'grown-up' chocolate cakes

I'm still in the process of going through my pantry and using up as much of the stuff I've got in the house as I can before I move. I had lots of chocolate around, the usual cakey ingredients as well as a bottle of whiskey I was never going to get around to drinking. Using my Dr Pepper cupcakes recipe as the starting point I came up with this rather grown up recipe. The whiskey flavour isn't particularly strong but it does add some complexity to the end product. You could replace the chocolate spread with the equivalent amount of melted chocolate or a dark jam such as cherry or blackcurrant, why not try out whatever you've got to hand.

Ingredients
100g unsalted butter
300ml whiskey
100g plain flour
50g cocoa powder
2 tbsp chocolate spread such as nutella
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
150g demerara sugar

12 dark chocolate lindor truffle balls or similar.
2 eggs

Ganache Topping
100g dark chocolate
100g butter
pinch of salt

Makes 12 cupcakes.

1. Start by add the sugar to the whiskey then heating the mixture of a medium heat until the sugar is dissolved, the alcohol has evaporated off and the mixture has reduced by about two thirds (around 200mls or so).
2. Preheat the oven to 180C fan oven. Put the paper cases in the muffin tray and fill a large oven proof dish with water and place in the bottom of the oven. The steam that is produced will help the cakes to rise and be lovely and light.
3. Put the butter and chocolate spread in the saucepan and allow it to melt in the residual heat. Stir through and add the vanilla extract.
4. Sieve together the dry ingredients to get rid of any lumps, then beat in the whiskey mixture followed by the eggs until thoroughly combined. 
5. Put a dollop of the mixture into each of the paper cases (about 1/4 cup if you have a measure). Place a chocolate ball in the centre of each case then put in the oven. Bake for around 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
6. Allow to cool completely before decorating with frosting or ganache.

Making the ganache

1. Melt the butter and chocolate together in a heatproof bowl over gently simmering water. You can use it now as it is to give a thin covering to the cupcakes but I prefer to allow it to set in the fridge, returning to beat it every 10 minutes or so until it is a spreadable consistency. Once you've achieved this consistency you're ready to go.

pistachio cookies three ways

Living where I do in London there are numerous small shops selling beautiful looking and delicious tasting baklava. This has undoubtedly been the influence behind my latest recipe offering. The flavours of pistachio, cardamon and honey are a perfect combination and come together in a fragrant, elegant and crisp biscuit. The dough is fairly forgiving and you can shape it however you like.You should also feel free to experiment with the fillings or leave them unfilled so that you can dunk them in your tea. It will be a great biscuit however you decide to make them. Below I've included recipes for both a honey and orange buttercream and a chocolate ganache filling.

Biscuit Ingredients
375g plain flour
250g caster sugar
125g unsalted butter at room temperature
100g shelled pistachio nuts (set a few to the side if you want to use them for decoration)
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1 medium egg
Generous pinch of salt

1. Put the pistachios and sugar in the food processor and pulse until finely ground and resembling fine breadcrumbs. 
2. In a bowl beat the butter with an electric whisk until soft then add the egg and beat for a further 30 seconds or so.
3. Add in the remaining ingredients and mix until you have a dough. You may find it easier to do this with your hands. 
4. Form the dough into a 40cm log and wrap in cling film. Leave to rest in the fridge for around an hour. 
5. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 170C and line a baking sheet with baking parchment. 
6. Unwrap the dough and cut off discs about 1/2cm thick. You can alternatively roll the dough out on to a lightly floured surface Place on the baking sheet, place a halved pistachio in the centre of biscuit if you wish and then bake for around 15 minutes or until just golden on the edges. 
7. Once cooked allow to firm up on the baking sheet before removing them to cool completely on a wire rack. When the biscuits are completely cool you can fill them with one of the options below or eat them as they are. Enjoy. 

Honey and Orange Buttercream

100g butter at room temperature

400g icing sugar

3-4 tbsp honey

finely grated zest of half an orange

couple of tablespoons of cream or milk

1.  Using an electric whisk, beat the butter until it is light and fluffy then bit by bit sift in the icing sugar. 
2. Once the sugar and butter are thoroughly combined add the honey and zest and beat for a few seconds. If the icing is a bit thick add a couple of tablespoons of milk and cream and beat in until you have a smooth consistency.

Chocolate Ganache

100g dark chocolate broken into small pieces

100ml double cream

pinch of salt (optional)

1. Heat the cream in a saucepan over a low heat. Remove from the heat just before it reaches boiling point then pour over the chocolate pieces in a heatproof bowl.
2. Stir the chocolate and cream together until the chocolate is completely melted. Add the salt is wanted then set the mixture to one side to cool. 
3. Once the mixture has cooled down, beat it with an electric whisk until it thickens up.