bakes!

1 c desiccated coconut
1/3 c sunflower seeds
1/3 c pumpkin seeds
1/3 c sesame seeds
pinch of salt
1/2 c brown rice syrup or honey
1/2 c tahini
1/3 c dark chocolate drops if desired or add som...


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Key lime pie

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, June 15, 2018, In : desserts 

This super healthy cheesecake uses an oat crust and tofu-based filling. I found the oat graham cracker recipe from Fran Costigan and it makes a delicious cinnamony crunchy pie crust and the vegan pie filling is from The Gentle Chef. It's no. 11 of 26 alphabetical bakes!

Base:
1 1/2 c oat flour, toasted (I ground organic jumbo oats in a coffee grinder)
6 tbsp coconut sugar, finely ground
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 c neutral oil
2 tbsp maple syrup or brown rice s...


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Jaffa cakes

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, June 11, 2018, In : small cakes 

I do love the combination of chocolate and orange. These healthy jaffa cakes from Nadia's Healthy Kitchen
don't last long but they're worth the effort. The chocolate coating can get a bit messy but that's all part of the fun.

Makes 12

Base:
1/2 c flour (I use spelt)
1/3 c ground almonds
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
3 tbsp brown rice syrup (or maple syrup)
up to 4 tbsp milk

Orange jelly:
1/2 c orange juice
zest of 1 orange
1 tbsp rice syrup
1 tsp agar powder
20cm round cake/sp...
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Vegan hazelnut meringue torte with coffee buttercream

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, In : desserts 

I was at the Dunedin Farmers Market recently and splashed out on roasted hazelnuts from Amazelnuts, grown in Mosgiel. Fortuitous timing, as I was looking for an 'H' ingredient. This is no. 8. of 26 alphabetical bakes.
Aquafaba, the liquid from a drained can of chickpeas. makes a great meringue if you want to avoid egg whites - just don't open the door while cooking! I did, and in that brief moment the cold air took the lift out of my meringue sails. My meringues may not have risen but fear not...
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Vegan ginger crunch

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, June 3, 2018, In : slices 

I've made plenty of ginger crunch and perfected this recipe here. But I challenged myself to make a vegan, gluten free and sugar version and this is it!

Base:
1 1/4 c flour (I used spelt)
1/3 c activated buckwheat groats (aka buckinis)
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 c ground coconut sugar
1/2 c olive oil

Topping:
4 tbsp coconut oil
3 tbsp honey (or golden syrup if you don't mind refined sugar)
4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c chopped pistachios (optional)

Preheat oven ...


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Granola bars

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, In : slices 

Twice baked oats and activated buckwheat groats make for a supercrunchy granola bar. The cranberries add a lovely tang to round out the sweetness.

4 c rolled oats
1 c activated buckwheat
100g coconut oil, melted
2/3 c honey
1/3 c apple juice
1/4 c treacle or molasses
1/2 c cranberries
1 c puffed rice

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Line a 30cm x 20cm brownie/swiss roll tin with baking paper.
Mix oats, buckwheat and oil in a bowl until evenly coated. Lay out on the baking tra...
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Forgotten cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, May 10, 2018, In : cookies 

Forgotten cookies are actually super easy meringues - you just leave in a turned-off oven overnight and they should be crisp by the morning. Mine weren't unfortunately, I think I preheated the oven too low. If this happens you can just bake at 60-70C for an hour or so until meringues are dried or put in a dehydrator. The recipe is adapted from Healthy Food Guide. You can leave plain or flavour with mint and strawberry. It's my no. 6 of 26 alphabetical bakes!

Makes 20-15
2 egg whites, r...


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Cranberry pistachio biscotti

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, In : cookies 

No. 3 of 26 alphabetical bakes! Very easy to mix and bake and experiment with different flours and sugars. I stuck to spelt and caster sugar this time as I wanted the berry and nut colours to come through.

1/4 c olive oil
3/4 c caster sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond essence
2 eggs
2 c flour (I use spelt)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 c cranberries
1/2 - 1 c pistachios

Preheat oven to 150C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

In a bowl whisk the oil and sugar until well comb...


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Bakewell tarts

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, April 26, 2018, In : small cakes 

No. 2 of 26 alphabetical bakes! I've never considered making bakewell tarts before as they look rather time-consuming - there's pastry, blind baking, frangipane, and more baking. But it was a good experiment in veganising a classic. I used coconut sugar, hence the deep brown colour, far more rustic-looking than the ones from Lazy Cat Kitchen from which I borrowed the recipe. The traditional bakewell has strawberry jam between the pastry and filling and is covered with white icing; I did the c...
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Anzac biscuits 2018

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, In : cookies 

Can't help making Anzac biscuits on Anzac Day. This is the third version to appear on Bake Club. I'm aiming for less and less ingredients each year. This one is all done in the food processor. Takes less than a minute to mix and less than 10 min to bake. You'll be dunking in no time.
This is no.1 of 26 alphabetical bakes! I'm setting myself a challenge to bake something for every letter of the alphabet.

