Pre-Workout Treat: Chocolate and Peanut Protein Energy Balls
Although the diet for me has ended as I've reached my goal weight (woohoo!), I'm still being quite conscious of what I eat and want to make up the calories that I'm not used to having in a 'good' way. Of course, I can't resist a chocolate-related treat from time to time! I recently tried baking with protein powder again, after giving it a break having not found a recipe that was a real stand-out favourite in my household. It's so difficult! Perhaps it's the whey protein that we have, but there's something about it that completely changes the consistency and texture of the bake, and not in a good way. Anyway, these chocolate and peanut protein balls turned out AMAZING, and I think that's predominantly because they're no-bake! I think we've finally found a protein recipe that's going to be a staple!
Low Calorie Chocolate Fudge Brownies: The Perfect Sweet Treat
If you regularly read the recipes on this blog you will quickly notice that not only do I love baking, but I'm a bit of a chocoholic (understatement of the year). There are a good few brownie recipes in these archives, all from Slimming World friendly bites, naughty gooey bakes and healthy alternative using sweet potato which I think derives from a Deliciously Ella concoction. I've been training at the gym since January this year and have loved seeing the change in my body shape, however thought that it was time to lose a few pounds to help the definition come through (plus my weight had crept up ever so slightly and I want to get back 'into shape'). Strict dieting and restricting your calories is tough, but when you have a sweet tooth and love snacking things get even tougher! I found this recipe on Amy's Healthy Baking and, after a couple of tries, seem to have it perfected. 108 calories per brownie and they're not full of 'crap'... they're the perfect little treat!
A Sweet Healthy Snack For Gym Lovers: Protein Flapjacks
For a while now, I've been experimenting with differing recipes using protein powder. I absolutely adore baking (as you might have guessed), but with a gym-obsessed boyfriend with a sweet-tooth who moans about the amount of sugar and fat I'm tempting him with, I decided to try and find alternative 'healthier' recipes. Switching up ingredients for healthier versions is fine, but when it comes to baking with protein powder, everything just goes wrong. There's something about it which just makes the texture take a turn for the worse, not to mention the taste of chocolate flavoured powders within baking! After having a search around online, I found this recipe which I have made the tiniest tweaks to. The results? Finally a baking recipe including protein powder which doesn't make me look like the world's worst chef! With Valentine's Day coming up, I put a romantic twist on these and cut them into heart shapes (heads up- these make a great thoughtful little gift for any gym-loving partners in your life!), but any other time of the year, just cut into squares and enjoy.
The Best Savoury Snack: Cheddar and Bacon Pastry Straws
I have always posted a lot of recipes on this site; most of them sharing my love for baking. Cakes, brownies, biscuits and desserts...they all reflect my sweet-tooth! Apart from a couple of Slimming World recipes, I have never shared any savoury snacks on my blog. Well, this is about to change! This cheesy bacon recipe is just absolute heaven; a concoction by Lorraine Pascale who is my baking idol (sorry, Mary Berry!). My mum used to make these when I lived at home and we all used to go crazy over them- these pastry snacks are so addictive and moreish (although not so good for the waistline I must admit!). Ready to eat in about an hour, these are a fab, quick snack idea if you are having 'party food' dinners over Christmas; you can boast about how you made them yourself and the flavours will win over your guests! I have made a few tweaks to the recipe which you will find below or you can check out the original recipe here.
Recipe: Delicious (And Healthy) Banana Bread
According to science, your tastebuds change and regenerate every 7 years. I used to hate banana flavoured things, turning my nose up at the thought of banana muffins and the like. However, my taste has recently changed and I've started experimenting with different recipes for banana bread, having suddenly realised how amazing it is. Taking after my Dad, a nice loaf of banana bread has quickly climbed the ranks of my favourite bake. There's nothing better than cutting a slice whilst it's still warm from the oven and slathering some butter across it. Butter, sugar and more butter is how it usually goes. However, when you're trying to watch what you eat, this isn't necessarily the best option. I wanted the same comforting indulgence of banana bread without having the guilty feeling afterwards, so concocted this healthier alternative. Although it's still 230 calories per serving, it contains ingredients that are generally better for you whilst still retaining that sweet taste.
Healthy Brownie Recipe (Satisfy Those Sweet Cravings!)
If there's one thing this site definitely isn't lacking, it's brownie recipes. They are hands down my favourite thing to bake. Big cakes are wonderful and flashy for special occasions, but when it comes to having easy baked goods at hand for a snack-sized treat, in my opinion, brownies are the best at satisfying those cravings. The down side is that they aren't exactly the healthiest snack to grab when you're feeling peckish. For the past month or so, I've been experimenting with different brownie recipes (mainly with added protein for my gym-loving boyfriend), but this recipe is probably the best that I've tried so far. I think they're probably as healthy as brownies are going to get, and are filled with good ingredients.
Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes Recipe (From Hanny's Bakery)
I haven't posted a recipe in a while, but, trust me, this one is totally worth the wait. Technically, it isn't a recipe of my own, rather that of my wonderful baker friend, Hannah. Hannah and I started our friendship at work and we quickly bonded over our love of cake (amongst other things). As you know, I love baking, but Hannah is next level. Her creations are utterly stunning; her attention to detail whilst baking and decorating is second to none, and a skill which I can only dream of ever having! She's so good, my manager asked her to make her wedding cake for her! The highlights of our working day were always made by Han bringing her latest baking concoction into the staff room; from strawberry daquiri cupcakes to gooey brownies, each bake never fails to wow us. When I left this workplace a month or so ago, Hannah kindly baked me these chocolate cheesecake cupcakes as a leaving gift. A mixture of the Hummingbird Bakery 'black bottom cheesecake cupcakes' recipe and Hannah's own adaptions, this recipe is perfect for any sweet-toothed chocolate lovers! I think the name and photos speak for themselves really!
Indulgent Red Velvet Brownies (With An Oreo And White Chocolate Layer)
After Valentine's Day came and went a couple of weekends ago, I am finally getting around to writing this post. I made these brownies for my boyfriend on the 14th February, and while the romantic heart decoration may not be appropriate anymore, you can easily substitute it with a crumbling of Oreo biscuit to ensure you can eat these indulgent brownies all year round. The soft, crumbly Red Velvet cake layer is topped with an incredibly more-ish Oreo truffle. As if this wasn't enough, for the serious chocoholics out there, I've added a rich white chocolate topping. To make these brownies even more amazing, I'm pleased to say they are probably the easiest brownies you will ever make, mainly due to the cheating inclusion of a Betty Crocker red velvet mix. But hey, no-one needs to know you didn't make these 100% from scratch! This trio of chocolate layers is enough to make anyone's arteries recoil in horror, but it is so worth it. These come with a warning though; once you have one, you will want them all!
Get The Recipe: Easy Oreo Cupcakes
Who doesn't like cake? Who doesn't like Oreo or chocolate in general? Not many people, which makes this recipe extra-exciting to post! I'm a massive chocoholic, and Oreo flavoured things are just the best thing on earth, so combining this within a cake recipe is a fantastic thing for my taste buds. What's even better is that this recipe is so easy to follow; they may look like chocolate cupcakes with a fancy upgrade, but they are just as simple to make. While this recipe tops off the cakes with a cream cheese frosting, you can opt for buttercream if you prefer- I find that cream cheese does lighten the flavour of an otherwise heavy chocolate cake though. So, enough ramble, here's the recipe you've been waiting for...
Cheesecake Brownie Recipe: The Classic Favourite With a Twist
I think this may be the 6,295th brownie recipe I've posted on this blog (statistic may or may not be accurate), but the main reason for that is because I bloody love them. A gooey chocolate brownie...isn't that every chocaholic's dream?! While I've posted about brownies of the gooey, more cakey, and also slimming sort (yes, they exist), this recipe combines two of our favourite desserts: chocolate brownie AND cheesecake. Finally, will this post be *the* brownie recipe to end all brownie recipes?!
Easy-Peasy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Who doesn't love cookies? The smell of the freshly-baked biscuit dough filling your home is one that is difficult to beat, and always seems to take me back to childhood weekends spent round my Nan's house baking in my dinky little apron. Chocolate chip cookies are a classic, an old-school favourite, and you don't have to have Mary Berry's baking skills in order to make them. They are so easy, are ready to eat within 25 minutes, and only use up a few ingredients that everyone has in their cupboard. This recipe is a doddle and creates cookies that are crisp around the outside but gooey and chocolately once you bite into them. A top tip for you- they are seriously good to dunk in tea.
Simple Baking: The Best Bread Pudding Recipe
There's nothing quite like home baking. Ever since I was little, one of my favourite treats has been my Nan's bread pudding. Having tweaked the secret recipe over the years until it was perfect, this bake is a firm favourite in my family. It's soft and gooey, thanks to the moisture from the soaked bread, yet gets warmth from the currents and mixed spice; it tastes like Christmas (if that's a thing). This can be made as a tray bake, then cut into chunks and eaten/stored in the fridge/frozen. This recipe makes about 20-25 squares, so plenty to share around!
RECIPE: Dark Chocolate Truffles
Happy belated New Year everyone! I am now back after taking a short blogging break, so here is my first post of 2015. As a Christmas present, I made my Grandad these dark chocolate truffles. Not only are they a delicious little treat, but they are possibly one of the easiest things to make. Who knew that such a fancy bake could take such little effort to create?! This recipe makes about 20 truffles, depending on how big or small you shape them. While they do require a bit of patience to make (a few of hours waiting for the ganache to set), they are sure to impress everyone who is lucky enough to get their hands on one!
Basic White Loaf
I'm normally one to spend days on end baking cakes and other sweet treats of similar form. However, recently I've ventured into the unknown (for me!) territory of bread baking. I don't quite know how I've avoided making my own bread until now, but after discovering how easy and cheap it is to 'BYOB' (Bake Your Own Bread) I will definitely keep up the hobby.
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