strawberry – Sweet Tooth Experiments

Knickerbocker Glory Cake

Posted on August 1, 2020 Posted in Cakes .

Knickerbocker Glory Cake

Knickerbocker Glory Cake recipe

Inspired by trying my first knickerbocker glory I loved the element of the variations of textures and flavour layers, therefore decided to turn the layered ice cream sundae dessert into a cake. This dessert if you’re not familiar with it is served in a large tall glass like you would see of milkshakes in the 1970’s. However unlike a milkshake this dessert traditionally contain ice cream, cream, fruit, and meringue.

Since its conception on 1920 there have been multiple adaptations and varying flavour inclusions, however this cake recipe I have invented is made off my favourite knickerbocker glory ingredient adaptions, being; Peanuts, strawberry, chocolate, coconut and vanilla.

Strawberry and vanilla as the base allows the mix of amazing flavours to bounce off and complement each other, producing a delectable taste.

Ingredients:

Cake:

215g butter, softened
180g caster sugar
1 tsn vanilla essence
1/2 tsn strawberry essence
3 eggs
320g strawberry jam
320g self-rising flour

Peanut Icing:

30g butter, softened
¼ cup peanut butter
1 cup icing sugar
10ml milk

Chocolate Icing:

150g butter, softened
1 cup icing sugar
30g cocoa powder
10ml milk

Extras:

30g desiccated coconut, roasted
40g chopped peanuts, roasted

Method:

Preheat oven to 180c degrees and line a 30cm cake tin with baking paper.
Beat butter, vanilla essence, strawberry essence and sugar for 5 minutes or until creamy and pale with electric beaters.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating in between each addition.
Puree the jam in a food processor until smooth, leave aside.
Sieve the flour into the butter mix along with the strawberry jam puree. Beat with electric beats until just combine.
Pour the mix into the prepared cake tin and bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Wait 5 minutes, then invert the cake onto a cake tray to cool completely.
Meanwhile make the peanut icing but placing all the ingredients on a bowl and beat with electric beaters until pale, set aside.
In another bowl beat the chocolate icing ingredients until pale, light and fluffy.
Cut the cake in half horizontally.
Spread the peanut icing on the bottom cake layer and place the 2nd layer on top.
Spread the chocolate icing on the top cake layer and sides.
Sprinkle with roasted coconut on the sides of the cake as well as roasted peanuts – serve and enjoy.

Pink Strawberry Almond Cake with Rosé Frosting

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Avocado Strawberry Lemon Cake

Posted on July 18, 2020 Posted in Cakes .

Avocado Strawberry Lemon Cake

In a previous bake I loved the Avo, strawberry and lemon pairing but not the texture the avocado was doing to the cake…a chewy cake is not ideal! That’s what I found on first attempt of making this cake, but I continued to experiment with an Avo Strawberry and Lemon cake as the flavours were so delightful and tasty. Adding in some butter and downweighing the avo quantity slightly was the solution to getting this cake recipe to perfection.

Delicious filling, addictively scrumptious frosting and now a sturdy and delectable base, this recipe ticks all the boxes.

Ingredients:

Cake:

180g caster sugar
180g avocado,
60g butter, softened
½ tsn strawberry essence
½ tsn lemon zest
3 eggs
285g strawberry jam
270g self raising flour

Filling:

90g avocado
90g strawberry jam
30g custard powder

Frosting:

90g strawberry jam
90g butter, softened
150g icing sugar
90g strawberry jam
30g custard powder
½ lemon zest
3 drops pink food colouring

Method:

Preheat oven to 180c degrees and line a 30cm cake tin with baking paper.
Beat butter, sugar, avocado, essence and zest for 5 minutes or until creamy and pale with electric beaters.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating in between each addition.
Puree the jam in a food processor until smooth, leave aside.
Sieve the flour into the butter mix along with the strawberry jam puree. Beat with electric beats until just combined.
Pour the mix into the prepared cake tin and bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Wait 5 minutes then invert the cake onto a cake tray to cool completely.
Meanwhile make the filling by beating the ingredients together for 3 minutes.
Next, make the frosting by beating all the ingredients together with electric beaters for 5 minutes until light and fluffy.
Cut the top of the cake horizontally to even the surface (if needed) then cut the cake in half horizontally.
Spread the filling between the 2 cake layers.
Spread a light layer of frosting on the sides of the cake and the remaining on the top – enjoy!

