After watching the last episode of Great British Bake Off 2015, I was quite sad that I won’t have any more fabulous bakes to look forward to each week to inspire and challenge myself. Nevertheless, Taste100 is challenging bloggers to create hen-inspired cakes to be judged by ex-Bake Off contestant, Chetna Makan!
As the more creative the bake is, the better chance of winning a Mason Cash Bakers Set, along with a Cath Kidston set of containers and apron. So thinking outside the box – since Halloween is coming, I decided to mix both hen and ghost spirits together. I bring to you this Halloween Ghost Chicken Cupcake!
Since I had tried to bake coffee cupcakes, I decided I needed to try to bake tea cupcakes next! I am a big fan of green tea. It is very light and fragrant. The best way to achieve a tasty green tea cake is to use the green tea powder rather than brew from the tea leaves. However, I did find it hard to get the green tea powder from our area, but I do know that they can be found easily in London or Chinatown.
Anyway, I have a box of green tea bags, so I decided to use them. I didn’t want to put the leaves into the cake as my children probably won’t like it hence the flavour and colour are not a very strong shade of green.
Ingredients:
- 125g butter, softened
- 150g golden caster sugar
- 175g self-raising flour
- 4 tablespoons of milk
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 4-5 green tea bags, brew with 4 tablespoons of hot water for overnight or at least 5 minutes
Method:
- Beat the butter and caster sugar together. Then add one egg at a time with a bit of flour to stop it from curdling.
- Add your green tea and milk into the mixture.
- Place them into the cupcake cases (make 12) and bake for 18 – 20 minutes at 160°C.
To make the sugar crafts, you will need:
- White fondant
- Red, black and yellow/orange icing rolls
- Lollipops
Method:
- Place the lollipops in the middle of each cupcakes. If they are too tall, trim the stick.
- Roll the white fondant flat and cut a big circle. This is a white fondant sheet to put on top of the lollipop. Be careful not to pull the fondant too hard as it will break through the lollipop.
- Mould the beaks, eyes and combs by using your icing roll and then use icing glue to stick them onto the fondant.
I am not very good at sugar craft but I hope in no time, I will improve and make a better looking rooster/hen. So at the moment, this is it!
If you would like to learn some baking tips from Chetna Makan, her YouTube channel may be a good place to look, which can be found here – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1VkNUPA6ieOuwXmk4SSJZw.
Disclosure: I have received money off to buy a packet of Happy Egg to enter the competition.