Robin Bakes

does what it says on the cake tin. (34-agender-they/them)

[robinfbakes]

Easter biscuits

Nearly forgot to share these. After getting stuck at home over the Easter break courtesy of the dreaded C, the daughter and I decided to do some baking. Daughter chose a Mary Berry recipe for traditional Easter biscuits (cookies for the Americans). Halfway through I realised we had no currants or cinnamon so we improvised with chocolate chips and doubling up the mixed spice. I also made the necessary changes to make the recipe lactose free for the poorly coughing husband. The end result was absolutely delicious and I'll definitely make this variant of them again.

[robinfbakes]

Our Flag Means Death cupcakes

Part 1 of 3

Recipes and designs adapted from:

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

By @kd-heart

I really enjoyed this wonderful pirate show so when I saw cupcakes inspired by them I was thrilled. Then I read the recipes and I knew I had to give them a go.

First up, inspired by Blackbeard, we have the rum and tea cupcakes with rum and cocoa buttercream.

The recipe called for black tea steeped in hot milk. Not the most picturesque stage of the process but you get a photo of that because it cane out very atmospheric and kinda accidentally in keeping with the show.

I had a few of these pirate themed cases left and I just knew I had to use them.

I loved how these came out and they taste wonderful. Recipe is on KD bakes' ao3 linked above. I adapted slightly to use actual rum in the cakes (a. because I couldn't get essence, b. because rum.) I also removed the salt as I was using salted butter, upped the flour content by about 15g, and used light brown soft sugar.

[robinfbakes]

Part 2 of 3

Stede Bonnet inspired orange cupcakes.

Again, this was based on kd-heart's recipe linked above but I went a bit further off the book for it as I had limited time, a 3 year old assistant, and a need to make something my teetotal and lactose intolerant husband could eat.

The 3 year old had a great time making a sticky mess with orange slices and fresh juice. The cases for this set I chose a pretty floral that i thought would complement the icing and reminded me of the dinner party episode.

The changes I made included using dairy free butter, oat milk, juice rather than essence (because I couldn't get essence), leaving out salt (it was in the butter substitute), vanilla essence (a personal preference), and using self raising flour rather than plain plus baking powder (because I was lazy). I also almost completely ignored the instructions and paid for it by a. having to add an extra 30g of flour, and b. not producing as delicate and neat cakes as the proper process would. Next time I'll try to do it properly if I'm child free.

The icing I also left out the cream as I had no dairy free alternative. I added some poor attempts at lace detail that could also look a bit like sea foam.

[robinfbakes]

Part 3 of 3

The pretty pictures.

These are really delicious. I can't recommend the recipes highly enough. My favourite are the Blackbeard's rum and tea ones. I'm pleasantly surprised the Stede orange ones came out so well considering how much I messed around with the recipe.

Thank you kd-heart for sharing these!

Enjoy!

[robinfbakes]

Our Flag Means Death cupcakes

Part 1 of 3

Recipes and designs adapted from:

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

By @kd-heart

I really enjoyed this wonderful pirate show so when I saw cupcakes inspired by them I was thrilled. Then I read the recipes and I knew I had to give them a go.

First up, inspired by Blackbeard, we have the rum and tea cupcakes with rum and cocoa buttercream.

The recipe called for black tea steeped in hot milk. Not the most picturesque stage of the process but you get a photo of that because it cane out very atmospheric and kinda accidentally in keeping with the show.

I had a few of these pirate themed cases left and I just knew I had to use them.

I loved how these came out and they taste wonderful. Recipe is on KD bakes' ao3 linked above. I adapted slightly to use actual rum in the cakes (a. because I couldn't get essence, b. because rum.) I also removed the salt as I was using salted butter, upped the flour content by about 15g, and used light brown soft sugar.

[robinfbakes]

Part 2 of 3

Stede Bonnet inspired orange cupcakes.

Again, this was based on kd-heart's recipe linked above but I went a bit further off the book for it as I had limited time, a 3 year old assistant, and a need to make something my teetotal and lactose intolerant husband could eat.