1 c rolled oats
3/4 c desiccated coconut
1/2 c chopped almonds
2 1/2 tbsp honey
2 1/2 tbsp olive...
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Quick chocolate hearts

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, April 13, 2018, In : sweets 

There are a few recipes for homemade chocolate on Bake Club. I've experimented and tweaked amounts many times and have found this one works best for me if I want to make hard chocolate as it's easy to remember and measure. You can use any size moulds you like. I wanted generous servings filled with a nut/fruit mix so I used heart-shaped silicon muffin moulds. The servings weigh around 40-50g each. The good thing about chocolate is that if you make any surplus to needs you can just store in an...
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Berry pinwheel cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, In : cookies 

These make a nice change from the usual chocolate/vanilla pinwheels. It was a special request from the 5-year-old. I used raspberry powder as that's what I had in the pantry, but any berry flavour will work well - strawberry, cherry, blueberry.

250g butter or vegan butter
1 c caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3-4 c flour (I used spelt)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp raspberry/strawberry Fresh As powder
few drops red food colouring or beetroot juice

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla until pale a...


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Almond polenta cake

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, March 26, 2018, In : big cakes 

I enjoy baking for my vegan gluten-free friends, as it makes you think outside the square and experiment with different ingredients. This recipe is adapted from Cilantro and Citronella. 

1 c almond meal
1 c polenta
3/4 c coconut sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 c aquafaba (liquid from can of drained chickpeas), chilled in fridge
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp neutral oil
zest of 1 lemon

Lemon icing:
1 c non-dairy butter (I used Olivani)
2 c icing sugar
juice half lemon

flaked almonds ...


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Raw mini lamingtons

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, March 22, 2018, In : sweets 

Did you know the lamington was invented in New Zealand not Australia?! They first appeared in art in New Zealander J R Smythe's still life 'Summer Pantry' in 1888, featuring inside a cottage with a view of Wellington Harbour. They were known as Wellingtons - soft sponge covered in chocolate and coconut to resemble the snow-capped mountains of NZ.
However, Australians have claimed the cake as their own, named after Lord Lamington, governor of Queensland, who visited NZ in 1895, and was ...


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Blueberry & lemon cheesecake

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, March 22, 2018, In : desserts 

This is the third raw cheesecake to appear on Bake Club. It's always good to experiment with these things. I made a double recipe to fit a 25cm round cake tin, one of the three cakes I made for my birthday party. I only throw a party once a decade. so I'm happy to make the effort to cater for a whole bunch of diets. I have a few vegan gluten-free friends so I decided to make all the cakes free of gluten, dairy and sugar.

This recipe is adapted from Raw Cake by Daisy Kristiansen and Le...


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Puffed rice crispie bars

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, In : slices 

Quick and easy party food/lunchbox fillers.
Makes 24 squares
1/2 c tahini
1/3 c sweetener such as rice syrup, coconut nectar, maple or honey
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
4 c brown puffed rice crispies (you can also used puffed millet)
1/2 c activated buckwheat, optional

Line a brownie tin or 20x20cm cake tin with baking paper.
In a large bowl mix the puffed rice and buckwheat. Melt the rest of the ingredients in a small saucepan. Pour over the puffed rice and mix quickly to coat every grain. P...
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Raw fudge

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, In : sweets 

This raw chocolate fudge is soooo silky smooth and takes 2 minutes to make!
1/2 c coconut oil
1/2 c almond butter (you could also use cashew, tahini or peanut)
1/2 c cacao powder
1/4 c sweetener such as rice syrup, maple or honey
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt

Line a small cake tin, loaf tin or plastic container with baking paper or plastic wrap. The container I used was 13 x 20cm.
Melt the coconut oil over a low heat or in a bain marie. Pour into a bowl with all the other ingredients and mix w...
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Sourdough sesame crackers

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, In : savoury 

Keeping a sourdough starter in the fridge takes the pressure off having to bake every few days. I fed mine then kept in the fridge for a week before I scooped out a cup for this recipe, found on the King Arthur Flour website. Take the starter out 24 hours before using to let it warm to room temperature. 

