MARBLED CHOCOLATE CAKE

Ingredients:

200g butter

200g caster sugar

200g self-raising flour

10ml (2tsp) baking powder

4 eggs

20ml (2tsp) cocoa powder

5ml (1tsp) vanilla essence

100g plain cooking chocolate

100g butter, softened

100g icing sugar

To Make:

1. 1. Preheat oven to 180°C, gas mark 4
2. 2. Using two bowls, place half of the butter, caster sugar, flour, baking powder and eggs into each bowl
3. 3. Beat with an electric whisk until smooth and creamy
4. 4. Mix cocoa powder into one of the bowls, and add vanilla essence to the other
5. 5. Grease and line two 8 inch cake tins
6. 6. Spoon the mixtures into the tins alternately to create marbled pattern.
7. 7. Cook cakes for about 20-25 minutes and allow to cool
8. 8. Break up chocolate and melt in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water
9. 9. Add melted chocolate to softened butter and icing sugar
10. 10. Whisk until smooth and spread over the middle of one cake
11. 11. Place the other cake on top, cover the top and sides with the rest of the chocolate icing

CHOCOLATELY CORNFLAKE NESTS

Ingredients:

3 chocolate bars (pick your favourite e.g. Mars, Snickers, Galaxy)

1oz butter

3oz cornflakes

A handful of Mini Eggs

To Make:

1. 1. Place a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water
2. 2. Add the butter and chocolate bars, cut into small pieces, and melt slowly
3. 3. Add handfuls of cornflakes to the melted chocolate and mix with your hands
4. 4. Place spoonfuls of the mixture into cake cases, top with a few Mini Eggs and allow to cool

EASY HOT CROSS BUNS

Ingredients:

500g strong white bread flour

½ tsp salt

2 tsp mixed spice

50g caster sugar

50g butter

200g mixed dried fruit

7g sachet of easy0blend dried yeast

200ml milk

2 eggs

3tbsp plain flour

Honey or golden syrup

To Make:

1. 1. Preheat oven to 220°c/gas mark 7
2. 2. Stir flour, salt, mixed spice and sugar in a bowl
3. 3. Rub in butter with your fingers and stir in dried fruit
4. 4. Sprinkle over yeast and stir
5. 5. Gently warm the milk, beat in the eggs and put mixture into bowl with dry mixture
6. 6. Mix ingredients to form a dough and leave to stand for five minutes
7. 7. Cut dough into eight pieces and shape into buns on a floured surface
8. 8. Pop onto a baking tray, cover with cling film and leave in a warm place for around 45 mins – 1 hour, until buns have roughly doubled in size
9. 9. Once the buns have risen, mix the flour with 2tbsp of water to make a paste. Pour into a plastic food bag and cut off one corner. Pipe crosses onto the top of the buns
10. 10. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden. Brush with honey or syrup to glaze.