Work Catering #47: Bacon week!

So apparently it's Bacon week in Australia this week (22 - 28 June). Who knew that something like this existed? Not me! But I looked it up and quite a few famous dessert places are producing bacon desserts! Such as a maple bacon zonut from Adriano Zumbo or Kevin Bacon flavoured gelato from Gelato Messina. It just so happened that I was watching Masterchef and was inspired by this dessert of Peanut Butter Mousse with Grilled Banana and Maple Bacon Crumb made by Emelia~ I also had some leftover bacon from home made brunch the other day (it was sooo good! post to come soon ^^) so decided to do something whacky!! So here's the recipe for my bacon inspired recipe!!!

Bacon and Maple Caramel Slice
Recipe adapted from Baker's corner and also inspired by Epic Millionaire's shortbread by SORTED Food

Ingredients
3 rashers of streaky bacon
1 cup (150g) plain flour
1/2 cup (110g) brown sugar
1/2 cup (40g) desiccated coconut
125g butter, melted
100g butter, extra
2 x 395g cans sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup (80ml) maple syrup
200g dark chocolate melted
1 tbs vegetable oil
2 tbs maple syrup, extra

1. Preheat oven to 180oC and line a tray and a rectangle baking pan (20 x 30cm) with baking paper.
2. Place the bacon on baking tray and cook for 15 minutes, until very crispy, leave to cool.
3. Blitz the bacon in a food processor until resembles crumbs.
4. Combine flour, sugar, coconut and 3 tbs of bacon crumb in medium bowl. Add melted butter and mix well. Press mixture firmly into base of prepared pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Allow to cool.
5. Place extra butter, condensed milk and syrup in medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until smooth. Pour over base and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. Allow to cool.
6. Combine melted chocolate, oil and extra maple syrup until smooth. Pour evenly over slice. Sprinkle with remainder of bacon crumb.

Specks of bacon

the signage might have turned people off xP

The overall consensus was that the bacon flavour was not that pronounced... could do with a bit more bacon XD My other suggestion would add some salt flakes into the caramel for a "salted caramel" filling ^^

I also had limited time to bake so made this no bake fudge! Super quick and easy! Only need a microwave!

Cookies and Cream Fudge
Recipe adapted from Kirbie Cravings

Ingredients
1 packet (150g) Oreos, crushed into smaller pieces
3 cups (510g) white chocolate
1 can (395g) condensed milk

1. Line 23cm square baking pan with foil.
2. Combine chocolate and condensed milk in large bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Microwave for another 30 seconds and stir until smooth and all chocolate melted.
3. Sprinkle half crushed Oreos across the bottom of the pan. Pour chocolate on top. Sprinkle remaining Oreos on the surface and gently press to flatten the surface.
4. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight until set. Cut and serve!

Lotsa Oreos!

looks like cookies and cream cheesecake xD

Hope you enjoy these super sweet and crazy recipes!!! Especially the bacon one! hehe.. can't wait to see what my next flavour combination will be!!

Death by Salted Caramel!!!

As soon as I saw this cake recipe, I knew I HAD to bake it! Just had to find some time because it would take a little while. So when ANZAC day came around.. it was time to bake!!! =D =D

This was my first time making salted caramel - it's always been on my to do list but I had a fear of burning it >_< Surprisingly, this recipe was simple and straightforward so I didn't end up having burnt caramel ^^"

There were about 2 tablespoons of the salted caramel leftover so I thought to myself, 'I'll just finish it off with some icecream'... BAD IDEA! It was SICKENLY SWEET!!!! >_______<" but I finished it off, to my regret! Never doing that again!
So lesson learnt - Just take one piece of cake! It will be enough :)

Chocolate Salted Caramel Layer Cake

Recipe adaped from Baker's Corner 

Ingredients

1½ cups (225g) plain flour, sifted
1½ cups (330g) caster sugar
1 ½ cups (180g) Cocoa powder, sifted
2 tsp bicarb soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
¾ cup (190mL) buttermilk or milk
¾ cup (190mL) warm water
¼ cup (60mL) vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla essence

Salted Caramel
1 cup (220g) caster sugar
1 tbsp glucose
½ cup (125mL) thickened cream
2 tsp salt
70g cold butter, chopped

Chocolate Ganache
100g dark chocolate melts
80ml thickened cream

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/ 160°C fan forced. Grease and line two 20cm round cake tins with baking paper.
2. Combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, bicarb soda and baking powder in large bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, warm water, oil and vanilla essence. Beat on low speed with electric mixer until well combined.
3. Divide batter between pans. Bake for 45 minutes or until skewer inserted into middle comes out clean. Allow cake to cool (~20 mintues) before turning out onto wire rack.
4. For caramel, combine sugar, glucose and 1/2 cup (125ml) water in medium saucepan over high heat. Cook, without stirring, for 15 minutes or until sugar is golden.
5. Remove from heat and carefully pour in cream, whisk until smooth. Return to heat and cook for further 2 minutes.
6. Pour caramel in medium bowl, whisk in salt, cool for 15 minutes. Slowly whisk in butter and cool completely.

