Loving This Pretty Pink Cake!

I absolutely LOVE this simple yet stunning little cake. I am hoping the birthday girl will be as happy as I am with the result. Hiding beneath the icing is a rich chocolate cake layered with dark chocolate ganache. 

Spots!

Designing a cake for a teenager was a lot harder than I had anticipated! I was so worried about finding the right balance between not being too mature, or young and girly.  I think I got it right with these bold bright spots arranged in a geometric pattern. This is just a fun, bright and modern cake!

Thermomix Hot Cross Buns!

A few years ago I began the quest for the perfect homemade Hot Cross Buns. I finally found a recipe that produced amazing results posted on http://cookalmostanything.blogspot.com/2006/04/weekend-cookbook-challenge-4.html.

For Christmas I received a Thermomix- so I adapted the original recipe to work in the thermomix and produce easy effortless and delicious Hot cross Buns for Easter. Enjoy!

Thermomix Hot Cross Buns (Makes 9) 

60g Sugar

25g Butter (cold)

180g milk

350g Plain Flour

2 tsp yeast

1 small egg (50g)

1 tsp (heaped) mixed spice

1tsp (heaped) cinnamon

120g Sultanas

Place sugar in Thermomix bowl and mix for 3 sec on speed 9

Add butter and mix for 5 sec on speed 7

Add milk set temperature to 50°C and mix for 1 min on speed 3

Add flour, yeast, egg, mixed spice, cinnamon in order listed.

Kneed for 2 mins on interval speed

Add sultanas and mix on reverse for 10 seconds at speed 5

At this stage you will have a fairly stick dough

Place dough into oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest for 30 mins-1 hr in a warm place or until doubled in size.

Line a square tin (20cm) with baking paper

When doubled in size place dough onto a lightly floured bench top and lightly kneed to form a ball

Divide dough into 9 equal portions (you can use scales if you want) and roll into balls (I divide dough into 3 portions, then divide them into 3 again).

Place balls lined neatly in 3 rows of 3 into square tin

Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for approx. 30 mins or until doubled in size

Preheat oven to 180°C fan forced

Once risen pipe crosses on top (optional)

Paste for crosses- 2 tblsp plain flour mixed with 1.5 tblsp water to form a sticky paste- you don’t want it too runny- so add extra flour if needed. Use piping bag to make crosses (I do it in 3 lines x 3 lines) or use a small plastic bag and snip end off.

Place buns in oven and cook for 20-30 mins or until golden brown and well risen

Once cooked make the glaze.

Glaze- combine 2 tblsp sugar and 2 tblsp water in a small pot. Bring to a gentle boil until sugar has dissolved and mixture slightly thickened.

Brush hot syrup generously over the top of buns.

Try and wait till they are cool enough to eat

TIP: If its really cold put your oven on the defrost function and let dough rise in there! Or even set it to 50°C- but if you do this cover with a tea towel and not plastic wrap.