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Avocado Strawberry Lemon Cake

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Pink Strawberry Almond Cake with Rosé Frosting

Posted on June 21, 2020 Posted in Cakes .

Pink Strawberry Almond Cake with Rosé Frosting

I’ve done many baking experiments in the past with alcohol, spirits, liquors, cider, beer you name it but one alcohol beverage I have struggled with is wine. Don’t get me wrong, my Red Wine Chocolate Cake is to die for but champagne, white wine and sparling…I have tried these beverages in recipes and every time have failed.

You would think vanilla and champagne cupcakes would work well…but they taste as bland as plain cupcakes can be.

The main issue is I don’t really like wine so when the idea of wine in baking keeps getting thrown at me I continually experiments and am not left impressed with the result.

For something different this time I decided on Rosé. Knowing the flavour profile and complementary ingredient possibilities I managed to get it right this time with baking success.

The success funnily enough has come from the wine itself. I don’t even like Rosé but this icing was absolutely decadent and moreish.

Pink Strawberry Almond Cake with Rosé Frosting

Ingredients:

Cake:

375g strawberry jam
285g butter, softened
240g caster sugar
4 eggs
75g almond meal
250g plain flour
½ tsn bicarb of soda

Frosting:

500ml pink rosé
125g strawberry jam
130g butter, softened
250g icing sugar
3 drops pink food colouring

Method:

Preheat oven to 180c degrees and line a 30cm cake tin with baking paper.
Beat butter and sugar for 5 minutes or until creamy and pale with electric beaters.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating in between each addition.
Puree the jam in a food processor until smooth, leave aside.
In a separate bowl combine the almond meal, flour and bi-carb of soda, stir.
Sieve the flour mix into the butter mix along with half the strawberry jam puree. Beat with electric beats until just combine.
Pour the mix into the prepared cake tin and bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Wait 5 minutes then invert the cake onto a cake tray to cool completely.
Meanwhile make the icing by place the wine in a saucepan on medium heat until it reduces to 25ml, set aside to cool.
Using electric beaters whisk the butter, sugar, colouring, remaining strawberry jam puree and rosé reduction for 5 minutes until light and fluffy.
Cut the top of the cake horizontally to even the surface then cut the cake in half horizontally.
Spread the icing on the bottom cake layer, place the 2nd layer on top, ice the top cake layer and sides – enjoy!

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Pink Strawberry Almond Cake with Rosé Frosting

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Chocolate Banana Split Sundae Pie

Posted on March 9, 2019 Posted in Pies .

Chocolate Banana Split Sundae Pie

I have always been a fan of chocolate banana split sundae. Vanilla ice-cream, banana, chocolate, cherries, nuts and strawberry, how could this not taste absolutely amazing?

The only thing is that ice-cream is not a great ‘comfort food’ in the colder months, so to mitigate this I decided to turn the banana split sundae into a pie.

I have kept the core flavors and added a few secondary complementing flavors into the mix to make the pies even tastier.

Ingredients:

Pastry:

180g plain flour
20g cocoa powder
100g butter
50g sugar
45ml water

Filling:

180g dark chocolate
¾ cup sugar
750ml milk
¼ cup corn flour
5 egg yolks
2 tsn vanilla extract
20g butter

Topping:

150g thickened cream
20g icing sugar

Extra:

2 chopped bananas
200g strawberries chopped
200g chopped pineapple
20g peanuts
4 glace cherries

Chocolate Sauce:

