Monday 28 May 2012

Let's Celebrate with Jubilee Sprinkles!


All these lovely red, white and blue sprinkles, chocolate crowns and cake. But looking back at the photos maybe I should have tried to get the Queen's profile in the sprinkles too? I don't know know how much Jubilee fever I can stand but anyone who can do a job for 60 years needs an accolade. I'm sure Her Majesty is just fine with her profile on a postage stamp. After all how much time do I have?


Not enough as I need to get ready for another bake sale and the additional Jubilee work on top. However, I thought you may like this almond based lemon cake which I have used for some gluten free jubilee cakes and a friend's birthday cake. I'm not keen on the texture of gluten free flour in a plain cake but the addition of the almonds and yogurt really improves the texture . It is a slightly denser batter but it's useful for holding it's shape and cut outs.

So lets get  a little more English and add some real English strawberries. We have wild strawberries growing in our garden but now strawberries from the county of Sussex have arrived in the stores and wow! they are wonderful; bursting with sweet intense  flavour. You may find cheaper Spanish ones in the supermarket but you won't get the best taste. 


I also used this lemon and almond cake as a decorated sheet cake for my friend's birthday cake; a single layer cake with a lime buttercream top and white chocolate buttercream finish. I also own an edible image printer which meant I could find a lovely picture to eat as well! However, it was the refreshing strawberries on the side that we enjoyed just a much. Then again it's hard to improve on the strawberry that nature gives us I find it creeping into my designs all the time! 

Text Only Printable Recipe


Strawberries with Lemon and Almond Gluten Free Cake and Cupcakes

Ingredients

225g  (8oz) Butter
225g  (8oz) Caster sugar 
4 Large eggs
225g  (8oz) Self raising flour (Gluten free)
90g  (3oz) Ground Almonds

150g Natural Yogurt (small pot)
Zest of 2 lemons
Juice of one lemon

For lemon drizzle*;
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp caster sugar
* you can double this if you like more zing on your cake

Icing for decorations


White chocolate icing*
110g  (4oz) Icing sugar
60g (2 oz)  Butter
110g  (4oz) White chocolate or white candy melts
1 tsp chocolate extract
* For large cupcake swirls double icing quantities

Large  cake icing top
110g  (4oz) Icing sugar

60g (2 oz) Butter
Tinted with Lime Green flavouring and colour
Strawberries for decoration

For cupcakes
Strawberry Jam/Jelly for centre of cupcakes
Fresh strawberries for centres
Sprinkles


Method:

Preheat oven 160c/140c Fan/325F/Gas Mark 3.

Grease and line a cake tin - makes one sheet cake -1 oblong tin size 30cm x 23cm or
it makes 18 - 20 cupcakes. Deep cupcake cases and pans work best for this recipe.

Cream the sugar and butter together. Add the zest of both lemons, then the eggs, one at a time. Fold in half the flour and the almonds. Stir in the lemon juice. Fold in the rest of the flour and almonds . Add yogurt to the mix. Put into your chosen baking container.

Place in the centre of the oven. Check after 20 minutes. Cook until risen and a skewer comes cleanly out. Dissolve sugar and lemon juice together and brush over cake/s. Allow to cool and make icings. 

Make simple buttercream first if making sheet cake. Gently whisk butter, and icing sugar together. Add flavouring and colour of choice  and whisk until it forms a light whipped cream texture. Add enough water for this to be a spreadable consistency.  Spread over top of cake. Make white chocolate buttercream icing, pipe round sides and decorate with strawberries.
If making cupcakes take out the centre of the cupcake so a strawberry fits in the hole snugly.  ( You will have a bag full of cake centres at the end of this or you will have eaten a lots of cake - save if you can for cake pops maybe!) First line the hole with strawberry jam/jelly, pop the strawberry in and brush strawberry jam on the top. 

