Choc-nut slice

Base:
1c self raising flour
2tbsp cocoa
1/2c castor sugar
2/3c shredded coconut
125g melted butter
1tsp vanilla
125g chopped nuts (I used walnuts)

- Preheat oven to 180 deg C
- Sift flour and cocoa into a large bowl. Stir in sugar and coconut.
- Add butter, vanilla and nuts and stir until well combined.
- Press mixture into a lined tin, approx 28x18cm, and take for 20 mins or until golden brown.
- Allow slice to cool thoroughly before removing from the tin and icing.

Icing:
1c icing sugar
1tbsp cocoa
15g melted butter
1.5-2tbsp milk
60g chopped nuts (I used hazelnuts)

- Sift icing sugar and cocoa into a mixing bowl and add melted butter and enough milk to make a smooth, spreadable icing.
- Spread evenly over the base (make sure it's cool!) and sprinkly the nuts over the top.
- Leave to set for approx 1 hour before serving.

This was delicious! This was possible my favourite thing that I have ever made (except banana cake, my eternal favourite). I LOVE hazelnuts, and walnuts, and peanuts.... you get the picture! Would definitely make this again!

Coconut slice

Base:
125g butter
100g sugar
1 egg
1 1/2c self-raising flour
Jam (raspberry, strawberry, blackberry etc. I used blackberry)

Topping:
1c coconut
1/2c sugar
1 egg
Juice of 1 lemon (I used vanilla essence)

Pre-heat oven to 170deg C
Mix butter, sugar, egg and flour until it forms a soft dough.
Press into a greased slice tin, approx 30cmx25cm - mine was smaller, therefore thicker slice.
Spread generously with jam.

Using the same bowl, mix ingredients for topping.
Cover base evenly with topping, the jam will show through.
Bake at 170deg C for 20mins or until lightly browned.

This. Was. Amazing.

We had eaten a quarter of it before the day was out. That's how good it was. A work-mate commented on my "Louise cake" but for some reason it just seemed different to how my flatmate used to make Louise Cake but I can't pinpoint the difference.. Not complaining though, maybe I'll try a Louise cake recipe next time...

Cinnamon scrolls

2c SELF RAISING flour (I forgot to add baking powder :( )
Pinch of salt
90g butter, chopped into small squares
2/3c milk

-Preheat oven to 210 deg C
- Sift flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Rub butter into flour until it resembles fine bread crumbs.
- Add almost all of milk and mix using a butter knife.
- Add the rest of milk, if required.
- Kned dough lightly on a flour-covered surface.
- Roll out to 40cm x 25cm square, should be about .5cm thick

60g butter, softened
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

- Combine all ingredients and beat using an electric beater. Should be runny but smooth.
- Spread over the rolled out dough.

- Roll the dough up from the long side so it's a long log
- Slice into 1.5-3cm pieces and place flat side down on a baking tray.
- Bake for 12 minutes or until golden.

These were surprisingly good, even though i forgot the baking powder. No one complained so either they didn't notice that they were denser than intended or they were too scared to criticize my well-meaning attempt to make morning tea :) Aren't they nice... and smart..

Vanilla cake

1.5c standard flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2c (120gm) softened butter
1c sugar
2 large eggs at room temperature
1/2 tsp vanilla (I used 1)
1/2c milk (dark blue)

- Preheat oven to 200 deg C
- Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl (ideally in a cake mixer bowl)
- Add butter 1tsp at a time until it looks like bread crumbs
- Add sugar 1 tbsp at a time until it looks like damp sand
- Beat in eggs one at a time
- Add vanilla and milk and mix until just combined. Don't over-mix!
- Pour into an 8inch cake tin which is greased and lightly floured
- Bake for 30-35 minutes

Peanut butter muffins

Ingredients:

2 1/4 Cups Flour

2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

2/3 Cup Brown Sugar

85g Melted Butter

1/2 c Peanut Butter

2 Eggs

1 Cup Milk

3/4 Cup Chocolate Chips

- Preheat oven to 180deg C

- Combine flour, baking powder, salt and brown sugar in a bowl.

- In another bowl, mix butter, peanut butter, eggs and milk.

- Combine all ingredients, whisk and add chocolate chips

- Spoon into muffin cups and bake for 17-20 minutes 

Maple walnut muffins

2c flour
1tbsp baking powder
1tsp salt
1/2c (125g) butter
1/2c packed tightly brown sugar
1/2c maple syrup
2 eggs
3/4c milk
1/2c walnuts

- Preheat oven to 180deg C
- Sift four, baking powder and salt
- Cream butter and sugar, stir in maple syrup and beat in eggs.
- Add flour mixture alternately with milk until well combined
- Spoon batter into muffin cups about 3/4 full (this recipe made 15 muffins for me)
- Bake for 20 mins or until toothpick comes out clean.

These turned out rather well, even though I'm not a huge muffin fan. I'll admit, I ate a couple, and I rarely eat any of my own baking (go figure!) Boyfriend particularly loved them, it makes a nice change from chocolate or banana muffins, that's for sure!

Marble cake

Ingredients
225g butter , softened
225g caster sugar
4 eggs
225g self-raising flour
3 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp cocoa powder

- Mix all ingredients together except cocoa.
- Separate into two bowls, add cocoa to one bowl.
- Add alternative spoonfuls of mixture to greased cake tin, and swirl with a skewer
- Bake at 180deg C for 45 mins

I added chocolate chips to the chocolate part, and this cake turned out quite well. Not as good as mud cake, or banana cake, or carrot cake... but I liked it :) I liked it best when it was warm, but it curbed the chocolate cravings that I've been having since I gave up eating chocolate (bars) a week ago. Success!