30g cream
50g dark chocolate

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 220c degrees.
Place all the pastry ingredients except the water into a food processor and blitz until the mix resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Add 45g of water and process until the mix resembles dough and comes away at the sides of the bowl.
Knead the dough for a minute then divide into 4 balls of 60g each.
With a rolling pin roll the balls to disks and place into 4 medium sized tart cases, trim edges. Place the remaining pastry aside back in the fridge.
Prick the pastry with a fork a few times in the center and place the tarts in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile make the filling by placing the chocolate, sugar, milk and corn flour in a saucepan on a medium heat and whisk with a hand whisk until the mix is thick.
Lightly beat the 5 egg yolks and vanilla in a bowl and add in 1 cup of the chocolate custard mix, beat.
Add the yolk mix into the chocolate custard mix and beat with a hand whisk for 2 minutes while the mix boils.
Take off the heat and beat in the 20g butter.
Place some baking paper on the top of the custard mix to stop a skin from forming and leave for 10 minutes to cool.
Take the tart cases out of the fridge and place on a baking tray covering the tarts with foil, baking for 10 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for a further 5 minutes.
Once the tart cases have cooled place the chocolate custard mix in each tart base.
Turn the oven down to 160c degrees.
Roll the remaining pastry into 3 equal balls then roll out into a disk shape.
Top the remaining disks on top of the custard and trim excess.
Poke the top a few times with a fork and place in the oven for 25 minutes.
Remove tarts from the oven and leave to completely cool, then place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, with electric beats whisk the cream and icing sugar until peaks form.
Place the cream into a piping bag with a star nozzle and pipe on top of each chilled pie evenly.
Cut up the strawberries, banana and pineapple and place on top of the cream.
Chop up the peanuts and sprinkle on top.
To make the sauce place the chocolate and cream in the microwave for 1 minute, stirring every 20 seconds until a sauce is formed.
Allow sauce to cool slightly and drizzle on top of the pies.
Place a cherry in the center and into the fridge to fully set for 1 hour.


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Date Strawberry and Chocolate Avocado Cake

Posted on November 17, 2018 Posted in Cakes .

Date Strawberry and Chocolate Avocado Cake

Date Strawberry and Chocolate Avocado Cake recipe

Many many times I have used avocado as the base to a healthier alternative frosting for cakes. Additionally, I have made mousse, tarts and pies with avocado as the core filling ingredient. But, what I haven’t really experimented with is using avocado as a key ingredient within the cake itself.

Sour cream, mayonnaise, yoghurt, varieties of cheeses, even cordial have featured as a wet ingredient in my past baking experiments but avocado surprisingly was a new one for me.

To come up with an avo based recipe I played around with a ridiculous number of cake flavor combos. And by a number I mean 14 different variations from sourcream & onion chips with chocolate to rosemary chocolate & orange blossom, even vegemite & chocolate.

The outcome of chocolate was def a winner. The experiment of flavor profiles of strawberry and dates resulted in the standout cake, delivering a rich chocolate strawberry treat.

As avocado is full of good fats, omitting the amount of bad fat I thought it would be an interesting direction for the recipe to completely replace sugar via dates and jam (yes I know jam has sugar but majority of the sweetness is through the strawberries) and chocolate replaced by means of raw Dutch cocoa powder.

The end result is a satisfying and suprisingly addictive sweet treat.

Date Strawberry and Chocolate Avocado Cake recipe

Cake:

150g pitted dates
1 tsn bi-carb of soda
45g butter
100g avocado flesh (2/3 of 1 avocado)
2 eggs
1 tsn vanilla essence
¼ tsn salt
65ml milk
180g strawberry jam
225g self-raising flour
60g cocoa powder

Frosting:

130g avocado flesh (1 avocado)
20g cocoa powder
Pinch salt
1/2 tsn vanilla essence
70g strawberry jam
100g butter, softened

Extra:

130g strawberry jam

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 180c degrees and line a 25cm cake tin with baking paper.
Place the dates and 190ml water into a saucepan on a medium/high heat.
Once mix boils stir through the bi-carb of soda, set aside to cool completely.
Place the dates, butter, avocado, eggs, vanilla, salt, milk and strawberry jam into a food processor and blitz until well combine and smooth.
Transfer avocado mix into a bowl, sieve the flour and cocoa into the mix.
Fold all ingredients together until just combine.
Spoon the mix into the cake tin and place in the oven for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Place the cake on a cooling rack until cool.
Meanwhile make the frosting by placing all of the frosting ingredients into a food processor and blitzing until combine and fluffy.
Once the cake is cooled cut in half horizontally, place a cake layer on a plate cut side up, and spread with half the extra jam. Use the back of a spoon to push the jam into the cake. Repeat for the 2nd cake layer, leaving the layer on the bench, jam/sut side up.
Top the jam on layer 1 with 1/3rd of the frosting and repeat with the second layer. Sandwich the 1st cake layer with the 2^nd cake layer, jam side down to have an unfrosted cake top with all frosting and jam in the center of the cake.
Top with the remaining 1/3rd frosting and enjoy!

Date Strawberry and Chocolate Avocado Cake recipe

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Strawberry Jelly Soaked Vanilla Cake

Posted on May 12, 2018 Posted in Cakes .

