In typical English weather fashion, the week before the Easter school holidays was glorious, then the girls broke up from school and it has rained and rained, and snowed and any other horrible weather that you might want to think of.
But in true English style we went for a picnic with friends yesterday anyway. We sat on a bench in the playground just as it started hailing. Hey ho, these cakes cheered us up as we sat under our umbrella.
They are very easy to make as they make use of a jar of chocolate hazelnut spread instead of having to make a buttercream topping. There is also a lovely dollop of chocolate spread in the middle too to give the cakes a lovely gooeyness when you sink your teeth in.
Makes 12 small cupcakes
110g softened butter
110g caster sugar
2 eggs
120g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
20g cocoa powder
splash of milk
About 100g chocolate hazelnut spread
Method
Place the softened butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and milk in a large bowl and whisk until well combined.
Line a patty pan with cupcake cases and place a scant teaspoonful in the bottom of each case. Then put half a teaspoon of chocolate hazelnut spread on top of the batter. Top with another scant teaspoonful of batter. Place the cakes into a preheated oven at 180°c, gas mark 4 or the centre shelf of the Baking Oven of the Aga for 15-20 minutes until firm to the touch.
Place the cakes onto a wire rack to cool. Once cool, spread generously with chocolate spread and decorate to your heart’s content. Enjoy in the hail or the sunshine.
Yay, you’re back! Sorry it hailed on your picnic, but the cupcakes made up for it. Nice recipe.
Thanks Michele, the girls have gone back to school and the sun has come out…
They look yummy but I’m trying to think thin 🙁 Nice to see you back and I’ll send some sunshine your way. Cx
Thank you Caroline, it seems to have worked, for today at least. A lovely sunny, albeit chilly, day here today.
Well, this is it, we just have to get on with it in this country whatever the weather throws at us. I haven’t used chocolate hazelnut spread as a topping great idea to go with those lovely flakes too.
I have also spotted your lovely cakes using flakes too – delicious. It will soon be barbecuing in the rain weather…
Well THEY didn’t burn and they did get eaten! Yay!! The weather turned just as soon as they mentioned ‘hosepipe ban’ here! My daughter just baked a rainbow cake for my son’s 21st which I hope to show sometime soon! XCathy
We made a rainbow cake yesterday. Looking forward to seeing yours. Everyone should have a rainbow cake for their 21st. Happy birthday to your son. x
So glad to see you have your mojo back! I hadn’t thought of hazelnut spread as a topping. I’ll have to try it. Chocolate seems to make a lot of things a lot nicer. 🙂
Welcome back,I have missed your cooking, but please do what you what when you want, and don’t feel under pressure to cook or communicate if you have lost the urge or are to busy sewing, good luck with whatever you are doing, 🙂
Aw thank you Country Cook. At the moment it is gardening (in between the rain, snow and hail) that is taking up so much of my time. I am looking forward to the harevt though.
glad to see you back, Kath, rain, snow, or hail. we had a huge hail storm here a few weeks ago–like none I’ve ever seen. weather is indeed stranger.
meanwhile your gooey chocolate goodies would bring sunny smiles to anyone.
good luck with gardening this year!
I hope you had a very sturdy umbrella Kath. Glad to know it’s not just me that’s barmy! Lovely little cakes. The chocolate topping looks so shiny and not a bit like chocolate / hazelnut spread.