Chocolate extract
 a worthwhile investment! *
Make white chocolate buttercream icing next  for the cupcakes, make double quantity for the cupcakes to get big swirls. This is a nice firm buttercream ideal for holding strawberries on the top of cakes too. I've had good results using chocolate melts as well as ordinary white chocolate. Make buttercream in the usual way plus 1 tsp of chocolate extract and add melted chocolate gradually, allow to stiffen slightly before piping especially if using candy melts. The real depth of flavour comes with adding the chocolate extract* to the buttercream mix. Pipe swirls on top of cupcake and add your sprinkles. Cupcakes will be wearing crowns on Saturday!




Shhhh ........Don't they look like Fourth of July Sprinkles in that jar?




33 comments:

  1. Sprinkles always bring a smile to my face! These are so festive and I love the strawberry in the center. You did a great job detailing how you got to these certain ingredients in the cake. Also, the sheet cake is fantastic. No doubt the recipients were delighted. You sound like a busy bee- I just realized that next week I am a little doubled up as well!

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    1. Thanks Tina, it's def worth sharing as I'm like you we like to experiment and it's pleasing when something works out well;-)

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  2. These are amazing - I love them so much :D
    And the strawberry in the centre screams celebration!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  3. These scream celebration and fun my friend - stunning :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  4. What a gorgeous cake screaming celebrations with those sprinkles :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  5. Not just 4 July but we could use these sprinkles for the French Bastille Day on 14th July, Pauline. Enjoy your Jubileeeing weekend. What a wonderful tasty looking sheet cake - now that's definitely enough to leave an 'impression' on anyone! Happy sprinkly celebrations this weekend.

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    1. Thank you Jill, yes of course shhhh another revolution! and the bonus is that you get to celebrate every year :-)

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  6. Fantastic work, both looks great. Thanks for following me and for the sweet words. I am now following your blog :)

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  7. Yay sprinkles! Yay strawberries!
    I am slightly worried that you have introduced me to chocolate extract- I have visions of taking it intravenously!

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    1. Def good stuff and the slightly alcoholic back taste is due to the alcohol ha! Enjoy :-)

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  8. What great cupcakes, perfect for the Jubilee! I love the hidden strawberry inside and the sprinkles and crown finish them off perfectly! :-)

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    1. Thanks Laura strawberries work well on the day and some people were genuinely surprised don't know what they thought I was going to put in there!

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  9. Thanks Laura , it was surprisingly tricky to eat but we managed!

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  10. I love sprinkles, LOVE strawberries and LOVE CUPCAKES!! Great cupcakes can't wait to try them! I am your newest follower, look forward to sharing!!!

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  11. I love this! Sprinkles are brilliant, I think the strawberry hiding in the center is awesome too =]

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    1. Thanks Emma have been over to you too ;-))

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  12. Thx for connecting with me on foodbuzz. I just subscribed to your blog feed and can't wait to see what your next post will be!

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    1. Thank you CJ afraid the weekend was very unbalanced and we probably ate more than we should, may have said that before somewhere!

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  13. Love your cupcakes, I like that strawberry peeping in the middle. Nice to meet you . I am your newest follower.

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    1. Thank you Swathi have just seen your bread, will be right over!

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  14. grt work..both looks awesome...lov most of ur recipes here..glad to follow u,

    http://subhieskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Subhie I wish you lived near me I would be happily be your chief tester! Happy Baking!

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  15. looks so easy to prepare and delicious...lovely!

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    1. Shhh yes it was far too easy and eating them was even quicker ;-)

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  16. lovely colourful sprinkles and delicious looking dessert

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  17. Gorgeous cupcakes, Pauline. The sprinkles are very effective and I love the strawberry heart. You own an edible printer - hours of fun!

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    1. Thanks Hester, edible printer is proving very useful, gradually building up a portfolio of cakes and it helps as I am still pretty rubbish at decent iced writing!

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  18. Those look incredible! I love your blog, so I nominated you for an award! See my post for more details:
    http://tinyurl.com/7plqvlr

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    1. Thank you Caity ! I see you've got your hands full, lovely aren't they! Ready to sing M I C - K E Y M O U S E , my kids have grown up with Disney too . The downside is that when they are at school you maybe still singing along!

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