There’s something about cherries that makes me think of Valentine’s day. These chocolate cookies have kirsch soaked cherries in the middle and are drizzled with kirsch flavoured chocolate caramel. They flatten down during baking which hides the cherry under a layer of baked caramel.
With Burn’s night tonight and two Scottish themed desserts already ticked off (Gingersnps and Dundee Cake), the two ‘Scottish’ themed cakes which came to mind were Irn Bru cupcakes or these – a warming ginger cupcake with whiskey frosting (which is seriously strong). If you’re averse to alcoholic cakes, I’ve also included a recipe for a purely ginger, non-alcoholic frosting as well.
The heart sprinkles are because we happen to be approaching Valentine’s day.
It might seem unusual, but the courgette (zuccini) taste like it usually does once baked. I’ve used it in several recipes in the past – it’s similar to carrots in a carrot cake, providing moisture and sweetness.
Chocolate donuts with a chocolate ganache glaze. The lip sprinkles are for Valentine’s Day.
One week until Burns’ Night and this rich fruit cake filled a gap in my baking theme. It’s full of dried fruit and cherries and quite juicy – unlike some other fruitcakes. This smelt amazing while I was cutting it, not like I was expecting.
Burns’ Night is fast approaching (25th January) and dessert themes are centered around whiskey and ginger – the two things which make me think of Scotland (sorry Scots!). These chewy ginger cookies have a fresh ginger, ground ginger and crystallized ginger and are rolled in demerera sugar for extra crunch.
I’ll be damned if I can wait for another month to start Valentine’s baking. The Black Forest cupcakes are a standard chocolate cake, filled with cherries and pastry cream, topped with ganache and a cherry and sprinkled with red glitter and hearts.
Oreos have a special kind of reverence for me since I first tried them in Dixie Landings, Walt Disney World, Florida when I was 11 (Y2K). They weren’t just regular Oreos though, they were crushed and mixed into the most amazing milkshakes known to man. These cupcakes have Oreos in the cake and more Oreos in the frosting on top.
I used a multipack of mini Oreo bags, but full sized ones would be fine too. You’ll need around 150g in total.
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Like German Chocolate Cake, these have nothing to do with Germany. They’re a chocolate cookie with a caramel frosting, coconuts and pecans. Without the frosting, these are just regular chocolate cookies.
I never pass up the chance to use my mini loaf pans. Any kind of traybake which is remotely seasonal (cranberries are a Christmas thing afterall) and I rush to the kitchen to make mini loaves. These cranberry mini loaves have white chocolate chips and natural yogurt topping. If you don’t share my love of mini loaves, you could also use a 9×13″ pan.
Spread the topping over the loaves to set
Rugelach are usually a kind of Jewish Pain aux raisins – a roll of light dough stuffed with currants and cinnamon (like a cinnamon roll but without oodles of gooey icing). These cookies look impressive and taste just like regular rugelach.
Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
Whiskey Frosted Courgette & Ginger Cupcakes
Double Chocolate Donuts
Dundee Cake
Tripple Gingersnaps