1 c sourdough starter or discarded starter
1 1/2 c flour (I used spelt and buckwheat)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c vegan butter or butter
2 tbsp sesame seeds (white or black)
2 tbsp dried herbs of c...


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Black bean brownies

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, March 1, 2018, In : slices 


This is the third version of black bean brownies that have appeared on Bake Club. The other two were vegan; this one uses eggs - but you can substitute with 2 tbsp of ground flaxseed mixed with 6 tbsp water if you wish. Such a quick recipe - blitz in the blender and you're done!

8 pitted dates, soaked in 1/2 c boiling water for 10 min
1 can black beans, drained
2 eggs
1/4 c coconut oil
1/3 c rice syrup
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 c flour (I used ground almonds, you can use oat flour or any ...


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Raw afghans

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, In : cookies 


A wholesome chocolatey hit.

1 c dates, soaked in boiling water for 10 minutes
1 c sunflower seeds
1 c nuts or activated buckwheat
2 tbsp ground chia seeds
1 tbsp psyllium
1/2 c cacao powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c cacao butter, melted

Icing:
1/4 c cacao butter, melted
1/3 c cacao powder
1/3 c rice syrup (or maple syrup)

Whole walnuts, pecans or almonds for decoration

Blitz the seeds and nuts in a food processor until crumbly. You can leave chunks in there if you w...


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Homemade vegemite

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, February 25, 2018, In : savoury 

A eureka moment - make your own vegemite from scratch!
Blitz in a nutribullet or hand-mix 1/2 c ground black sesame seeds (I use a coffee grinder), 4 tbsp tamari, 3 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 tsp apple cider vinegar to taste. You can also cheat by using store-bought black tahini. Couldn't be easier. The salty rich taste is perfect for toast, crackers, pasta, soup. Dense with vitamin B, copper, magnesium, manganese, iron and phosphorus.
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Sourdough apricot loaf

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, February 25, 2018, In : bread 

I do love a tangy apricot loaf. My sourdough starter 'discards' provided the tang in this recipe and the oats add a little more fibre. It's a cross between bread and a cake.
2 c flour (I used spelt)
1/2 cut oats (use whole or ground, as you wish)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c rice syrup
1/2 c coconut oil
2 eggs
juice and zest of 1 orange
1 c sourdough starter or discarded starter
1 c chopped apricots
1-2 tbsp flour for coating
oats for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a lo...
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Sourdough bread

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, In : bread 

I was very kindly given a gluten free sourdough starter this week. I fed it for a few days then made this loaf using spelt flour, although it's easy to replace with a mix of brown rice, buckwheat and tapioca flour if you want to be totally gluten free. This recipe is adapted from Homegrown Kitchen.
To keep your starter going, reserve at least 1/4 c starter after taking out 1 c to use. Mix 1/4 c flour and 1/4 c water to your starter every 12 hours. Store in a glass jar with a tight lid. If you...
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Ginger and pistachio cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, February 15, 2018, In : cookies 

A little bit spicy and a little bit nutty! Just what you need for your afternoon dunk. This is a variation on my very easy vegan digestives. You can experiment with any nut or seed flours, add zest or other spices. Go crazy.

1/2 c sunflower seeds, ground in a coffee grinder
1 c flour (I used spelt)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 c chopped pistachios
1/2 c coconut sugar, ground in a coffee grinder
1/4 c coconut oil
5-8 tbsp non-dairy milk

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a ...


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Vegan chocolate ganache cake

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, February 10, 2018, In : big cakes 

A deep, rich cake perfect for special occasions. No one will even tell it's vegan, gluten free and refined sugar free.

1 1/2 c non-dairy milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 c flour (I've used spelt and buckwheat on different occasions and both worked fine)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2/3 c cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2/3 c rice syrup
1/2 c sunflower or rice bran oil
grated zest of 1 orange or lemon
4 tbsp jam (I use sugar-free St Dalfour)
juice of half orange or lemon

Gan...


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Ginger apple muffins

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, In : small cakes 

The apple really helps to keep these little cakes moist. Adapted from The Minimalist Baker.

2 Tbsp flaxseed meal + 5 Tbsp water
1 1/4 cup grated apple, skin on
1/2 cup organic ground coconut sugar
3 Tbsp molasses
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup oil (I used coconut)
1 1/2 c non-dairy milk
1 1/2 cups flour (I used spelt)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 170C. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with patty pans.
In a large bowl mix th...


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Double chocolate zucchini muffins

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, December 31, 2017, In : small cakes 

Our 5-year-old runs at the sight of zucchini but she scoffed these muffins - ha gotcha! No one could tell these cakes had vegetables in them, and vegan and gluten free to boot. Adapted from The Love & Lemons Cookbook by Jeanine Donofrio (Avery, 2016).

