Contents
Introduction
VALENTINE’S DAY
SPRING WEEKEND BAKES
MOTHER’S & FATHER’S DAY
EASTER
SUMMER AFTERNOON TEA
BIRTHDAYS & CELEBRATIONS
RAINY DAY TREATS
HALLOWEEN & BONFIRE NIGHT
CHRISTMAS
Baking Essentials
Decorating Ideas
Suppliers
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Copyright
INTRODUCTION
At The Hummingbird Bakery we love to celebrate throughout the year. Whether our customers are looking for an impressive cake for a special occasion, cupcakes for a children’s birthday party or a treat for themselves or a friend, we hope our cakes help make their day a little bit special.
Although many of our customers don’t wait for a reason to come in and buy some cupcakes, more often than not people visit us to buy cakes for a friend or family member’s birthday, or to mark an event. After starting our Facebook page, we soon noticed that thousands of people were making our recipes at home and posting pictures of their results! We realised that home baking has become popular once again, bringing people together to celebrate. A cake is a wonderful, affordable way to toast good news or to cheer someone up, and Cake Days is about celebrating throughout the year, no matter how small the occasion.
At The Hummingbird Bakery we develop recipes that reflect how we feel as the year progresses and we always use seasonal ingredients. For us, the beginning of the year means preparing for Valentine’s Day, with lots of colourful cupcakes to chase away the cold and treats for couples to share. We sell rich, indulgent, chocolaty Daily Specials during these chilly days – little luxuries to keep people happy until spring arrives.
As the days get longer, our Daily Specials and creations become more floral and fruity, taking advantage of the seasonal goodies that are readily available at this time. Last spring we launched our flower blossom and floral cupcakes range, which our customers loved and are perfect as Mother’s Day presents. Our late-summer Specials let us be a little wilder with our imagination, using sweets, candies, sodas and other childhood favourites as our inspiration.
Birthdays and anniversaries often bring people into the bakeries and in this book you will find some easy cakes, cookies and whoopie pies that always create excitement at parties, plus some amazing layer cakes that many of our fans love to bake. Our three- or four-layer cakes take a little longer but are well worth the extra effort. But birthdays aren’t just about children and our cocktail cupcakes are delicious alcoholic indulgences for grown-ups.
When autumn arrives, we turn our attention to Halloween and Bonfire night. Since we first opened in 2002, Halloween has become a much-loved event in Britain and our themed cupcakes, cheesecakes and pumpkin goodies fly off the shelves! As Christmas approaches our offerings become more fragrant with nutmeg, cinnamon, nuts and chocolate. We enjoy decorating our cupcakes with handmade Christmas decorations, and love watching our customers buying boxes to give as festive gifts.
I hope you’ll enjoy baking from our brand new collection of Hummingbird recipes and take pleasure in sharing your delicious homemade cakes with friends and family.
Tarek Malouf
VALENTINE’S DAY
TIRAMISU CUPCAKES
The Italian-restaurant favourite recreated in cupcake form. The creamy mascarpone and strong coffee flavours come bursting through the middle of this heavenly delight.
Makes 12–16 cupcakes
FOR THE SPONGE
80g (3oz) unsalted butter, softened
280g (10oz) caster sugar
240g (8½oz) plain flour
¼ tsp salt
1 tbsp baking powder
2 large eggs
240ml (8½fl oz) whole milk
½ tsp vanilla essence
FOR THE SOAKING SYRUP
250ml (9fl oz) strong coffee
75ml (2½fl oz) Kahlúa
3 tbsp caster sugar
FOR THE FILLING AND FROSTING
400g (14oz) mascarpone cheese
50ml (1¾fl oz) Kahlúa
300ml (10½fl oz) double cream
30g (1oz) icing sugar
Cocoa powder, for dusting
One or two 12-hole
deep muffin tins
1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F), Gas mark 5, and line a muffin tin with muffin cases.
2. Using a hand-held electric whisk or a freestanding electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter, sugar, flour, salt and baking powder on a low speed until the ingredients are well incorporated and have the texture of fine breadcrumbs.
3. Break the eggs into a jug, then add the milk and vanilla essence and mix together by hand. With the electric whisk or mixer running on a low speed, slowly pour three-quarters of the wet ingredients into the flour and butter mixture. Once everything has been mixed together, scrape down the sides of the bowl to pick up any ingredients that were missed, then add the rest of the milk mixture and mix the batter again, now on a medium speed, until it is smooth and even.
4. Divide the batter between the paper cases, filling them up to two-thirds. If any batter is left over, use it to fill up to four more cases in a second tin. Place in the oven and bake for 18–20 minutes or until well risen and springy to the touch. Leave to cool slightly before removing from the tin, then place on a wire rack to cool completely while you make the soaking syrup.
5. Pour the coffee and Kahlúa into a saucepan and stir in the sugar. Place the pan on the hob and bring to the boil, allowing the liquid to reduce by about half, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
6. Meanwhile, make the frosting. Using the electric whisk, beat the mascarpone and Kahlúa until smooth. Pour the cream into a separate bowl, add the icing sugar and whip into soft peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture, making sure it is evenly mixed in.
7. When the cupcakes have cooled, use a sharp knife to cut a piece out of each sponge – about 2cm (¾in) in diameter and 3cm (1¼in) long – and set aside.