This is Allyson Gofton's 'healthier' version of millionaire's shortbread. It has an oaty base but the caramel is still made with evil condensed milk. Scrummy, no less!

1 3/4 c rolled oats

1 3/4 c desiccated coconut

1/2 c sugar (I used coconut)

175 g butter, melted

1 egg

For the caramel:

1 x 395g sweetened, condensed milk 

50 g butter

2 Tbsp golden syrup (I used brown rice syrup)

For the topping:

150 g dark chocolate

4 Tbsp coconut oil or Kremelta

Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan). Line a 20 x 30 cm brow...

Baking with chestnuts is not a common practice in the Antipodes, it's more a European or Asian thing. I love boiled chestnuts though, and have fond memories of picking them in my childhood. The whole family used to go on a day trip to Cambridge to pick them in the big parks. We wore gumboots and would scrounge around for the perfect stick to help prize open their prickly shells, then stuff the deep brown nuggets into specially made fabric chestnut-picking bags. I don't know if those huge ches...

if you don't have a campfire handy, you can make s'mores bars at home! These were truly delicious and worth the effort making the 3 separate elements.

Crust:

1/2 c wholemeal flour (I used spelt)

1/2 c plain flour (I used spelt)

3 Tbsp brown sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

56 g cold butter, cut into cubes

2 eggs, separated

Filling:

250 g dark chocolate

1/2 c almond butter

Marshmallow:

1/3 c granulated sugar

2 Tbsp honey

1/3 c water

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

In a ...

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...

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. ...

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...

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...

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 ...

I made up this recipe to use some glacē cherries that had been at the back of the fridge for too long. Almonds match well with cherries, as does chocolate.

Makes 12 big cookies

1tbsp ground flaxseed

2 1/2 tbsp water

150g butter, at room temperature

3/4 c coconut sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 c flour (I used spelt)

1 tsp baking powder.

1/2 c glace cherries

1/2 c chopped almonds

1/2 c dark chocolate chunks/melts/buttons

Mix flaxseed and water together in a cup.

In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar un...

These lovely bites are upmarket versions of cinnamon swirls. Making the dough as thin as possible before rolling will give youThis recipe is from Bakeland: Nordic Treats Inspired by Nature by Marit Hovland (Greystone Books, 2018). She makes stunning cookies and cakes that look like flowers, snowflakes, etc, and these chocolate rocks, which truly rock.

Makes about 44

Filling:

75g butter, at room temperature

1/3 c sugar

3 tbsp cinnamon

Dough:

3 c (375g) flour

3 tsp ground cardamom

1/2 tsp salt

225g butte...

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...

1 c flour

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 c desiccated coconut

1/2 c sour cream or yoghurt

1/2 c passionfruit pulp
125g butter, softened

125g caster sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

Ganache coating:
500g icing sugar

3/4 c milk of choice (I used coconut)

200g white chocolate, chopped

juice f...

No eggs? No problem! This vegan cake can be made with pantry staples and turns out soft and fluffy. Thanks to https://www.thecuriouschickpea.com/ for the inspiration. You could fill the cake with whipped (coconut) cream and fresh fruit but I chose my go-to chocolate ganache this time with a jam spread for a subtle flavour hit.

2 1/4 c non-dairy milk (I used homemade almond)

1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

3 c and 2 tbsp flour (I used spelt)

1 1/2 c granulated sugar (I used organic cane)

1 tbsp baki...

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...

This recipe originally uses apricots but I just used what I had to hand, prunes. The prunes add a lovely sweet and sticky flavour to the blondies. Slab or tray cakes are quite robust and practical to make for lunchboxes or to feed a crowd

175g butter, softened

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 c caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 eggs

1/2 c self-raising flour

1 1/2 c plain flour

1 c chopped prunes (or apricots)

1/2 c white chocolate chips (optional)

icing sugar to dust

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 17 x 27cm cake ...

My Anzac cookies turned out huge this year! They spread out quite wide that's that aaaaall good. Using coconut sugar gives the cookies a darker appearance and a deep caramel flavour.

1 c flour

3/4 c coconut sugar

1 c rolled oats

1 c desiccated coconut

100g butter

1 tbsp rice syrup

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tbsp boiling water

Optional extras: chocolate chips, dried fruit

Preheat oven to 170C. Line or grease 2 baking sheets.

In a large bowl mix the flour, sugar, oats and coconut. You can add your optional ext...

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...

115g butter
1 c soft brown sugar
2 tbsp molasses
1 egg
1 c black coffee
1/4 c kahlua or substitute coffee for non-alcoholic version
1 1/2 c flour
3/4 c cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt

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

In a bowl beat the butter, sugar, molasses and ...

