Rainbow surprise cupcakes

I had to make cupcakes to take to school for Julia's birthday. Inspired by ideas and pictures on Pinterest, I made these rainbow cupcakes which the kids loved! 

Happy Birthday Julia! 

Lots of cupcakes ready to take to school. 

Here's the surprise! 

Recipe: You can't go wrong with a cake mix! Take 1 or 2 packets of vanilla cake mix and follow the directions on the packet to make the cake batter. Divide mixture into three bowls, add food colouring to each bowl and mix well. Put one spoonful of each colour into patty pans and bake. When cool, cover with frosting and sprinkles. 

P.S. The cupcakes I made for school didn't have quite as much frosting on them... that was the one I saved for me! 

Christine xx 

Apple pikelets

I posted this photo on my Facebook page last week after making a batch for Julia's school lunches. There were several requests for the recipe, so here it is. Pikelets are so quick and easy to make! 

Apple Pikelets
Makes about 30

2 tsp butter or margarine, melted
1 egg
1/2 cup apple puree
1 cup self-raising flour
1 tbs sugar
2/3 cup milk (plus extra if needed)

Beat egg lightly with butter in a large mixing bowl. Stir in apple puree. Add flour, sugar and milk and stir well to make a thin batter. Heat a non-stick frypan. Drop tablespoons of batter into the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes each side until golden brown and cooked through.

A few tips:
You don't really need the butter in the batter, but I think it gives pikelets a better texture and a bit more flavour.
The pikelets will keep a lovely round shape if you don't make the batter too thick.
I use a Swiss Diamond frypan. I don't have to use any oil or butter in the pan and they colour evenly due to the even heat distribution.
If you have a mushy banana that needs using up, these are great as banana pikelets too. Just mash the banana and use instead of the apple puree.

Enjoy!

Christine xx

Happy New Year to you all ♥

Here is the recipe for Vanilla Kipferl. I should perhaps have included the recipe in my last post, but I was so busy in the week leading up to Christmas! I hope you will enjoy these delicious traditional Austrian Christmas treats with your own families.

Vanilla Kipferl
Makes 36

1 vanilla bean, halved
250g unsalted butter, softened
1 cup icing sugar mixture, sifted
2 egg yolks
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups plain flour
3/4 cup almond meal (ground almonds)
1/2 cup caster sugar

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan forced. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
2. Using a small sharp knife, scrape seeds from 1 half of vanilla bean. Set aside. Finely chop remaining bean half. Set aside.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat butter, vanilla seeds and 3/4 cup icing sugar mixture until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks. Beat to combine.
4. Sift salt and flour over butter mixture. Add almond meal. Using a wooden spoon, stir until just combined and a sticky dough forms. Turn out onto a floured surface. Knead gently until smooth. Using 1 tablespoon mixture at a time. roll into balls. Roll balls into 6cm logs with tapered edges. Shape into crescents. Place, 2cm apart, on prepared trays. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until firm and golden at edges. Cool on trays for 3 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, process caster sugar and reserved vanilla bean half until finely ground. Sift sugar mixture into a shallow bowl. Stir in remaining icing sugar mixture. Roll kipferls, one at a time, in sugar mixture. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe from Super Food Ideas magazine. Here is my secret to success - this is one of the few recipes for which I will always buy real vanilla beans!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Christine xx