baking powder

Healthy Banana Bran Muffins Recipe

(makes 15-18)

Ingredients

3 mashed bananas
115g butter
100g brown sugar
115ml milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 free-range eggs
175g wholemeal flour
100g wheat bran
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5 and grease a muffin tin or line with muffin cases.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until nice and soft. Add the bananas, milk, vanilla and eggs and mix well.

3. Combine the flour, bran, baking powder, baking soda and salt and blend into the banana mixture. Pour the mixture into the muffin tray or cases.

4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until firm and golden. Place on a wire rack to cool completely. Serve and enjoy.

Thank you to Peter Scanlon for this recipe.

Dutch Pancakes Recipes

Photo Credit : A Little Tune

Dutch Pancakes Recipe

(makes around 14 small ones)

Ingredients

1 cup plain flour, sifted
1¼ tsp baking powder
1 tbsp caster sugar
salt, to taste
½ cup milk
¼ cup water
2 eggs, whisked
A few drops of vanilla extract, optional
oil, for brushing the pan

Method

1. Combine the flour and baking powder in a large bowl. Mix in sugar and salt.

2. Pour in the milk and water. Combine with a balloon whisk. Add the eggs. Don’t over stir, just combine all ingredients. Rest for 10 minutes.

3. Turn on the electric pancake pan according to the manufacturers instructions. Brush a bit of oil on the pan. Pour in about one tablespoon of batter into each hole. When bubbles appear, bottoms turn lightly brown, use a skewer or spoon to flip over and cook the other side. They should be cooked until both sides are golden brown.

4. Transfer onto a serving plate, served with maple syrup or honey, sprinkle icing sugar on top.

Note: The batter should be runny or else the fried pancakes won’t be soft otherwise. Add water if the batter is too thick. You might like to add some fillings between two pieces of pancakes, like jam or fruits.

Thank you to Christines Recipes for this recipe.

Carrot Cake Recipe

(serves 10)

Ingredients

300g plain flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
200g soft brown sugar
4 eggs
250ml extra virgin olive oil
1 orange, zested
1 lemon, zested
200g carrots – finely grated
150g chopped walnuts

Cream Cheese Frosting
125g unsalted butter
50g icing sugar
250g cream cheese
*The frosting quantities above will make the frosting around 2cm in thickness. If you prefer less just half the quantity.

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2.

2. Line a 20cm, 8″ deep cake tin with greaseproof paper.

3. Sift the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda together and stir in the sugar.

4. Mix the eggs well with the oil and citrus zests. Stir in the carrots and fold everything into the flour mixture. Stir in the chopped walnuts.

5. Spoon the mixture into the tin and bake for around 1 hour 15 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool.

6. For the frosting beat the butter and icing sugar together until nice and soft and then mix in the cream cheese. Chill the mixture until it’s reasonably thick. Spread a thick layer on top of the cake and decorate with additional walnuts should you wish.

Thank you to C E Jonson for this recipe.