Biscoff Cookie Butter Cupcakes!

vanilla cupcakes topped with a biscoff cookie buttercream and decorated with biscoff cookies.

if you are a cookie lover or a cupcake lover or a love anything sweet person then this is the recipe for you!


Recipe adapted from http://www.janespatisserie.com
Ingredients  :

Cupcakes -
-175g stork
-3 medium eggs
-2tsp vanilla
-2tsp milk
-175g caster sugar
-175g self raising flour

Buttercream -
-200g biscoff cookie butter
-200g butter
-400g icing sugar

Method :

1;Heat your oven to 160 fan and line a cupcake tin with 12-16 cases.

2:Mix the margarine with the sugar and slowly add in the eggs one at a time.

3:Add in the vanilla and flour and beat until smooth and combine.Add a little milk if need to loosen the mixture.

4:Divide your mixture into the cases using a spoon or ice cream scoop,bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clear.

5:Leave the cakes to cool

Buttercream icing -

6: Mix the icing sugar and margarine until loosened and smooth,gradually add the icing sugar and mixing on a slow speed until combined.

7: Add in the biscoff spread and contine to mix,add the milk if you need too.mix for 5 minutes to get the icing thick and creamy.

8: Pipe the icing onto the cake and decorate with the biscuits i choose to place a whole cookie on top and crush some extra on the top.

9:Enjoy your yummy cupcakes and wow your taste buds!

Carla xoxo

Oreo Cupcakes

Who doesn't love Oreos and cupcakes.So clash the two together and you have a mouth watering treat!

 This cupcake recipe makes 12 cupcakes

 This is a triple Oreo cupcakes with a sneaky surprise at the bottom of the cupcake - you've been warned! 

 for the cupcake - 

 85g self raising flour

 15g cocoa powder

 pinch of salt 

1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda

 125g caster sugar

 135g unsalted butter

 3 medium eggs 

2 tbsp milk 

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

 2 & 1/2 packets Oreo I used a mixture of double stuffed and peanut butter oreo cookies 

 for the Oreo butter cream - 

 200g unsalted butter

 450g icing sugar sifted 

3 tbsp milk 

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

 1/2 packet oreos pulsed

 method -

 1.preheat your oven to 160 fan

 2.line your muffin tin with cupcake cases 3.place a whole Oreo at the bottom of the case 

4.mix your butter ans sugar in a food mixer or by hand

 5.add the eggs one at a time

 6.sift flour,cocoa powder and continue mixing 

7.add vanilla extract.

 8.using a tbsp or ice cream scoop place your mixture into the cases 

9.bake in the oven for 15-25 minutes 10.leave the cupcakes to cool before icing 

 11.mix in a mixer your sifted icing sugar,butter,vanilla extract and milk 

12.in a food processor pulser 1/2 a packet of oreos 

13.mix the oreos into the icing

 14.spread or pipe your icing onto your cupcake 

15.for extra deliciousness I added an Oreo on the top 

16.Enjoy your yummy creation

 whats you're favourite cupcake flavour?

Happiness

The purpose of this post is to share with you some tips I found useful when I found myself stuck in an obnoxious mind.I'll try my best to make as much sense as possible.

It's incredibly important to be happy.Not only in your life or others,but its vital to be OK with who you are!
I'm not the person who necessarily believes in "everything happens for a reason".I also am not one to go by cliché-cheesy quotes or mantras.But each to their own.

Each and every one of us,even those who are astonishingly positive and optimistic,have bad days and periods in our lives where we feel a bunch of obnoxious emotions.Sadly there all apart of life.

In my experience feeling like you don't have a purpose is the worst.Some say "life is short" and it is in the sense that you should make memories and have fun as you don't know what can happen tomorrow.On the other hand life isn't short, for most of us and we could be here until were 100.


TIP UNO - Don't compare yourself to others! social media is the big cause of confident issues,were all individuals and different in many ways and your great being who you are!

TIP DOS-  Surround yourself with the right people.Who you hang around with is more important than you think.We're creatures of habit and don't like change so changing your friendship group might seem terrifying. Positive energy is contagious so try and be around people who love you for you and you enjoy being around.

TIP TRES- Routine-Having a purpose to get up and do things! This may be harder if your un-employed or if you work from home,but try to compose some sort of routine in your day so that you feel you have a purpose and stay sane.Otherwise you'll get up at noon daily and slump around all day which will lead to you being extremely unhappy and even isolated.

TIP CUATRO- Music - listening to music is a big factor of my life and just listening to my favourite song or shuffling on spotify can immediately change my mood.listen to your favourite artist or why not throwback to songs you used to love and have good memories of.

