Banana & chocolate cupcakes

Preparation Time

20 minutes

Cooking Time

25 minutes

Ingredients (serves 16)

• 150g butter, at room temperature
• 155g (3/4 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 ripe bananas, peeled, mashed
• 1 x 200g pkt good-quality dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 300g (2 cups) self-raising flour
• 60ml (1/4 cup) milk
• White chocolate curls, to decorate

• Chocolate frosting

• 1 x 200g pkt good-quality dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 125ml (1/2 cup) thickened cream

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line sixteen 80ml (1/3-cup) capacity muffin pans with paper cases.
2. Use an electric beater to beat together the butter, sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition until just combined. Add the banana and chocolate and stir until well combined. Use a large metal spoon to fold in the flour and milk until well combined. Spoon the mixture evenly among the prepared muffin pans and smooth the surfaces. Bake in oven for 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centres comes out clean. Set aside to cool completely.
3. Meanwhile, to make the chocolate frosting, place the chocolate and cream in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan half-filled with simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water). Use a metal spoon to stir occasionally until the chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Set aside for 30 minutes to cool slightly. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 2 hours or until almost firm. Use an electric beater to beat the chocolate mixture until pale and fluffy.
4. Use a round-bladed knife to spread the cupcakes evenly with frosting. Sprinkle with chocolate curls to serve.

Banana chocolate cake

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 1 1/2 cups wholemeal self-raising flour
• 3/4 cup self-raising flour
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 large, over-ripe bananas, mashed (see note)
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• Icing

• 1 1/2 cups icing sugar mixture
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk, warmed

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly grease an 8-cup capacity, 24cm fluted ring tin. Sift flours, cocoa and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Add husks from sieve. Add sugar. Stir to combine. Make a well in the centre.
2. Combine eggs, banana, buttermilk and oil in a jug. Pour into well. Stir to combine.
3. Spoon cake mixture into prepared tin. Smooth surface. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Stand cake for 5 minutes in tin. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
4. Make icing: Sift icing sugar and cocoa into a bowl. Add milk. Using a wooden spoon, mix until smooth. Pour icing over cooled cake. Using a flat-bladed knife, spread over top. Allow icing to run down sides. Stand for 20 minutes or until icing sets. Serve.

Notes & tips

• You will need 1 cup mashed banana.

Apple pie

Preparation Time

40 minutes

Cooking Time

50 minutes

Ingredients (serves 8)

• Melted butter, to grease
• 190g (1 1/4 cups) plain flour
• 190g (1 1/4 cups) self-raising flour
• 2 tbs caster sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 200g chilled butter, chopped
• 1 egg, separated
• 80ml (1/3 cup) iced water
• 1.5kg Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, quartered, cut into 1.5cm-thick slices
• 55g (1/4 cup) caster sugar, extra
• 2 tbs plain flour, extra
• 2 tbs fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthways
• 3 tsp white sugar
• Double cream or vanilla ice-cream, to serve

Method

1. Brush a round 5cm-deep, 20cm (base measurement) pie dish with melted butter to grease.
2. Place the combined flours, caster sugar, salt and butter in the bowl of a food processor and process until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add egg yolk and water and process until the dough just starts to come together.
3. Roll out two-thirds of the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a 28cm-diameter disc. Line the prepared pie dish with pastry and trim excess. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest.
4. Preheat oven to 200°C. Combine apple, extra caster sugar, extra flour, lemon juice, cinnamon and the seeds from the vanilla bean in a bowl. Lightly whisk egg white in a bowl. Brush the base and side of the pastry case with egg white. Place apple mixture in the pastry case.
5. Roll out remaining pastry on a lightly floured surface to a disc large enough to fit the top of pie. Place over the apple mixture. Press the edges to seal and trim excess. Brush the top with egg white and sprinkle with white sugar. Cut 3 slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
6. Bake for 20 minutes. Reduce temperature to 180°C and bake for a further 30 minutes or until the apple is tender (insert a metal skewer, through the slit, into a piece of apple to check for tenderness). Set aside for 10 minutes to cool. Serve with cream or ice-cream.