Strawberry Jelly Soaked Vanilla Cake

Strawberry Jelly Soaked Vanilla Cake recipe

If you visit my blog frequently you will recall I went on a baking journey of 15 recipes from the Australian Green & Gold cookery book published by New Holland, in which features 100’s and 100’s of traditional Australian recipes from ‘experienced housewife’s and cookery experts’.

From the 15 recipes I made 3 were key standouts that I couldn’t ignore and had to add to my Aussie traditional section on this blog.

Following the Bread Fritters and the Sago Plum Boiled Pudding my final favorite was the Strawberry Soaked Sponge Cake.

Think sponge cake with strawberries and cream…yes it’s sounds quite standard and nothing special…however, what about if I mention…the whole cake is soaked in strawberry jelly?! I’ve made cake with jelly crystals before but never poured jelly over a cake like you would a syrup cake.

I did slightly tweak the volume of some ingredients to appeal further to the current palate, but only little tweaks here and there.

This cake is a delicious sponge cake with an Aussie traditional old school twist.

Strawberry Jelly Soaked Vanilla Cake recipe

Ingredients:

40g butter, softened
1+1/2 tsn vanilla essence
240g sugar
4 eggs
170g plain flour
1+1/2 tsn cream of tartar
¾ tsn bi carbonate of soda
250ml thickened cream (200g for the filling, 50g for decoration)
10g icing sugar
200g strawberries (160g for the filling, 40g for decoration)
140g strawberry jelly crystals
700ml water

Method:

Line a 25cm cake tin with baking paper and pre heat the oven to 180c degrees.
Place the butter, vanilla and sugar into a bowl and whisk using electric beaters for 3 minutes or until thick, pale and creamy.
Add eggs, beating in between each addition for 15 minutes in total.
Sieve the flour, cream of tartar and bi carb of soda into a bowl them add the flour mix into the egg mix.
Beat the mix until the flour is only just combine and there are no lumps.
Pour the mix into the prepared tin and bake in the oven for 45 -50 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
After 5 minutes cooling in the tin invert the cake on a cooling rack until cold.
Using electric beaters whisk the cream and icing sugar until stiff peaks form.
Wash and dry the cake tin used for the sponge cake, spray with oil spray and line the tin with 2 pieces of plastic wrap allowing for lengthily overlap.
Make the strawberry jelly by placing the crystals in a bowl with 400ml boiling water and stir.
When crystals are dissolved add the remaining 300ml cold water and leave the jelly aside to hit room temperature.
Meanwhile, cut the cake in half horizontally and place the bottom cake layer in the lined tin, cut side up.
Cover the top of the cake layer in the tin with 100g of the thickened cream.
Cut 160g of the strawberries into slices and scatter evenly on top of the cream.
Top the strawberries with an additional 100g of thickened cream then place the second cake layer, cut side down onto the cream layer.
Push the cake a little with your hands to ensure even consistency of cream and no air bubbles.
When the jelly is cooled pour half the mix over the top of the cake slowly, ensuring even coverage, allowing for the jelly to soak into the sponge before pouring further. Leave the jelly aside for later use.
Pull the overlapped plastic wrap over the top of the cake and place the tin in the fridge to set for 2 hours.
Following, pull the plastic wrap up to release the cake from the tin. Turn the cake carefully upside-down on the plastic wrap and gently place back into the tin.
Pour the now top (previously bottom) of the cake with the remaining jelly mix and cover the cake again with the overlapping plastic wrap. Place the cake in the fridge for 2 hours to set.
To finish the cake, remove it from the tin by pulling up the plastic wrap and place the cake onto a plate.
Spread the remaining 50g of whipped cream over the top of the cake and decorate with the remaining 40g of strawberries.
Enjoy!

Strawberry Jelly Soaked Vanilla Cake recipe

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Moscato Lemon and Strawberry Ice-Cream

Posted on December 12, 2017 Posted in Ice-cream & Sorbet .

Moscato Lemon and Strawberry Ice-cream







After the recent success of my Moscato and Lemon Marshmallows recipe I decided to extend on the flavour pairing and too that also change up the dessert style. Knowing that Moscato and Lemon already go well together I opted for an additional flavour that holds the same fruity aroma and taste as Moscato, but also compliments both the wine and citrus ingredients.
After trialling the combo of a few different berries I felt the strawberry was too delicious not to incorporate.
I have used jam in this recipe as the jam ensured I didn’t thin out the ice-cream like Strawberry puree did (it also makes the recipe that little bit easier to make as steps are omitted). I’m not the biggest fan of traditional ‘cream and egg yolk’ based ice-cream, however this recipe was too good for me not to demolish.