Eliza doolittle -Walking on water

Flume-Never be like you


TIP CINCO-Leave your house- Even if you don'tt have plans,Just go on a walk or take yourself to your favourite coffee shop.Staying in the same environment daily isn't good for your brain as your mind will get bored.

TIP SEIS-YouTube - watching you tube gets my mind of things and there's billions of videos you can watch.TheDailyDubs my go to youtuber is ayydubs. she has an amazing personality and it really is contagious I just want to be besties with her.Shame she doesn't even know I exist! (cry face)

If you found this post helpful in even the slightest way please leave a comment or tweet me carlaslifex
letting me know if you'd like any more tips.

TIP SIETE- Learn to love yourself - This is a whole new topic and  post itself, but try to accept yourself for you and you'll feel 1000 % better.

Carla X

April Favourites

                                  

       

It's been a while since I've done a favourites post, but a long time coming.'Favourites' are a post I enjoy as I get to reflect on the previous weeks and talk about the products I've been enjoying.

My fashion favourite this month has to be my Michael Kors cross body bag.I purchased it earlier in the month from Bicester village.

I have a weakness for bags and I already acquire a Michael Kors jet setter tote so,I thought it was only right that I had a mini MK bag.For when I only need the essentials : phone,purse and keys.

Onto my second favourite,which is also a fashion piece.This coat from Matalan 'khaki soft crepe trench coat',it's perfect for spring/summer and a great fashion piece.

                                        

      

Now on to beauty,Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream is one of my favourites during the winter months.Although due to the season change Ive been reaching for '8 hour cream'to rescue my  chapped lips.I also see myself using it on my lips instead of a lip stick for a natural finish.

Lastly Liz Earle cleanse and polish hot cloth cleanser.The product feels natural and good for the skin and gently clears breakouts.

What have your favourites been ?

Carla 

Chocolate finger cake

        

                                                               Chocolate finger cake 

 A cake to wow as a centrepiece on any birthday table,but it's actually super easy to make.

This delicious vanilla sponge takes 25-35 minutes to cook,can be topped with any sweet topping of choice and milk chocolate fingers can be used or substituted for kit Kat fingers.

Equipment :

2x9 inch cake tins 

Grease proof paper

Wire rack

Electric mixer (optional)

Ingredients for the cake :

500g caster sugar 

500g unsalted butter (room temp)

500g self raising flour 

      1tbsp vanilla extract 

         6 eggs

To decorate and fill: 

 2tbsp strawberry jam

 500g icing sugar 

 250g Unsalted butter (room temp)

 1tbsp vanilla extract 

3 packs white chocolate fingers 

2x cookie and cream kitkat

Maltesers 

M&ms

Smarties 

Giant chocolate buttons 

Method:

1.Preheat oven to 180 fan,grease  and line 2x9 inch cake tins.

2.Use the all in one method.Pour all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix with a food mixer/spoon.

3.Pour the cake mixture evenly into the two cake tins and bake until golden brown and springy 25-35 minutes.

4.Once baked remove from the tins and leave the cakes to cool on a wire rack.Make your filling by mixing the icing sugar,butter and vanilla until combined and smooth.

5.Now the sponges are cool,spread the jam onto one cake and buttercream onto the second.Spread the icing onto the whole outside of the cake starting with the sides and finishing on the top.

7.Begin to place the chocolate fingers around the cake all the way round.Seperate the cake into four with the kitkat  and fill with your choose decoration.

8.Finish the cake of with a ribbon and serve up and enjoy.

Borough market

       Image from weheartit.com


What better place to go to catch up with a friend,than a place full of delicious food and drinks. Despite the rainy January day,the view of the shard and the smell of baked goods managed to put a smile on our faces immediately. So we hopped on the tube to London bridge and grabbed ourselves a hot latte and let our noses lead us in the gates of the market.......

Borough market is great as it caters for everyone whether your following a vegan/vegetarian/gluten free/dairy free/no diet at all diet their will be something that tickles your fancy.

This being my first visit to the market.I didn't really know what to expect as on the weekends, its a popular attraction by tourists and locals.I went on a weekday so missed the big crowds however the atmosphere is great full of foodies discovering amazing cuisines.

I opted for a break ahead doughnut which I had spotted on Instagram and it was love at first sight .... Oozing honeycomb cream filling spilling out of the sugary doughnut with a generous serving of home made honeycomb to finish the dessert of.(Licks lips as insert image below)

                                                   


You could easily fill your boots with all the delicious free samples which do have I must say a take one sample only sign but sometimes you cant help yourself and take two or maybe three, especially when it comes to the salted honey cashews.

There is also a before I die chalkboard hiddin in the hustle and bustle of the market,which i had wanted to check out.If you love food and enjoy London town then I recommend taking a stroll around the market,even in your lunch hour.

Whats your favourite treat?

 Carla xoxo