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)...

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...

If you can't be bothered baking for Halloween, just have some fun with pretzels and chocolate.

Makes about 16 webs and 24 spiders
pack of pretzel sticks
250g white chocolate (I use Whittaker's)
250g dark chocolate (I use Whittaker's 72% cocoa)
1 1/2 c coconut cream
cocoa powder to dusting
cachous (silver balls) for decorating

For the webs:
Line 2 trays with baking paper. Make sure they can fit in your fridge.

Melt white chocolate and put in an icing bag with a small nozzle. Layout 6 pretzel ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

1/4 c coconut butter
2 Tbs coconut oil
1 tsp freeze-dried raspberry powder 
1/2 tsp vanilla extract or powder
3 Tbs coconut nectar (I used rice malt syrup)
pinch sea salt
1 1/2 c desiccated coconut

chocolate coating:
1/3 c cacao butter
1 Tbs coconut oil
1/3 c cacao powder
1 Tbs coconut nectar

Soft...

• 100 g chopped almonds
  200 g gluten-free plain flour, plus extra for dusting (I used Doves Farm)
  1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
  ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  200 g brown sugar
  30 g dark chocolate (over 70% cocoa solids), optional
  1 large free-range egg
  1/2 cup chopped dried figs
  1 teaspoon chai spices or 1 chai tea bag (cut open the bag and use loose spices)
  1 teaspoon cinnamon
  Almond milk or any other type of milk- optional

By Frances

This super easy raw recipe is from Amaze Kitchen. A great sugar-, gluten and dairy-free treat. I made them into mini bites for my toddler, but didn’t roll them in cocoa as I thought it might be too messy for her.

4 tablespoons cacao or cocoa powder
1 cup almond meal
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
2 tablespoons coconut oil
extra cocoa for rolling

1. Blend all ingredients in a food processor.
2. Wet or oil your hands, and ro...

By Frances

A rich nutty cake by Annabel Langbein from the February issue of Life & Leisure magazine.

Base:

¾ c flour

¾ c wholemeal flour

¾ c oats

¾ c brown sugar

180g cold butter, diced

Process all ingredients in a food processor until it resembles a fine crumb. Press into a 20cm round cake tin.

Cake:

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla essence

¼ c brown sugar

½ c walnuts

½ c flaked almonds

¾ c almonds

¾ c dates

¾ c apricots

¾ c choc melts

¾ c coconut

By Frances

Don’t you just love it when you come across an inspired recipe in a most unlikely source? I was randomly looking through Look real estate freebie and Buffy-Ellen Gill of Be Good Organics had contributed this recipe for a raw goji chocolate slice.

Makes 16 slices

Crunchy base:

1 c caramelised buckinis

1 c goji berries

½ c raw cacao powder

¾ c melted coconut oil

1 Tbs coconut nectar (I used maple syrup)

Chewy topping:

½ c raw cashews

1/3 c raw c...

• 2 ripe bananas
•        ¼ cup fresh raspberries
•        12 medjol dates
•        ¾ cups unsweetened cocoa (divided)
•        ½ cup almonds
•        ½ cup walnuts
•        5 tablespoons almond butter
•        5 tablespoons RAW honey

Steps:

1. Place dates, almonds, walnuts and ½ cup cocoa powder in food processor. Process for about 3-4 minutes, until all i...

By Frances

This is for the ‘Cook Something Yummy With Honey’ competition for the inaugural National Honey Week 25 Nov – 2 December. I read about it on Alessandra Zecchini’s blog. This year’s hero honey is manuka – yummmmm.  I just made up this recipe with what I had in the pantry. I like to contrast the richness of chocolate flavour with the tartness of a fruit such as cranberry. Any fresh or dried berry would be equally delicious – raspberry is a favourite. I...

500g pumpkin
500g almond meal
1 cup dates
½ tsp. bicarb soda
2 eggs
100g 85% dark chocolate
½ cup chopped walnuts

How To Make It:

• Prepare the pumpkin puree at least an hour in advance.
• Chop the pumpkin into small pieces, then steam or boil until soft.
• Mash the pumpkin and then suspend it in a sieve lined with cheesecloth (or a clean, dry chux cloth) to drain out the liquid from the pumpki...

Base
1 cup dates
½ cup almonds
1 tsp coconut oil

Caramel
1 cup dates
½ cup coconut oil
1 ½ tbls unhulled tahini
½ cup pure organic maple syrup
1 cup raw cashews (covered and soaked in water for an hour and then rinsed)
1/3 cup water

Top Chocolate layer
�...

• 2 cups Brazil nuts
• 4 fresh medjool dates, pitted and coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup currants
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 3 medi...

Adapted from an Annabel Langbein recipe. Goes down a treat with espresso.

2 + ¼ cup flour

2 + ½ tsp baking powder

¼ cup cocoa

1 + 1/3 cup caster sugar

3 eggs

½ cup chopped pistachios

½ cup chopped chocolate

Preheat oven to 180 deg C (fanbake) and line baking tray with paper.

Mix all ingredients together trying not to overmix (seems very dry at first but becomes very soft once sugar mixes into eggs).  As soon as it comes together pat into a log shape about 23cm x 7cm on the tray then flatten t...

6 medium egg whites (I used 4)

300 grams caster sugar (I used 200g for 4 whites)

3 tablespoon(s) cocoa powder sieved

1 teaspoo...

Welcome to Bake Club, Tash! She brought these along to coffee group and they were delicious - crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle. She also make a GIANT cookie with her stepdaughter - big and bad enough for Cookie Monster!

2 cups plain flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

185g butter, melted

1 cup brown sugar

¼ cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 egg

1 to 1 ½ cups chocolate chips (I used a whole bar Whittaker’s 70% dark chocolate instead)

Preheat oven...

This recipe is from the Food Channel programme The Sugar Club with Dean Brettschneider and Julia Crownshaw. They added 25g brown sugar to the base, which I did not. Anyway, mine turned out really well. Super with yoghurt.

200g gingernuts
65g butter
1 tsp ginger
450 cream cheese
150g caster sugar
30g cornflour
2 eggs, 1 extra yolk
200g sour cream
1 Tbs lemon juice
2 tsp vanilla paste
100g chocolate

Method

Turn oven to 200°C. Line an 18cm-20cm springform tin with bak...

A GF friend was coming to visit so I made this roulade sponge roll. First time for everything.

4 Tbs cocoa powder
100ml milk, plus 3 Tbs extra
5 eggs, separated
125g caster sugar
2 Tbs berry jam (I used cranberry)
whipped cream flavoured with vanilla extract
icing sugar to dust

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 30 x 20cm Swiss roll tin with baking paper. In a bowl mix the cocoa ant 3 Tbs milk. Heat 100ml milk in a pan until almost boiling, then add to bowl, stirring. Leave...

This is my first batch of baking since our daughter Tui was born 3 weeks ago. Feels great to get back in the kitchen; baking relaxes me.

I have also recently formed a co-op with some friends to order Ceres organic products wholesale. A 3kg bag of sulphur-free apricots was in my first order so it was a good chance to use some! Apricots and chocolate are always a tasty combination.

Makes about 20

100g butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla ess...

Another recipe from Healthy Food Guide, May issue.

1 cup oats

½ cup flour

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

½ c brown sugar

115g reduced-fat spread or butter

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 tsp mixed spice

1 orange, zested

½ c dark choc chips

Preheat oven to 190C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Mix oats, flour, baking soda and salt in large bowl.

In another bowl beat sugar, butter, egg, vanilla, spice and zest together.

Stir egg mixture into flour...

400g dark choc (I used Whittaker's Dark Ghana)

360g unsalted butter

360g caster sugar (I used under 350g)

6 heaped Tbs plain flour (could easily be gluten free)

pinch cinnamon or cardamom, optional (I used about 1 tsp of each)

6 eggs

icing sugar

Preheat oven to 200C. Melt chocolate, butter and sugar ...

This is from Recipes From the Baker (Murdoch Books, 2009). Thanks to Michelle who gave this sweet little book to me. She reviewed the baking and said: “Buttery, shorty and a hit of dark cocoa - they're better than TimTams, which I find too sweet!” Aw, thanks. I’ll be trying the two-seed crackers next!

This is my entry into March's Sweet New Zealand monthly blogging event, hosted by www.mydarlinglemonthyme.com -  check out Emma's lovely blog with loads of gluten and dair...

This cake is an adaption of two recipes: Fijian chocolate cake by Alexa Johnston from foodie.co.nz (http://foodie.co.nz/Recipes/Fijian-Chocolate-Cake-by-Alexa-Johnston.aspx) with a Black Forest-type filling. Alexa calls in Fijian because it uses coconut cream. It makes a really dark, moist chocolate cake. I made 1 ½ times this recipe to make a big cake to feed 10 adults.

210 g flour
55 g cocoa
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
200 g sugar
2 eggs
125 g melted...

120g butter, in small cubes
½ c neutral oil
1 c water
100g dark chocolate, chopped
½ c cocoa, sifted
1 ½ c caster sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 c yoghurt or buttermilk
2 c flour
¾ c raspberries (or any fresh or frozen berries)

Preheat oven to 180C. Line 24 m...

Cake
6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup (179 grams) firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup (50 grams) white granulated sugar
1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
3/4 cup (177 ml) red wine, any kind you like*
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
1 cup + 1 tablespoon (133 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2...

Makes about 24

175 g butter (or spread)
50 g icing sugar
225 g flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 tsp ground ginger

Preheat oven to 190C. Beat butter and sugar until creamy and pale. Add flour, bp and ginger and mix to a dough. Turn out onto a clean surface and knead until mixed.
Roll out to 3-5 mm thick and cut into shapes. I roll inbetween 2 sheets of baking paper.
Bake for 10-12 min until pale golden. Remove from tr...

Preheat oven to 180C and lightly butter a baking sheet or line sheet with baking paper.
Sift together flours, salt and sugar into a bowl, then sift together into another bowl. Add coconut and butter and mix in until crumbly. Add the extr...

Choux pastry

½ c flour
pinch salt
55 g butter
½ c boiling water
2 eggs

Glossy chocolate icing
115 g icing sugar

55 g dark chocolate
1 tbs boiling water

Preheat oven to 220 C, line baking tray with baking paper and dust with flour. Sift flour and salt onto piece of waxed paper.
Put butter in a saucepan over low heat and pour on the boiling water. As soon as its melted, remove from heat and tip in all the sifted flour and salt.

Beat with wooden spoon until smooth, then ret...

• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1.   Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking s...

What a fantastic debut on Bake Club, Anna! The tofu was a real surprise ingredient - delicious.

Cake Ingredients:
1 ¾ cup flour
1 cup cocoa powder
1 ½ t. baking powder
1 ½ t. baking soda
¼ t. salt
1 12.3-ounce box firm silken tofu (I get the ‘fresh’ tofu from the Tofu Shop on the North Shore)
1/4 cup maple syrup or golden syrup
1 cup brown sugar
3 Tablespoon oil
1tsp vanilla essence
1 cup almond milk or soya milk
1/3 cup boiling water
At least 1 cup of mixed ...

250 g bar of Whittaker's Dark Ghana Chocolate
100 g butter
3 eggs, whites beaten into stiff peaks
2 tbs sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract or paste
3 tbs self raising flour
10 feijoas peeled and cut in half

Melt chocolat...

Spring has sprung in NYC - tulips at the Rockefeller Center; view from the Top of the Rock

My final instalment of this trip is about our five holiday days in New York. Accommodation hassles and pounding the pavement tired us out somewhat, so we sought solace in good food, and weren’t disappointed. We arrived at Greenwich Village on a spectacular sunny Sunday and Bleecker St was buzzing. I had a hankering for comforting Italian and we fortuitously came across the original Ra...

It was my birthday and I requested this from dear Mama Chan, and she obliged!

2 Tbs caster sugar
125 g plain dark chocolate
2 Tbs brandy or coffee
4 eggs, separated, plus 2 extra egg whites
icing sugar to serve

Preheat oven to 200 C. Butter a 1 litre soufflé dish and dust out with 1 Tbs caster sugar. Break chocolate into pieces and put into a double boiler or a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water with the brandy or coffee.Set over medium heat and stir ...

Carly initiates her new silicon muffin tray with one of those made in heaven combinations - banana and chocolate.

Makes 12.

125g softened butter

¾ cups sugar

2 eggs

1teaspoon vanilla essence

1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (4 medium bananas)

¾ cup dark chocolate buttons roughly chopped

1 teapsoon baking soda

2 tablespoons hot milk

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 180ºC. Grease muffin tray or line with patty pans.

Cream butter and ...

I adapted this recipe from Miyuki McGuffie, the vegan baker on the Good blog. I made mine extra indulgent by using espresso coffee.

1 cup strong espresso
1 ¼ cup rice flour
1/4 cup muscovado sugar
½ cup brown sugar

¾ cup cocoa powder (I used fair trade cocoa but Valrhona from Sabato is excellent)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup dairy-free chocolate chips (you can get them at New World and Pak 'N Save but I used...

1 C unsweetened apple puree/sauce
1/3 C cocoa
¾ C flour/gluten free baking mix
½ tsp baking soda
½ C sugar
½ tsp salt
½ C dark chocolate chips ( or ¾ C of raspberries instead of choc chips & walnuts)
¾  C chopped walnuts

1.       Heat oven to 175C

2.       Place puree in medium bowl. Sift in cocoa, flour/baking mix & baking soda. Add sugar and salt. Mix until just combined. Gently fold in chocolate & nuts or fruit.

3.       Transfer...