The 3 year old had a great time making a sticky mess with orange slices and fresh juice. The cases for this set I chose a pretty floral that i thought would complement the icing and reminded me of the dinner party episode.

The changes I made included using dairy free butter, oat milk, juice rather than essence (because I couldn't get essence), leaving out salt (it was in the butter substitute), vanilla essence (a personal preference), and using self raising flour rather than plain plus baking powder (because I was lazy). I also almost completely ignored the instructions and paid for it by a. having to add an extra 30g of flour, and b. not producing as delicate and neat cakes as the proper process would. Next time I'll try to do it properly if I'm child free.

The icing I also left out the cream as I had no dairy free alternative. I added some poor attempts at lace detail that could also look a bit like sea foam.

[robinfbakes]

Our Flag Means Death cupcakes

Part 1 of 3

Recipes and designs adapted from:

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

By @kd-heart

I really enjoyed this wonderful pirate show so when I saw cupcakes inspired by them I was thrilled. Then I read the recipes and I knew I had to give them a go.

First up, inspired by Blackbeard, we have the rum and tea cupcakes with rum and cocoa buttercream.

The recipe called for black tea steeped in hot milk. Not the most picturesque stage of the process but you get a photo of that because it cane out very atmospheric and kinda accidentally in keeping with the show.

I had a few of these pirate themed cases left and I just knew I had to use them.

I loved how these came out and they taste wonderful. Recipe is on KD bakes' ao3 linked above. I adapted slightly to use actual rum in the cakes (a. because I couldn't get essence, b. because rum.) I also removed the salt as I was using salted butter, upped the flour content by about 15g, and used light brown soft sugar.

[robinfbakes]

Shortbread 22/12/21

Next up - shortbread.

This is probably the first thing I can recall baking from the time I was a young child. This recipe is delicious but sadly not my Grandma's as that was lost when my grandparents house was cleared.

Ah yes, those traditional Christmas shapes; angels, trees, bells, holly... and scottie dogs.

I want to eat them now. I think I baked too soon.

[robinfbakes]

Christmas Gingerbread 22/12/21

I make these spiced gingerbread biscuits every Christmas. I get the recipe wrong every time but always in the same ways and I like the results so I'm not sure you could call it an accident any more.

The recipe calls for 1/2 a teaspoon of ground ginger. The next line is 4 tablespoons of golden syrup. I end up with 4 teaspoons of ginger every time and I love them that spiced. I'm not sure everyone would agree. For Christmas I swap out one spoon of ginger for mixed spice and the smell is glorious.

Ta-da! Nothing fancy and they spread a bit more than I expected. I think perhaps because of the plant butter I use now that my other half can't have lactose. They taste just as good though. I would decorate them but no one else likes them iced as it makes them very sweet. Also, here's a peek at my collection of cutters.

[robinfbakes]

Trying out a new spatula today. With my dyspraxia it's a fine balance between ones that work well and the possibility that I'll break them. This has a pleasing handle and works nicely for mixing. However, I suspect I will use excess pressure and break it before too long. We shall see.

[robinfbakes]

Christmas gingerbread time!

[robinfbakes]

[robinfbakes]

[robinfbakes]

Basic Cupcakes 03/12/21

All mixed up and ready to go. How much goes in each case? Who knows. I did once but I've long since switched to judging it by eye. Anyway, you know you're jealous of my super cool unicorn cupcake cases.

Are you the sort to lick the spoon - or do you live somewhere the treatment of eggs makes that risky? I don't think I could stop myself. Give me dangerous eggs and I'd just be here playing cake-mix-roulette.

Right. Now, how long do I bake these for? *checks notes*

Thank you so much past me for that concise and useless note.

And here they are all done. A bit wonky but very tasty looking. Going to decorate them later - half will be my 3 year old's choice and the rest I'm going to try something smarter.

[robinfbakes]

Let's start at the very beginning.

A simple sponge cake. Eggs, fat, flour, sugar. The very basics.