Raisins & Almond Chips Cupcakes and Choc Chips Cupcakes

Having a gathering with some mommies & their kids later. Decided to bake some cuppies since there will be quite a number of kids around.

Ingredient:

• 230g unsalted butter (soften @ room temperature)
• 160g sugar
• 4 eggs
• 200g self raising flour (sifted)
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder (sifted)
• 100 g chocolate chips
•  

Method:

• preheat oven to 160c
• beat sugar and butter till pale & fluffy
• add one egg at a time and mix till smooth.
• fold in the flour and cocoa powder and mix well.
• spoon batter into baking cup until about 60% full, spinkle some choc chips on top
• bake in preheated oven for 20-25 mins
• remove cupcakes and cool on a wire rack

Custard Puff

Haven been feeling well recently so was too lazy to do any baking for Christmas.  2 of my nephews came visiting today so I tried out a new recipe.  Custard Puff !!!

Ingredient for the puff:

• 130g butter
• 1 1/2 cup of water
• 1 tablespoon caster sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 180g plain flour (sifted)
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• Piping bags and nozzles

PS: for the custard, pls refer to the recipe at the fruit tarts tag.

Method:

• Preheat the oven, grease baking tray or place a sheet of baking paper.
• Melt butter, water, caster sugar & salt in a pot until butter is dissolved.
• Fold in sifted flour, cook until the mixture form a soft dough (take about another 5 mins)
• Transfer the hot dough into a mixing bowl, add the vanilla essence and beat it for about 5 mins to lower down the temperature of the hot dough.
• Add one egg at a time and beat thoroughly for each addition. (make sure the dough does not cook the egg) 
• Beat until the mixture become smooth batter.
• Transfer the batter into the piping bag and pipe onto tray.
• Bake in preheat oven for 20 mins @ 200c, then reduce temp to 160c and bake for another 10 mins.
• Let the puff cool down on a cooling rack.
• Use a scissor to slit an opening and pipe in cream or custard.
• Sift some icing sugar on the puff before serving.

Fruit Tarts & Tartlets

Fruit Tarts !!!

Tart pastry
Ingredient:
350g plain flour
175g butter
100g sugar
1 egg


Method:
1. Preheat oven at 170 degree C
2. Cream butter and sugar until sugar is dissolved, add in the egg and mixed well.
3. Add in sifted plain flour slowly and mix until a dough holds together.
4. Divide dough into small portions (est. 20g) and place into tart moulds and press dough evenly onto moulds.
5. Bake at 170 degree for about 15 mins or until golden brown
6. Let the tart shell cool down before removing it from the moulds.

Custard
Ingredient:
500g water
150g sugar (I usually reduced the sugar)
50g butter
50g fresh milk
100g custard powder
1 egg

Method:
1. Boil water, sugar and butter together
2. Mix milk, egg and custard powder together and pour into above.
3. Cook over gentle fire until mixture thickens and pipe into baked tart shells.

PS: or you can get the instant custard powder from Phoon Huat. :P

For glazing :Boil together 1/2 tbsp agar agar powder, 130 ml water and 30g sugar until dissolved. Brush onto fruits. (note: Do not brush onto the tart shell)