Ingredients:

300ml Moscato
90g sugar
5 egg yolks
400ml thickened cream
60g strawberry jam
1 tsn lemon zest

Method:

Pour the Moscato into a saucepan and heat on medium/high for 10 minutes or until the liquid has reduced down to a third (100ml).
Take the saucepan off the heat and slowly pour the cream into the Moscato, whisking with a hand whisk as you pour until combined.
Place the sugar and egg yolks into a bowl and using electric beaters whisk for a minimum of 5 minutes.
Add the strawberry jam and lemon zest to the egg mix, whisk until combined.
Slowly pour the cream mix into the egg yolk mix while the beaters are whisking.
Once the cream mix is well combine place the mix back into the saucepan on medium/high heat for 5 minutes or until the mixture coats the back of a spoon thickly.
Pass the mix through a sieve into a bowl and allow to cool.
Once mix is cold place in the freezer for 2 hours.
After 2 hours spoon the mix into a food processor and blitz for 2 minutes. Place mix back in the freezer.
After an hour spoon the mix into the food processor again and blitz for 2 minutes. Place mix back in the freezer.
After an hour scoop the ice-cream into a bowl and enjoy!


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Banana Berry Lemon Ice-Cream Sandwich

Posted on September 2, 2017 Posted in Biscuits .

Banana Berry Lemon Ice-Cream Sandwich

In summer one of my favorite ways to cool down at home is by blitzing frozen berries, bananas and yoghurt to make an ‘ice-cream’ that is made of healthy ingredients as well as being delicious.

One day I decided that I wanted to take this fruit and yoghurt ‘ice-cream’ to the next level and turn it into an ice-cream biscuit sandwich.

For a lift in flavor I added in further complimentary ingredients and played around with different taste combinations until I landed on a combo that is absolutely super moreish and delicious.

To turn this ice-cream into a sandwich I relied on my never fail melting moments biscuit recipe that I tweaked to boost the lemon and berry flavor of the ice-cream. The outcome, so addictive!

Ice-cream:

500g bananas (260g peeled)
240g frozen raspberries
100g honey
1 vanilla pod
1 tsn strawberry essence

Biscuits:

180g butter
¼ tsn lemon zest
¼ tsn strawberry essence
60g custard powder
60g icing sugar
160g plain flour
1 tsn baking powder
Pinch salt

Method:

Make the ice-cream by placing all the ingredients into a food processor and blitzing on high until the mix is completely smooth.
Line a slice pan (lamington pan for best results) with plastic wrap, allowing for overlap.
Pour the ice-cream mix in the slice pan and place the pan into the freezer to set for at least 4 hours.
Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to 180c degrees and line 2 large baking trays with baking paper.
Place the butter in a bowl and using electric beaters whisk for 3 minutes or until the butter is light and fluffy.
Add the lemon zest, essence, custard powder and sugar and whisk until well combined.
Add the flour, baking powder and salt to the butter mix and whisk until just combined.
Roll the mix into balls of 30g each and place on the trays (8 balls on each tray).
Place a cookie cutter around the balls on the trays and using the back of a spoon press down to the sides of the cookie cutter.
Remove the cookie cutter and repeat with all 16 balls ensuring 5cm between each biscuit.
Place the trays into the oven for 16 minutes or until lightly golden.
Leave biscuits to cool on the trays for a few minutes then transfer onto a cooling rack until cold.
Once the biscuits are cold place in the freezer for later use.
To assemble, pull up the plastic wrap from the slice pan and place on the bench plastic wrap side down.
Dip the cookie cutter into hot water and cut out an ice-cream circle.
Place a biscuit on the bench, top with the ice-cream circle and finish with a second biscuit on top of the ice-cream circle, place completed ice-cream sandwich onto a plate.
Repeat with the remaining ice-cream and biscuits until 8 ice-cream sandwiches are make.
Place the plate into the freezer and freeze for at least 1 hour.
To serve I topped the sandwiches with melted white chocolate and a small piping of royal icing. A dust of icing sugar will be just an nice.

Note: these sandwiches will melt if left out for a long period of time so take them out of the freezer when your ready for dessert.

