3 easy bakes from The Tropical Cookbook

It’s less than 2 weeks till the launch of my third release; The Tropical Cookbook and I don’t know about you but I’m looking for anything that can mentally transport me to a tropical island!

I’m so excited about this book and of course would love you to all rush off to Amazon to pre-order, but for the first time ever I’ve decided to let you try before you buy.

“I’m also running a fun giveaway alongside these recipes as I’d love to offer three of you the chance to win a free signed copy of the book”

As promised below you will find 3 easy, fun recipes from the book. The recipes selected vary in difficulty but give also give you a good flavour of the book. One is completely free of dairy and flour and the other two offer alternative options as we know these ingredients are either being hoarded for emergencies or are ridiculously hard to find right now.

But that’s not all. I’m also running a fun giveaway alongside these recipes as I’d love to offer three of you the chance to win a free signed copy of the book which will be delivered to your door before it’s official release date! If you’d like to be in with a chance head to my instagram page to enter.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
No ratings yet

Watermelon Cupcakes

Mouth-wateringly delicious, these cupcakes are the perfect afternoon treat.
Prep Time30 minutes
Course: Snack
Servings: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

  • 150 g butter softened
  • 150 g caster sugar
  • 3 eggs if no eggs, substitute with 3 mashed bananas
  • 150 g self-raising flour
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • Green gel food colouring

For the buttercream:

  • 200 g butter softened
  • 400 g icing sugar
  • Pink gel food colouring
  • Chocolate chips to decorate

Instructions

For the cupcakes:

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a cupcake tray with 12 cupcake cases.
  • Put the butter, sugar, eggs (or mashed banana) and flour in a large mixing bowl, and beat together until pale and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and 2 drops of green gel food colouring then mix through until well combined.
  • Fill each cupcake case with a heaped tablespoon of batter, then bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes until springy to touch. Remove the tray from the oven and place the cupcakes on a wire rack to cool.

For the buttercream:

  • Blend the butter and icing sugar together until smooth, add a few drops of the pink gel food colouring (enough to make the buttercream a vibrant pink hue) and combine.
  • Fit a piping bag with a closed-star nozzle, transfer the mixture into the piping bag and pipe swirls of buttercream on top of the cupcakes.
  • To decorate, scatter some chocolate chips on to the buttercream, spacing them apart to resemble watermelon seeds.

Notes

These will last for 2–3 days in an airtight container kept somewhere cool.
Tried this recipe?Mention @mykitchendrawer or tag #mykitchendrawer!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
No ratings yet

Banana Sushi

Who said Sushi had to be fishy? Try this sweet bananalicious alternative covered in all sorts of sweet toppings. 
Prep Time45 minutes
Course: Dessert
Keyword: banana

Ingredients

  • 100 g Desiccated coconut
  • 100 g Toasted almonds
  • 100 g Freeze-dried strawberries
  • 100 g colourful sprinkles see page XXX
  • 4 bananas
  • 3-4 tbsp Hazelnut spread
  • 3-4 tbsp Biscuit spread

Instructions

  • Line a baking tray with a piece of baking paper then place the coconut, toasted almonds, freeze-dried strawberries and sprinkles separately in the other four baking trays ready for decorating.
  • Peel all your bananas and put them it into the freezer for 15 minutes. Once cool using a knife, take one banana and coat it in hazelnut spread. Warning: this is messy work so have a cloth ready to wipe your hands.
  • As soon as the banana is coated, roll it in the desiccated coconut and place on the lined baking tray.
  • Repeat the above but roll the second banana in the freeze-dried strawberries and the third in the sprinkles.
  • For the final banana, coat it in the biscuit spread and cover it with the toasted almonds.
  • Put the bananas in the fridge to set for 30 minutes then remove and slice into sushi-sized bites.
  • Serve on a tray with chopsticks for an authentic tropical sushi feel.

Notes

You can use any coating and decoration you wish. 
If you haven’t got hazelnut or biscuit spread you could use, peanut butter or make your own chocolate ganache. 
For toppings be as creative as you wish. 
Tried this recipe?Mention @mykitchendrawer or tag #mykitchendrawer!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
No ratings yet

Flamillionaire Shortbread

Flamia the Flamingo is just too good to us. This time she’s sharing her recipe for shortbread treats that are the perfect accompaniment to afternoon tea.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time20 minutes
Chill time1 hour
Total Time2 hours 20 minutes
Course: Dessert
Keyword: Caramel, Chocolate, flamingo, Shortbread
Servings: 12 squares

Ingredients

For the shortbread base:

  • 250 g plain flour
  • 75 g caster sugar
  • 175 g butter softened

For the caramel:

  • 100 g butter
  • 100 g light brown sugar
  • 2 397 g cans condensed milk

For the chocolate topping:

  • 100 g milk chocolate
  • 100 g dark chocolate
  • 50 g white chocolate
  • A few drops pink gel food colouring

Instructions

For the shortbread base

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a 30cm x 20cm (12in. x 8in.) baking tin.
  • Mix the flour and caster sugar in a large bowl, then add the butter and rub the mixture together with your fingers until it resembles breadcrumbs.
    Bring the mixture together so it forms a dough then press it evenly into the base of the prepared tin.
  • Prick the dough a few times with a fork then bake for 20 minutes, until lightly browned, then leave to cool in the tin while you make the caramel.

For the caramel

  • Put the butter, light brown sugar and two cans of 397g condensed milk into a medium pan and gently heat until the sugar has dissolved.
  • Bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring at all times, for about 5–10 minutes until the mixture has thickened.
    Immediately pour over the shortbread base and leave to cool for an hour.

For the chocolate topping

  • Put the milk and dark chocolate into a heatproof bowl and set it over a pan of simmering water. Let them melt, stirring the two chocolates together, then pour them over the cooled caramel.
  • Repeat the above in a clean bowl and melt the white chocolate but, once melted, add a few drops of pink food colouring and mix it through.
    Drizzle the now pink chocolate over the top of the milk/dark chocolate then, 
  • using a toothpick or the tip of a knife, swirl the two chocolates together until you have a marble effect.
  • Leave aside to cool, then cut into 12 squares and serve. 
Tried this recipe?Mention @mykitchendrawer or tag #mykitchendrawer!
Follow:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating