EASTER BAKES .

THIS EASTER WHY NOT TRY SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT? I LIKE TO GIVE EASTER BASKETS TO THE GRANDCHILDREN JUST LIKE MY MUM ALWAYS DID. I’M ALSO REALLY LIKING THE IDEA OF BAKING YOUR OWN EASTER CAKE TO TAKE AS A GIFT FOR THE SUNDAY EASTER LUNCH, IF YOU PARTICIPATE. THIS YEAR IM MAKING EASTER EGG CHOCLATE BROWNIES AS THEY ARE MY GRANDSONS FAVOURITE. CHOCLATE BARK WRAPPED WITH PRETTY RIBBON IN PLANT CELLOPHANE OR PRETTY WAX PAPER IS A NICE ALTERNATIVE TO SHOP EGGS. THIS MAY SOUND A BIT KIRSTY ALLSOPP BUT IF YOU HAVE THE TIME GIVE MY EASTER CAKE A WHIRL. DECORATE IT WITH MINI EGGS AND ICING SUGAR OR IF YOURE FEELING FANCY SOME OF THOSE POSH SUGARED ALMONDS AND POSH CHOCLATE EGGS YOU FIND IN SNAZZY DELIS. WHATEVER YOU DO ENJOY IT..ITS CHOCOLATE SEASON

AFTER ALL!

ZEE XX

INGREDIENTS

180G BUTTER, SOFTENED, PLUS EXTRA FOR GREASING

225G CASTER SUGAR

¾ TSP ALMOND EXTRACT

2 TSP BAKING POWDER

180G PLAIN FLOUR

75G GROUND ALMOND

3 LARGE EGGS

2 TBSP MILK

3 TBSP COCOA POWDER MIXED WITH 3

TBSP HOT WATER TO MAKE A PASTE

100G DARK CHOCOLATE CHIP

30G ICING SUGAR, TO DUST

1.5L (OR BIGGER) BUNDT CAKE TIN

STEP 1

HEAT THE OVEN TO 180C/160C FAN/GAS 4. THOROUGHLY BRUSH A 1.5 LITRE BUNDT TIN WITH MELTED BUTTER.

STEP 2

CREAM THE BUTTER AND SUGAR TOGETHER UNTIL LIGHT AND FLUFFY. STIR IN THE ALMOND EXTRACT.

STEP 3

MIX TOGETHER THE BAKING POWDER, FLOUR AND GROUND ALMONDS. BEAT IN ONE EGG AT A TIME, ADDING A SPOONFUL OF THE FLOUR MIXTURE IN BETWEEN. REPEAT UNTIL ALL THREE EGGS HAVE BEEN ADDED, THEN FOLD IN THE REMAINING FLOUR MIXTURE AND STIR IN THE MILK.

STEP 4

SPOON HALF OF THE CAKE BATTER INTO A SEPARATE BOWL AND MIX IN THE COCOA PASTE. ADD THE CHOCOLATE CHIPS TO THE OTHER HALF OF THE MIXTURE. ADD SPOONFULS OF EACH OF THE BATTERS ALTERNATELY TO THE TIN AND DRAG THE HANDLE OF A TEASPOON THROUGH THE MIXTURE TO CREATE A MARBLED EFFECT.

STEP 5

BAKE FOR AROUND 40 MINUTES AND THEN TEST THE CAKE TO SEE IF A SKEWER INSERTED INTO THE DEEPEST PART COMES OUT CLEAN. THE CAKE WILL TAKE 40 - 50 MINS, DEPENDING ON THE PROPORTIONS OF YOUR BUNDT TIN.

STEP 6

LET THE CAKE COOL IN THE TIN FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE TURNING OUT ONTO A COOLING RACK. ONCE COOLED, DUST THE CAKE WITH A LITTLE ICING SUGAR. DECORATE IS AN EASTER THEME.