1 tbsp ground flaxseed
3 tbsp water
1 c non-dairy milk at room temperature (I used rice)
2 tsp lemon juice
2 c spelt flour
1/2 c cacao powder
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 c coconut oil, melted
2/3 c brown rice sy...

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Banoffee pie

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, December 26, 2017, In : desserts 

I scoured the net and came up with a mix-and-match raw vegan banoffee pie recipe. This is different from my other banoffee pie, which uses cashew cream.

For the base:
1/2 c almonds
1/2 c walnuts
1/3 c desiccated coconut
6 deglet noor dates (use medjool if you have them, I was just saving $)
1 tbsp rice malt syrup
1/2 tsp ground ginger

For the caramel:
10 medjool dates, pitted
1 c coconut cream or milk or other nondairy milk
2 heaped tbsp almond/cashew/peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt

2 banan...


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White chocolate Christmas bars

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, December 16, 2017, In : sweets 

Apparently white chocolate isn't technically traditional chocolate because it doesn't contain chocolate solids, ie cocoa/cacao powder, but homemade white chocolate is next-level goodness! You can use any dried fruit or nuts in this recipe, and pour into any shaped moulds. Pistachios and gojis are perfect for Christmastime.


1 c cacao butter...


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Cinnamon buns

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, December 14, 2017, In : bread 

These buns don't require rising time. An easy vegan recipe if you're that way inclined. Adapted from The Happy Herbivore by Lindsay S Nixon (BenBella Books, 2011).

3/4 c non-dairy milk (I used rice)
2 1/2 tsp dried yeast
3 c flour (I used organic spelt)
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 c coconut sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c vegetable oil
4 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp raisin if desired
For drizzling mix together:
3/4 c icing sugar
2 tbsp non-dairy milk

Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease a 20cm round spring-for...
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Chocolate sponge

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, In : big cakes 

Made with love for our wedding anniversary, 12.12. The keys to a light sponge are: no butter, separate the eggs and 50% cornflour.

3 eggs 
110g sugar (I used powdered coconut sugar)
60g flour (I used organic spelt)
60g cornflour
2 tbsp dutch cocoa
1 tsp baking powder

For the filling:
1 can coconut cream that's been refrigerated for at least 24 hours
1 tsp rice malt syrup
cut strawberries
strawberry jam if desired (I use a sugar-free brand, or make your own chia jam)

Line 2 sponge tins with baking paper a...
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Cinnamon swirl ice cream

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, December 11, 2017, In : desserts 

I usually make coconut cream-based ice cream but this one is made from cashews. Can be made with or without an ice cream maker. It's from Elizabeth Stein's Eating Purely (Skyhorse Publishing, 2015).

1 c raw cashews (soaked for 24 hours, drained and rinsed)
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 c non-dairy milk (I used homemade almond)
1/2 c coconut oil
1/4 c rice malt syrup
1/4 c maple syrup
1 c water
pinch sea salt

Cinnamon swirl:
3 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon

Blend all the ingredients except cinnamon swirl in...
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Plaited loaf

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, November 17, 2017, In : bread 

The crust came out a little dark, oops, but the inside is nice and fluffly. The last sweet buns I made needed kneading but not this recipe, so I wanted to compare the results.

250ml milk (I used rice)
50g butter or non-dairy spread
2 heaped tsp honey
500g spelt flour
2 tsp sea salt
12g dried yeast
1 egg, beaten

Scald the milk by heating it in a small saucepan with the butter and honey. Allow to cool so it is just warm.
Sift the flour and salt in a large bowl and sprinkle in the yeast. Make a well in t...
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Double chocolate chip cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, November 6, 2017, In : cookies 

160g butter or non-dairy spread (I used Olivani)
3/4 c coconut sugar or brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c oats, ground in a coffee grinder to make flour
2 c buckwheat flour
2 tbsp cacao powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 c dark chocolate chips or 150g dark chocolate cut into chunks

Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add in egg. Then mix in flours and dry ingredients. Lastly mix in the chocolate chips.

Wrap dough in cling film and chill in freezer for half...


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Trio of bliss balls - chocolate, strawberry, cookie dough

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, November 3, 2017, In : sweets 

It all started with our daughter wanting chocolate chip cookies. I decided to make healthy chocolate chip cookie bliss balls and found this easy recipe from Wholefood Simply. Then I decided to make my own recipes using different sweeteners, flavours and flours, but all still raw, whole, organic, sugar and gluten free.

