Choc Chip Shortbread

I've never been a big biscuit eater or baker but since I've been making them at work, I'm getting into it! I use this recipe for my basic shortbread...

To make 16 I use...600g - SR Flour, 400g - Softened Butter, 200g - Caster Sugar 

I then make up a flavour (because who wants to eat plain boring shortbread?). These are choc chip with more choc drizzled over the top. You start by rubbing together the butter and the flour. I've discovered it is imperative that your butter is super super soft - verging on melted, else it's really hard work to a) rub it in and b) bring the dough together. 

Mix in the sugar and whatever else you fancy. At work I've thrown in lemon zest, almonds, cherries, cranberries etc. Then take a few handfuls of the mix and squish it into and ball, kneading it until it comes together. Flatten until it's about 1cm thick and cut out circles.

Pop in the oven (160 degrees) for anywhere between 35-50mins. 

I find it hard to tell when they're done as biscuits firm up as they are cooling. I usually wait until they're slightly darker in colour and when pressed are firm but not hard. 

I melted some milk choc and using a spoon drizzled it over the biscuits. Yum! 

Here are some other flavours I've made at work....

 Almond and Lemon

 Cranberry dipped in white chocolate

Speckled Easter Egg Cake

I 'spotted' this rather unique looking cake on a blog I follow and loved it. I'm tempted not to put the link on here because then you'll see how much better the original is, but I will, because that's the nice thing to do, seeing as though I copied it! http://thecakeblog.com/2013/02/speckled-egg-cake.html

Make 3 sponges. I chose chocolate (because why wouldn't you?!). I used a 7" cake tin. 

Make a batch of fluffy buttercream (the longer you beat it the lighter it will be - also adding a bit of milk helps) and make it a pastel blue. If you look very closely in the bowl, you'll see my legs! Lucky you...

Stack the cakes using the buttercream.

Smother the rest of the buttercream on the top and sides. You'll need to do a 'crumb coat' first.

 Now for the speckles! Mix together 1 tsp of cocoa powder with 1 and a half tsp of vanilla essence. 

Using a paint brush (a new one!) or a pastry brush flick it over the cake. It gets everywhere. 

And then top with mini eggs.

I made this cake to share with some friends at Church, at an Alpha course. Another friend had made some yummy marble cupcakes to match. 

Later on in the week, I turned them into cupcakes at work.