Tag Archives: Mary Berry

Coffee and Walnut Cake

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A couple of weekends ago the theme for the Sunday Baking Club was Retro  Bakes.  The easy option would have been a Victoria Sponge, however I went for the second easiest option – Coffee and Walnut Cake! A favourite of my mums and mine when I was growing up.  I chose this recipe from Mary Berry’s Baking Bible

Ingredients

For the Cake

100g Soft Butter
100g Caster Sugar
2 Large Eggs
100g Self-raising Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
50g Chopped walnuts
1 tbsp. Coffee Essence (Or mix 2 tsp. of instant coffee with 1 tbsp. boiling water)

For the filling and topping

75g Butter, softened
225g Icing Sugar, sifted
2 tsp. Milk
2 tsp. Coffee Essence
8 Walnut Halves, to decorate

Method

  • For the cake, preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
  • Grease and line the bases of two 18cm/7in diameter sandwich tins with baking parchment.
  • Beat together all the cake ingredients in a large bowl with an electric hand whisk until well combined and smooth.
  • Divide the mixture between the cake tins and gently spread out with a spatula.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until an inserted skewer comes out clean.
  • Allow to stand for five minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool. Peel off the parchment paper.
  • For the filling and topping, beat the butter and gradually add the icing sugar.
  • When all the icing sugar is added, add the milk and coffee essence and beat until smooth.
  • When the cakes have cooled, spread half the coffee icing on one cake and sandwich together with the other half.
  • Ice the top of the cake with the remaining coffee icing and decorate with walnut pieces.

Enjoy with a cup of tea, or in the spirit of the Sunday Baking Club, something a little stronger!

Mary Berry’s Banana Loaf

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I always buy too many bananas with the intention of being healthy and eating them all, the good intention lasts about 36 hours and then I can’t be bothered with them.  So what do you do when you have old bananas in your fruit bowl? Bake a Banana Loaf of course!

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In times of baking need there is only one person to turn to for a recipe… that’s right Mary Berry and her baking bible, or ‘Mury Bury’ as she sounds in my Northern Irish accent!  I have used several different recipes before, but most call for 3 bananas and I only have 2… but no fear – Mary comes up trumps!

Mary Berry’s Banana Loaf (Taken from Mary Berry’s Baking Bible)

Ingredients

100g Softened Butter
175g Caster Sugar
2 Large Eggs
2 Ripe Bananas (mashed)
225g Self Raising Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
2 tbsp. Milk

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C / Fan 160C / Gas 4.
2. Lightly grease a 2lb loaf tin, then line the base and sides with baking parchment
3. Measure all ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat for about 2 minutes, until well blended
4. Spoon the mixture into the tin and level the surface
5. Bake in the pre-heated over for about 1 hour, until well risen and golden brown.  A fine skewer inserted in the centre should come out clean if the loaf is ready.
6. Leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes, then turn out, peel of the parchment and finish cooling on a wire rack.

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This was so easy to make and delicious, and there wasn’t much left of it by the time it was cooled on the rack!

(Picture credit: Annie Mole / Flickr)