Makes about 24
2 c rolled oats
1/3 c tahini
2 tbsp honey or rice syrup
2 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt
1/3 c dark chocolate chips
Blitz the oats in a ...
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Chocolate thins

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, October 27, 2017, In : cookies 

If you make anything heart-shaped with icing it's a guaranteed winner with the kids. This is a very basic but easy chocolate biscuit. The key is to chill the dough and roll out to an even 3mm thickness.

125 g chilled butter or non-dairy spread (I used Olivani this time and it worked well)
2/3 c coconut/brown/rapadura sugar (I used organic golden sugar that I put in a spice grinder first)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/4 c cornflour
1/2 c cacao or cocoa powder
1 1/2 c flour

Cream t...


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Chocolate and strawberry chia jam cups

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, In : sweets 

It's great to make your own chocolate and jam as you can control the sweetness and get your kids to get used to less sugary foods. Grown-ups will like these too, of course!

Make the jam first by blitzing in a blender 1 c strawberries or other berries, 2 tbsp water, 2 tbsp brown rice syrup and 2 tbsp chia seeds. Transfer to a small bowl and heat over medium heat until mixture starts to bubble. Cook for 3-5 minutes, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and c...


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Raspberry rose macarons

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, October 22, 2017, In : small cakes 

This is adapted from Crazy Vegan Kitchen, I've cut down on the sugar a bit. My first time making macarons with aquafaba. I know they're not perfect, they don't have macaron 'feet' and they're not completely smooth on top (I ground up almonds with the skins on), but they're good enough for me and they taste delicious. Our 5-year-old proclaimed it the best thing I've ever made!
Macarons take an age to make, you need to start the night before. It's a real process, and it makes you understand why ...
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Healthy Shrewsbury biscuits

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, October 19, 2017, In : cookies 

Shrewsburys, also known as Jammie Dodgers in England, are two shortbread-style biscuits with jam in the middle. I found this healthy version from Niomi Smart's Eat Smart (HarperCollins, 2016). The biscuits are not too sweet, however, they don't have a super crunch, as they use a liquid sweetener, not sugar. I would make these again a little thinner and maybe add some coconut sugar for crunch.
Makes 25
1 1/2 c ground almonds
2 c buckwheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cinna...
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Coconut almond macaroons

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, October 15, 2017, In : cookies 

Whenever I make hummus with canned chickpeas it's an excuse to make something with the aquafaba as well. It's a perfect vegan alternative to egg whites. I've been experimenting to make macaroons with the least amount of ingredients possible.

Makes about 16
1/2 c aquafaba
1 tsp cream or tartar or 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1/2 c brown rice syrup
1 1/2 c desiccated coconut
1 1/2 c ground almonds
150g dark/bittersweet chocolate

Preheat oven to 170C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
Simmer the aquafaba in a...
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Gingerbread with coconut icing

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, October 15, 2017, In : big cakes 

This is adapted from Emma Galloway's recipe from My Darling Lemon Thyme and her book A Year in My Real Food Kitchen. My coconut icing didn't work out as nice and white and smooth as hers, even after aaaaages whizzing the coconut in the blender. Well, I tried, and it's edible although probably not Instagram-worthy!
Emma likes to add crystallised ginger but I prefer a smooth gingery cake. My cakes tend to crack so I've baked it at a lower temperature and placed it in the lower third of the oven....
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Healthy caramels

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, October 12, 2017, In : sweets 

Mmmmmm - make your own caramels for a guilt-free sweet treat.

Makes 14-16
1 cup pitted dates (medjools are superior but you can use deglet noors too)
1 tbsp nut butter (peanut, almond or cashew work well)
1 tbsp coconut oil
pinch sea salt
For coating:
150 g unsweetened dark/bittersweet chocolate
or 1/2 c cocoa butter, 1/2 c cacao powder, 1/4 c rice syrup

Line a small tray or plate that you can fit in your freezer with baking paper.
If you are going raw, soak the dates in a bowl with a little bit of wa...
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Apricot and chocolate slice

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, September 7, 2017, In : slices 

It's always a pleasant distraction when a blog I subscribe to posts a new recipe. In the case of Eleanor Ozich's apricot and dark chocolate bumper bars my eyes and tastebuds were duly tantalised and I decided to make them the same day. Key words: apricot, chocolate, fudgy, no bake – and I had all the ingredients in the pantry.

1 c chopped dried apricots (I used organic sulphur-apricots hence they are not bright orange like non-organic ones)
2 c rolled oats
1 c desiccated or shredded c...


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Healthy afghans

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, August 31, 2017, In : cookies 

It's easy to substitute the ubiquitous refined ingredients for more wholesome options that make equally yummy and healthy afghans.

Makes 16
1 c almond meal
1 c buckwheat flour
4 tbsp cocoa or cacao powder
1/3 c coconut oil
1/4 c honey, rice syrup or maple syrup
3 tbsp coconut sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 c gluten-free cornflakes (no added sugar)

For the icing:
60g dark chocolate (I used Whittaker's 72%)
3 tbsp non-dairy milk
1 tbsp honey, rice syrup or maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt
desiccated...
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Chocolate beetroot brownies

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, August 29, 2017, In : slices 

A great way to use vegetables in baking and the kids will never know. I like brownies with raspberries or nuts sometimes, but my kid prefers plain flavours so I've kept it simple.

300g beetroot, boiled, peeled and cut into chunks
3 eggs or make flaxseed eggs
1/2 c sweetener such as rice malt syrup, maple syrup, honey, coconut sugar, panela (not agave)
1/4 c melted coconut oil or butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
1/2 c cocoa or cacao powder
1 c flour or almond...
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Strawberry rose cheesecake

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, May 5, 2017, In : desserts 

Another one from Vanelja - a rawish cake with the right combination of strawberry tang, fragrant rose and rich chocolate.

Base:
1 1/2 c almonds
6 dates
2 tbs cacao powder
pinch salt

Filling:
1 c cashews
1 c strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 banana
1 tbs rosewater or extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
juice of a lemon
1/4 c grated cacao butter, melted
1/4 c coconut oil, melted

Icing:
2/3 c grated cacao butter
3 tbs coconut oil
1/2 c cacao powder
2 tbs honey or rice syrup
pinch sea salt

First, soak the cashews...


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Vegan carrot cake

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, May 4, 2017, In : big cakes 

If you're avoiding dairy and eggs, this carrot cake will hit the spot for you! This recipe is adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie.

1 c grated/shredded carrots
1/2 c applesauce (basically stewed and mashed apples)
1/3 c oil
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 c flour (I use spelt)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/3 c cane/rapadura/coconut (ground or powdered)
optional - 1/2 c chopped walnuts, raisins, desiccated coconut

Mix the first five ingredients in a bowl and set a...
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Wookie cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, April 27, 2017, In : cookies 

I made these chocolate thins for a Star Wars kids' party. Low in sugar and no gluten, eggs, dairy or nuts, if you're avoiding such things.
1c buckwheat flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbs cocoa powder
1/4 c coconut sugar/rapadura - ground into a powder using a coffee grinder
1/4 c coconut oil
5-8 tbs nondairy milk

Whisk all the dry ingredients in a food processor. Add coconut oil and mix. With the motor running add the milk one tablespoon at a time until a dough forms. Wrap in cling film a...
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Vegan chocolate mousse

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, April 27, 2017, In : desserts 

Super easy chocolate mousse! 

110g dates or apricots simmered in juice and zest of an orange for 15 min

400g silken tofu

4 tbs cocoa

Once fruit is stewed blitz all ingreds in a blender and then pour into ramekins. Store in the fridge until you want to serve. I served mine with toasted coconut flakes and cashew toffee praline. Any thinly sliced fruit or stewed dried fruit will complement the rich mousse.


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Toffees

Posted by Bake Club on Sunday, March 26, 2017, In : sweets 

Sugar-free toffees that have healthy ingredients! Thank you Virpi Mikkonen from It's a Pleasure (Weldon Owen, 2016). I used my homemade almond butter too so I'm well chuffed about that.
1/3 c nuts (I used cashews)
1/2 c honey
1 c almond or another nut butter
2 tbs coconut flakes
flakey sea salt (Maldon is my choice)

Have moulds ready or a baking tin lined with baking paper.
Crush or chop the nuts with a knife, in a grinder or mortar and pestle.
Pour honey into a frying pan over medium heat. Stir cont...
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Cocoa almond granola bars

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, March 24, 2017, In : slices 

These are a chewy choco bite. Don't overcook or they'll be rock hard (as mine were, on the edges). From Sweet & Easy Vegan by Robin Asbell (Chronicle, 2012).

1 1/2 c rolled oats
3/4 c spelt flour
1/4 c cocoa or cacao powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 c rice syrup
1/2 c rapadura/coconut or palm sugar
1/4 c almond butter
2 tbsp ground flaxseeds
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp nondairy milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 170C and line a 20x20cm cake tin.
Mix all the dry ingredients (except almo...
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Hazelnut carrot cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, In : cookies 

Hazelnuts! Yummy but expensive little things, aren't they? That's why I don't often bake with them, but I had half a cup in the cupboard for some such occasion. I added some diced dried fruit to the mix to sweeten the package for the 4-year-old. She turned her nose up at them, however. Oh well, more for me. These fall into the brutti ma buoni style of biscuit - ugly but good.