Salted caramel!!!! =D

7. Make ganache by placing chocolate and cream in heat proof bowl over pot of simmering water. Stir until smooth and allow to cool.
8. To assemble, cut each cake in half horizontally to form 2 layers. Transfer 1 layer to serving platter, spread 1/3 of caramel on top. Top with another cake layer and repeat with remaining cake layers, leaving top uncovered. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until set. Frost tops and side of cake with chocolate ganache.

2 layers of chocolate cake~

Assembling the cake! The caramel drips into all the small crevices for a deliciously moist cake

Completed cake!!!

DIG IN!!!!!! =D =D

I also made a mini version for my supervisor who was going away on maternity leave ^^

Mini chocolate and salted carmel layer cake

Work catering #18: 2nd attempt at Caramel Slice

Close up of caramel slice

When you fail at a recipe, the easiest thing you can do is just ignore it and find something else you are good at baking XD!! But I really wanted to try out making Caramel Slice again. Previously, I used the wrong type of coconut for the base so I wasn't too happy with it. That was my colleague's secret recipe that I was unable to share, however I found this recipe for "The Best Ever Caramel Slice" on Baker's corner. Not too sure about the "best ever" part but it was pretty yummy ^^

Previously caramel slice, not looking too great

New Caramel slice looking much better ^^ even layers of base and caramel!

The Best Ever Caramel Slice
Recipe adapted from Baker's corner

Ingredients
1 cup (150g) plain flour
1/2 cup (110g) brown sugar
1/2 cup (40g) dessicated coconut
125g butter, melted
100g butter, extra
2 x 395g cans condensed milk
1/3 cup (80ml) golden syrup
200g dark chocolate, melted
1 tbsp vegetable oil

1. Preheat oven to 180oC/160oC fan forced. Grease and line slice tin (20x30cm) with baking paper.
2. Combine flour, sugar and coconut in bowl. Add melted butter and mix well. Press mixture firmly into prepared tin. Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned. 
3. Meanwhile, place extra butter, condensed milk and syrup in medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until smooth. Pour over base and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. 
4. Combine dark chocolate and oil in bowl and stir until smooth. Pour evenly over slice. Allow to set before slicing and serving.

All gone in a flash~~

Also on my to-bake-list has been these jam drop cookies. Basically a cookie with a little drop of jam in the middle. I used strawberry and apricot jam but the list is endless :) Really simple to make, just make sure those hole you indent is a bit deeper so the jam doesn't run out.

Jam drop cookies
Recipe adapted from taste.com.au

Ingredients

125g butter, softened

1/2 cup (100g) caster sugar

1 egg

1 cup (150g) self-raising flour

1/4 cup (35g) custard powder

1/4 cup (90g) raspberry or apricot jam

1. Preheat oven to 180oC. Line two baking trays with baking paper. 

2. Beat butter and sugar in bowl with electric mixture until pale and creamy. Add egg and beat until just combined. Add flour and custard powder and stir with wooden spoon until just combined.

3. Using lightly floured hands, roll 1 1/2 teaspoons of mixture into small balls. Place on baking trays allowing room for spreading. 

4. Use lightly floured finger or end of wooden spoon to make an indentation in centre of each ball. Spoon 1/2 tsp of jam into the centre of each biscuit. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly golden. Allow to cool on trays before serving.

Cookies were a little bit too brown! haha

Close up of cookies. 

Work catering #9: Caramel slice & Banana Cake

One week seems to go by so fast! Before I know it I have to start looking for inspiration for my next bake! I do have a list of recipes that I have saved so that's always good to browse. (Also if you have any suggestions or have recipes that you have wanted to try out.. do let me know ^^).

On my new cake stand ^_^

I was thinking about classic cakes to bake and thought, I hadn't made a banana cake yet plus I'm still loving the ready made cream cheese frosting ;p

I also had my colleague's caramel slice recipe in my email and decided to give it a go! Maybe not the best time to try out a recipe.... but I think it turned out ok! Despite not having the right coconut, burning the caramel and using a cake tin that was too large! haha.. what could go wrong DID go wrong.. but in the end.. turned out ok =) Edible... 

Unfortunately I can't post this recipe because its a secret =p BUT.. There are other recipes out there which I will try and then I can share :)

Ready to serve!

Close up of caramel slice

Banana Cake
Recipe adapted from Glorious Treats

Ingredients
3/4 cup caster sugar (I used half and half brown sugar)
1/2 cup (115g) sour cream
2 eggs
3 tbs melted butter
2 mashed over ripe bananas (~3/4 cup)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
250g ready made cream cheese frosting
100g walnut crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 180oC. Grease baking tin (I used 20cmx30cm and doubled this recipe)
2. Whisk together sugar, sour cream, eggs, butter, banana and vanilla until well combined.
3. Add flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Stir with whisk or spoon until well combined and smooth.
4. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for ~30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
5. Cool cake in tin before removing from tin. Spread frosting onto cooled cake and sprinkle walnut crumbs.

Banana cake with delicious cream cheese frosting

Squares of banana cake

MISSING PIECE :O haha

Ready for catering!

Close up of banana cake

My friend is speaking at the next lunch time seminar!! She's a CHOCOHOLIC so stay tuned for some chocolatey treats (hopefully!)