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White Chocolate Berry Balsamic Mousse Cake

Posted on August 5, 2017 Posted in Cakes .

White Chocolate Berry Balsamic Mousse Cake

Though somewhat common these days, for a while I have been meaning to make up a recipe that utilizes the complementing flavors of strawberries and balsamic vinegar.

As a kid my mum splashed balsamic vinegar in fruit salads, that would somehow sweeten berries (in particular strawberries) and make them even tastier.

I have experimented with balsamic vinegar in recipes in the past (check out my Beetroot Raspberry and Balsamic Cake or my Low Fat Dark Chocolate Balsamic and Almond Cupcakes) but never paired with white chocolate or as a mousse.

The outcome – super tasty, extremely moreish and so easy to make.

Ingredients:

Cake:

220g strawberries, hulled and diced
310g vanilla cake mix
Eggs, butter and milk as per cake mix
20ml balsamic vinegar
4 tsn strawberry essence

Mousse:

320g white chocolate
360ml thickened cream
2 + ½ tsn gelatine
65g icing sugar
70ml balsamic vinegar
1 tsn strawberry essence

Extra to decorate:

Buttercream icing (optional)
strawberries

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180c degrees and line a 25cm cake tin with baking paper.
Place the strawberries into a food processor and blitz until they resemble a smooth puree.
Pour the cake mix into a bowl, add the balsamic vinegar, 60ml strawberry puree and the strawberry essence.
Add the eggs and butter per cake mix directions.
Measure out the milk according to mix directions minus 80ml of milk and add to the bowl (as you have added strawberry puree and balsamic vinegar in replacement).
Using electric beaters whisk the mix for 5 minutes until thick and well combine.
Pour the mix into the cake tin and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 5 minutes then invert onto a cooling rack until cold.
Wash and dry the cake tin, spray with oil spray and place 2 layers of plastic wrap into the tin, allowing for overlap.
Cut the top off the cooled cake to even the top and place into the tin, cut side up, on top of the plastic wrap. Place in the fridge for later.
Place 180ml thickened cream into a bowl and heat on high in the microwave until almost bubbling.
Add the chocolate to the cream and leave for 1 minute before stirring to a silky-smooth combined consistency.
Leave the chocolate mix aside to cool completely.
Place 4 tsn of boiling water into a small bowl along with the gelatine, whisk with a fork until the gelatine is completely melted.
Place the remaining 180ml cream, icing sugar, balsamic vinegar, essence, remaining strawberry puree and gelatine mix into a large bowl.
Using electric beaters whisk cream mix until smooth and the cream has thickened the mix slightly.
Add the cooled chocolate mix and whisk with electric beaters until combined.
Pour the mousse mix over the cake base, tap tin on bench for even distribution of mousse.
Place the tin in the fridge for 4 hours to set completely.
To remove the cake from the tin, pull the overlapping plastic wrap and place the cake on the bench.
Peel the plastic wrap away from cake sides and using a spatula transfer the cake to a serving plate.
Top with icing or grated white chocolate and extra strawberries for decoration.

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Ricotta Strawberry Lemon and Thyme Bread Slice

Posted on October 23, 2016 Posted in Slice .

Ricotta Strawberry and Thyme Bread Slice

For something different I wanted to make an easy, no bake, no fuss, low fat, low sugar, quick treat that had interesting and tasty flavours. Something that would appeal to most but still have my unusual twist.

This recipe took 4 attempt where number 3 almost fit the brief with strawberry, lemon and elderflower. However replacing the replacing the elderflower with thyme took the slice from ok to the next level.

Ingredients:

260g brioche bread (or any sweet bread)
100g sugar
55g butter
1 egg yolk
1 tsn vanilla essence
4 tsn lemon zest
1 tsn strawberry essence
2 tsn dried thyme
300g ricotta

Method:

Line a 20cm x 20cm square slice tin with baking paper.
Cut the bread into 2 large pieces and line the base of the tin with the bread slices cut to fit the base.
Push the bread down so it is slightly squashed into the tin.
In a bowl beat the sugar and butter until creamy and fluffy with electric beaters.
Add the egg yolk, vanilla, lemon zest , strawberry essence and thyme beat for a further 1 minute.
Add the ricotta and beat until smooth.
Spoon the ricotta mix over the bread, pushing down with the back of a spoon.
Place in the fridge for 3 hours to set.
Cut into slices and top with a little additional lemon zest, thyme and strawberry halves.

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