Makes about 20

1 c spelt flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp ground flaxseed
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c rice syrup
1/4 c almond butter (...
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Apricot bites and chocolate brownie chews

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, March 11, 2017, In : sweets 

In my constant search for the perfect muesli bar/granola bar/bliss ball/fruit bites that my four-year-old will eat, I've come across these two recipes that work really well from Wholefood Simply by Bianca Slade (2013). Great lunchbox fillers whatever age you are!

For the apricot bites you only need 1 c organic dried apricots, soaked for 30 min in boiling water then drained. Then put in a blender or food processor with 2 c desiccated coconut. Blitz on high for a while until it's all combined. P...
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Vegan black bean brownies

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, In : slices 

I've made black bean brownies before in a slab tin and they were DF, GF, SF too. This recipe is adjusted slightly, tastes better and the nuts are a good addition.

Makes 18 small brownies about 2 tbsp each

400g can of black beans, drained

2 tbsp ground flaxseed stirred into 4 tbsp warm water and set aside for 5 min

1/4 c coconut oil

1/4 c cacao or cocoa powder

1/2 c rice malt syrup

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract
chopped nuts for topping if desired

Preheat oven to 1...


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Vegan lemon almond cake

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, February 20, 2017, In : big cakes 

A healthy and tasty lemony cake! You could jazz it up with a honey-lemon drizzle or whipped coconut cream icing but really, it's great the way it is - moist, tangy and nutritious.

1 c ground almonds (I use use a coffee grinder and grind as needed)
1/2 c buckwheat flour (you can use any kind of flour or polenta)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
juice and zest of 2 lemons
2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 5 tbsp hot water and left to stand for 5 minutes)
1/2 c rice ma...
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Vegan gingernuts

Posted by Bake Club on Friday, February 17, 2017, In : cookies 

After the success of my vegan digestives I decided to use the same method to make these crispy healthy gingernuts. Just a couple of adjustments.

1 1/2 c buckwheat flour
1/2 c rolled oats, ground first in a coffee grinder
1/4 c + 1 tbsp rapadura sugar, ground first in a coffee grinder
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp treacle (I used Kokonati's organic wild kithul treacle)
1/4 c + 2 tbsp coconut oil
5-8 tbsp non-dairy milk

Preheat oven to 180C. Line 2 baking tray...
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Vegan digestives

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, In : cookies 

Healthy digestive biscuits for my two valentines - my husband and our daughter. You can also make them pure gluten-free by using buckwheat flour or a general gluten-free flour. Variation on a theme of lil digestives and digestives (with butter).

1/2 c rolled oats, ground in a coffee grinder
1 1/2 c spelt flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon if desired
1/4 c + 1 tbsp rapadura sugar, or coconut sugar (you can grind these granules too if you wish)
1/4 c + 2 tbsp coconut oil
5-8 tbsp n...
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Buckwheat nut crackers

Posted by Bake Club on Saturday, February 11, 2017, In : savoury 

Love making my own crackers! Buckwheat flour works really well in combination with nuts of your choice for more nutrients. You can also grind sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

1 c buckwheat flour
1 c ground nuts (I used walnuts and cashews)
1 tsp salt
3 tsp sesame seeds
1/4 c oil
up to 1/2 c water
seasonings of choice - e.g. pepper, cumin, paprika

Preheat oven to 175C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir in oil then slowly add water to form into a ball.
Roll ou...
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Vegan chocolate chunk cookies

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, In : cookies 

This is adapted from Eleanor Ozich's My Family Table (Murdoch Books, 2015) but I used less sugar and a bit of spelt flour to help bind. The oats add a texture and the sugar helps to make a crispy cookie. You could replace the sugar with a natural liquid sweetener to make a chewy cookie.

2 1/2 c oats (or use any gluten free flour)
1 tsp baking soda
pinch salt
2/3 c muscovado, rapadura or coconut sugar
1/3 c melted coconut oil
1 linseed egg (1Tbs linseed mixed with 3 Tbs water)
1 tsp vanilla extract
15...
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Chocolate buckwheat crackle bars

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, December 5, 2016, In : sweets 

I came across puffed buckwheat at my local organic shop - brilliant! These easy bars are a super yummy healthy sweet treat.

3 c puffed buckwheat (or puffed rice or spelt)
1/4 c toasted sesame seeds, optional
1/3 c coconut oil
1/3 c rice syrup
2 Tbs cacao powder
150g coconut butter
pinch salt
1 tsp cacao powder

Line a 20cm square tin with baking paper. In a bowl mix the the puffs and sesame seeds.

