22 October 2012

Sweets

The rain in finally here. Soggy leaves line my driveway. It has brought about a much desired change in the weather. I woke up to the crisp breeze flowing through the window I should have closed. My closet in now packed with all my winter coats I had left at my parents house in the summer. My sandals are now thrown to the back of the closet and shearling lined boots are beside my bed. 
I hope the weather says this way for a while. I want the cold to continue. 

So I made these desserts of course a bit ago, I'm always rather late to post anything. 
I first tried elderflower in the form of a soda found at Berkeley Bowl. The bottle and packaging was so pretty, I was immediately drawn to it. I knew I had to buy it. I loved it. Reminded me somewhat of a grapefruit but more floral and subtle. 
So after looking it up online and then never finding it again in a store around me, I ordered a bunch online. I mean a lot, bottles of soda and the cordial syrup which is more like a concentrate to dilute down into drinks and such. But I  wanted to use it more for baking. 

An elderflower cake was in store. Because cakes are great and also pretty simple to make. I really liked it. Soft, moist with that hint of elderflower that lingers.

Then I finally made some madeleines that came out. I had tried with different recipes before but they all just came out somehow wrong. After finding the blog, Manger, and looking through every post, I decided to try her recipe. Finally one that works! Plus have you seen that blog? Ridiculously gorgeous. 

1





2

Elderflower Cake                                                  
*will make one 8" round layer, double the recipe for a traditional sized bundt pan

125g butter, softened
200g sugar
3 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
300g flour
2 tsp baking powder
100ml milk
60ml elderflower cordial 

Cream butter and sugar together until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes on a stand mixer. Add in eggs one at a time. 
Sift flour, baking powder and salt together in a separate bowl. 
Combine milk and elderflower cordial in a separate bowl.
Add in the dry and wet mixes, alternating to the butter/sugar.
Do not over mix.
Butter and flour a 8" round cake pan. Pour batter in. 
Bake in a 350F oven for 20-30 minutes of until golden and toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool completely. 
For the icing I just whisked some powdered sugar with elderflower cordial until I got a thick but pourable consistency to drizzle on the cake.




3.1






5






6






7






8



Madeleines                                                                                                                                                   
from Mimi Thorisson's blog Manger

130 g white sugar
20 g honey
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
150 g AP flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tbsp orange blossom water
125 g butter, melted


Cream sugar, honey, salt & eggs together until very fluffy. 
Sift the flour & baking powder over the mixture. Gently fold in. 
Fold in the melted butter, zest & orange blossom. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight. 
Oven 350. Butter & flour a madeleine pan. For a standard size madeleine pan, use 1 tbsp of batter, for mini madeleine pan, use 1 tsp of batter. Make sure you use batter directly from the fridge, keep batter between bakes in the fridge. 
Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are golden. Shake from pan.
*I used a standard size madeleine pan and got about 24 madeleines.




9







10







11.1







13

22 comments:

JUEGO DE SABORES said...

Todo está espectacular con esas fotos tan bonitas. Realmente dan ganas de comer un trocito de pastel, o unas cuantas magdalenas.
Saludos.
JUEGO DE SABORES

Mela e Cannella said...

OMG amazing i really in love with the Elderflower Cake *.*

Martina said...

Oh, I simply love this post. The elderflower cake,the madeleines, it's all so amazing :). Always beatiful coming here, and as usual wonderful pictures ;)

Mike said...

I'll have to look around to find Edelflower essence...in the meantime I will make some of those awesome madeleines: they look ravishing!

thecitygourmand said...

What a spread, the perfect afternoon tea in the making! I love the flavour of elderflower, it would lend itself perfectly in cake!

Susanne said...

I love your bundt pan! where did you buy it if I may ask..warmly Susanne

caromann said...

aaaaw it looks sooo good!!! xx

Unknown said...

lovely photos & colors. the cake looks so cute :)

anon said...

New to your blog - beautiful photography and good looking food. am quite taken with your elderflower cake, and feel like getting my bake on, as i have some cordial in the cupboard...

blue roses said...

the elderflower cake sounds delicious.... definitely one of my favorite flavor tints for cocktails, so very intrigued to give it a whirl in a baked good format!

http://dallianceswithsuitsandskirts.blogspot.com/

JUEGO DE SABORES said...

It looks so tasty!
http://juegodesabores.blogspot.com.es/

Anonymous said...

I love your blog and am your newest follower. I was hoping that you would stop by my blog and return the favor!!

www.enjoyingtheepiphany.com

Thanks,
Sarah

Janice Thi Tran said...

Looks so good!
Sending love from New York City, hope you are well. Please follow me! & like me on Facebook! If you have bloglovin, we should follow each other!
xox
Janicethitran.com
<3

Joey said...

They look so tasty and they are cute! ♥

Fataricotta said...

Love your pictures.......
Bye,
Sara

annie said...

I would definitely love to try these recipes. I love elderflower liqueur and now I must find elderflower cordial!

lick burger said...

hey honey,
love your blog
we're following you now,
visit our new blog if you want ;)
xx


www.licktheburguer.blogspot.com

Andrea Santos said...

This is amazing. YUM! Come by and check out my blog, if you like it I would love it if you followed me.

xo Andrea
http://uskar-vor-inspire.blogspot.ca/

Tine (matimuk) said...

this is a wonderful place..

Buckaroo Barbie said...

This was a beautiful, beautiful post and I LOVED it so much! I'm going to try it and let you know how it goes for me...but if I take a pic it won't look anything like yours ;) Love your photography and the new name!

www.buckaroobarbie.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I'm glad that I stumbled upon your amazing blog. Love your beautiful styling and clicks. Off to further explore your blog. Hopefully one day I will be able to figure out to snap better looking photos ;). Cheers, Jo

http://chicgorgeous.blogspot.com

asian wedding services said...

i loved it because i m a food lover i try different receipies like Apple pie and blue berry dutch.. they were amazing ...