Nan's Cream Puffs

Nan's Cream Puffs (sometimes called Chocolate Eclairs) are something I only recently rediscovered when searching through all my nan's old hand written recipes a few weeks ago, and I am so glad I did. Not only are they super yummy, but they really are very easy to make (truly they are!) and there are limited ingredients, something else I love about old recipes.

So here it is I hope you give it a go and let me know how you went ;) (I have slightly expanded on Nan's recipe so I hope it all makes sense, she liked to keep things short and sweet)

CREAM PUFFS:

1 Cup Hot Water

1/2 Cup Butter or Margarine

1 Cup SR Flour

3 Eggs - Slightly beaten

500ml Whipping Cream

2 Tbl Icing Sugar

1 Tsp Vanilla Essence

200g Dark Cooking Chocolate

Preheat your oven to 180oC. Line a large flat baking tray with non stick baking paper. In a medium saucepan bring the water and butter to a gentle boil and add flour all at once. Remove from the heat and beat until the dough comes together and is smooth. Sit aside to cool for approx 10-15mins. When cooled, add the beaten eggs and mix with a wooden spoon for 5 mins until mixture is sticky and glossy. You can either place mixture into a piping bag and pipe either drops or logs (Eclairs) or you can heap Tablespoon size heaps onto the tray (this was how nan made them).

Bake in the oven for approx 12mins until golden brown and hollow sounding, then remove from oven and pierce a small hole in the base of each puff to let the steam escape and return to the oven upside down for approx another 5 mins.
Leave on a cooling rack until completely cool. While cooling whip your cream and icing sugar together and just as soft peaks are starting to form add your vanilla essence and continue to whip until stiff. You can either slice the puffs in half and fill or place cream in a piping bag with a small nozzle and stuff them by poking it into the holes you made earlier for the steam. Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a glass bowl. Microwave for 1 minute and stir, if not completely melted place back in microwave for 30 sec bursts stirring in between. Drizzle with the melted chocolate and place into the fridge to set.

Enjoy ♥

Bel xx

Baking for the soul

On my way out to put the rubbish in the bin this morning I noticed a recipe for Rocky Crunch Cakes on the side of the packet, so after a particular rough couple of weeks I have decided to dedicate this week to sunshine and happiness and what better way to kick it off that doing a little baking :)

Here is the recipe, they were really really easy

ROCKY CRUNCH CAKES

110g Butter

1/2 Cup Sugar

1 3/4 cup Plain Flour

1/2 Sultanas (I used a mixture of sultanas and raisins)

1 1/2 cups Kellogg's Crunchy Nut Cornflakes (I am sure normal cornflakes are fine too)

2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Vanilla Essence

1/4 cup Milk

Preheat oven to 180oC. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy and add remaining ingredients. Mix until mixture resembles a stiff dough. Place heaped tablespoons on a greased baking tray (I did teaspoon size, better for little fingers). Bake at 180oC for approx 15mins until golden. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container. I made 26 of the smaller size ones. Enjoy

And can I say sitting here eating my 3rd one, they certainly have brought some happiness into my day and made me remember all those yummy treats from my childhood.

I also thought I would share these few pics with you to hopefully put a smile on your face today. Whilst trying my hardest to get some crafting done one day last week, I am not sure if my little helper was a help or a hindrance. Either way we had lots of fun sorting through the fabrics

Hope your having a happy day too, Bel xx