In a saucepan over low heat melt the coconut oil, syrup, 100g coconut butter and cacao. Once melt...


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Vegan banana loaf

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, November 22, 2016, In : big cakes 

I made this recipe from scratch! Just to experiment making a GF, DF, SF cake. It turned out a bit holey and dense but delicious all the same, and even better toasted. Without creamed butter and sugar, cakes tend to have a few holes. I will also use a lighter touch next time and not overmix the batter.

2 c flour (I use spelt)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 c dates
2 ripe bananas
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c water
1/4 c softened coconut oil

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a loaf tin with baking paper.
Wh...
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Walnut jam drops

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, In : cookies 

These healthy jam drops combine walnuts, coconut and your favourite jam to make a cute cookie reminiscent of a Louise slice. Another one from 'Gluten-Free & Vegan for the Whole Family' by Jennifer Katzinger (Sasquatch Books, 2015).

Make about 18
2 c walnuts halves
1/2 tsp salt
1 c dates
1/4 c water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 c desiccated or shredded coconut
strawberry or raspberry jam or any other favourite

Preheat oven to 175C. Line a baking tray with baking paper. In a food processor blitz the walnuts ...
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Oatmeal raisin cookies (vegan, gluten-free)

Posted by Bake Club on Thursday, November 3, 2016, In : cookies 

I'm really liking 'Gluten-Free & Vegan for the Whole Family' by Jennifer Katzinger (Sasquatch Books, 2015). Like her chocolate chip cookies, these oatmeal cookies are sugar-free and gluten-free. I've experimented with cashew nuts, buckwheat and spelt flour and they've all come out well. Everything is done in the food processor - you basically blitz the dry ingredients then add the wet. Dates are a great sweetener.
Makes 18 small cookies
1 2/3 rolled oats
1/2 c almonds
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon...

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Life-changing bread

Posted by Bake Club on Monday, October 31, 2016, In : bread 

This appeared in 2013 on My New Roots and I've finally jumped onto the bandwagon! A dense, filling bread made of just nuts and seeds - genius. All mixed in the tin and you can experiment with different nuts and seeds too.
1 c sunflower seeds
1 1/2 c oats
1 c almonds (or hazelnuts)
1/2 c flaxseed
2 Tbs chia seeds
3 Tbs psyllium husk powder (or 4 Tbs psyllium husk)
1 tsp salt
1 Tbs natural sweetener (maple syrup, rice malt syrup)
3 Tbs melted coconut oil
1 1/2 c water

Line a loaf tin with parchment/baking...
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Nigella's chocolate orange cake (vegan, gluten-free)

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, In : big cakes 

I was pleasantly surprised that Nigella Lawson has a GF, DF recipe for chocolate cake, seeing she is the queen indulgence and full-fat everything. I did not put dark chocolate in my batter, I thought it was sweet enough. A lovely dense cake with gooey icing. Instead of chia seeds you could also make flaxseed 'eggs' - 6 Tbs flaxseed soaked in about 15 Tbs water).

2 oranges
6 chia 'eggs' (6 Tbs chia seeds soaked in 18 Tbs water)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 c almond meal (or hazelnut me...
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Pear, ginger and date loaf

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, June 30, 2015, In : big cakes 

Mmm, a nice spicy loaf that's sugar and dairy free. It's from the April/May 2015 issue of Little Treasures magazine. Kelly Gibney founded the Bonnie Delicious blog, full of wholesome recipes.

1 1/2 c dates, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes then drained well
1/4 c melted coconut oil or butter
1 1/2 c ground almonds (can be with or without skins)
1/2 c flour (I used wholemeal spelt)
3 tsp ground ginger
tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 heaped tsp baking powder
tsp ...

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Frances gets into the Xmas spirit – meringue wreaths

Posted by Bake Club on Tuesday, December 6, 2011, In : sweets 


At one of my jobs they like to decorate their offices with Christmas decorations. This is mainly because there’s a decorating competition at ACP Media and prizes to be won. Anyway, my contribution was these meringue wreaths from Alessandra Zecchini and Arantxa Zecchini Dowling’s book Party Food for Girls.

She says the recipe contains lots of sugar as the meringues are designed to be long-lasting Xmas decorations. They will keep for weeks. I haven’t done much icing in ...


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WELCOME 2 BAKE CLUB -
MAY THE CAKE B WITH U

EST. 2010

Frances C loves to bake. She's also a freelance editor and DJ. She shares some of her adventures, culinary or otherwise, on Instagram.


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