Cheesecake brownie

Preparation Time

10 - 75 minutes

Cooking Time

35 minutes

Makes

16

Equipment

You'll need a square 20cm (base measurement) cake pan for this recipe.

Ingredients

• Melted butter, to grease
• 150g butter, chopped
• 300g good-quality dark cooking chocolate, chopped
• 3 eggs
• 215g (1 cup) caster sugar
• 225g (1 1/2 cups) plain flour
• 65g (1/4 cup) sour cream
• 1 x 250g pkt cream cheese, at room temperature

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a square 20cm (base measurement) cake pan with melted butter to lightly grease. Line the base and 2 opposite sides with non-stick baking paper, allowing it to overhang.
2. Combine the butter and chocolate in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool.
3. Whisk 2 of the eggs in a small bowl. Add whisked eggs and 140g (2/3 cup) of the sugar to the chocolate mixture, and stir to combine. Add the flour and sour cream and stir until well combined.
4. Use an electric beater to beat the cream cheese and remaining sugar in a bowl until smooth. Add the remaining egg and beat until just combined.
5. Spoon chocolate and cream cheese mixtures, alternately, over base of pan. Use a skewer to swirl to create a marble effect. Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Set aside in the pan for 1 hour to cool. Cut into squares to serve.

Lemon meringue pie

Preparation Time

20 minutes

Cooking Time

60 minutes

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 225g (1 1/2 cups) plain flour
• 55g (1/2 cup) almond meal
• 60g (1/3 cup) icing sugar mixture
• 125g chilled butter, chopped
• 1 egg yolk

• Lemon filling

• 5 eggs, lightly whisked
• 300ml thin cream
• 155g (3/4 cup) caster sugar
• 1 tbs finely grated lemon rind
• 125ml (1/2 cup) fresh lemon juice

• Meringue

• 3 egg whites
• 100g (1/2 cup) caster sugar

Method

1. To make the lemon filling, whisk together the egg, cream, sugar, lemon rind and juice in a bowl until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour to develop the flavours.
2. Meanwhile, place the flour, almond meal, icing sugar and butter in the bowl of a food processor and process until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk and process until dough just starts to come together.
3. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until just smooth. Shape into a disc, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest.
4. Preheat oven to 200°C. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a 3mm-thick disc. Line a round 5cm-deep, 18cm (base measurement) fluted tart tin, with removable base, with pastry and trim any excess. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest.
5. Cover the pastry base with baking paper and fill with pastry weights, rice or dried beans. Bake in oven for 10 minutes. Remove the paper and pastry weights, rice or dried beans. Bake for 8 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 160°C.
6. Strain the lemon mixture through a fine sieve into a jug. Pour into the pastry case. Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until just set. Remove from oven and set aside for 15 mins to cool. Place in fridge for 1 hour to chill. Increase oven temperature to 180°C.
7. To make the meringue, use an electric beater to whisk the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, 1 tablespoonful at a time, whisking constantly until thick and glossy. Spoon the meringue mixture over the tart and spread to the edge of the pastry. Use the back of a spoon to lightly touch the meringue to create peaks. Bake in oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden. Set aside for 15 minutes to cool. Cut into wedges to serve.

Flourless chocolate cake

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 200g butter, chopped
• 250g dark chocolate, chopped
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1 cup caster sugar

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160°C/140°C fan-forced. Grease a 6cm-deep, 22cm (base) round springform cake pan. Line base and side with baking paper.
2. Place butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water (make sure bowl doesn't touch water). Stir over low heat until smooth.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar for 5 minutes or until thick and creamy. Beat eggwhites in a separate bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar until dissolved.
4. Add chocolate mixture to egg yolk mixture. Mix to combine. Add one-quarter of the eggwhite mixture. Mix well. Fold in remaining eggwhite mixture. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 50 minutes or until top is firm to touch and a skewer inserted into centre has moist crumbs clinging. Cool cake in pan. Serve.

Notes & tips

• Dust with icing sugar mixture.