Creme Egg Cupcakes/Dairy Free Alternative

Happy Good Friday everyone! 

Yesterday I decided to bake some Creme Egg cupcakes. Although the photo does have a creme egg on top, I replaced some with some dairy free buttons to ensure they are fit for all us lactose intolerant people out there :) Photos for them are below. 

You will need:

For the Sponge 

3 Medium sized eggs (mine together weighed 204g)

204g Caster Sugar

204g Pure Margarine (or butter) 

160 grams Self Raising Flour

40 grams Cocoa Powder

50 grams dark chocolate chips

Vanilla Essence

Creme Egg Fondant Filling

170g golden syrup

60g butter (stork in foil block- contains no milk!)

375g Icing Sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

dash of salt

Yellow Food colouring (preferably the gel colouring rather than liquid) 

Butter Cream

This was my plain vanilla recipe which I don't actually measure... So ideally found a basic recipe and replace with STORK again for a dairy free alternative :) (sorryyy) 

Mini creme eggs or dairy free buttons! 

Method

1. Pre heat oven 160C Fan /180C and line a 12 cupcake cases
2. In a bowl mix together the sugar and butter
3. Add vanilla extract and one egg at a time and mix
4.  Slowly sift together the flour and cocoa butter and fold into the mixture
5. Add the chocolate chips
6. BAKE! For around 20-25 mins. If you are unsure you can tap lightly on the sponge and see if its springy or looks 'done', or stick a skewer in the middle. If it comes out clean they are ready :) 

Take out and leave to cool.... 

In the mean time

Fondant Filling!

1. Mix together the butter, syrup and vanilla in a bowl and whisk! I highly suggest an electric mix for this ha
2. Gradually add the icing sugar
3. Take about 1/4 of this and in another bowl mix with some yellow food colouring
4. Add the yellow to the other mixture and use a fork to stir it in, only slightly. 

Once your cakes are cooled, use a cupcake core (or just a knife and cut around) to scoop the centre of the cupcakes

Fill with the fondant!

Use your favourite Butter cream recipe (ideally just some butter and icing sugar, dash of vanilla until it tastes good) and pip a circle ring 

You should ideally have some fondant left, add more yellow to this if needed and use a piping bag to fill the center of the butter cream ring.

Top with a chocolate and voila!! 

Mmmmmm!! Enjoy :) Have a lovely Easter y'all 

Kathryn xx

Dairy Free Brownies!

Yay I've been baking! It's too early to do Easter Cupcakes, plus I forgot to bring all my cupcake goodies back :( boo. I don't know why, I just had a massive craving for some brownies. I haven't ever been a fan of brownies (don't ask why) but I must of smelt or seen some somewhere and it's been in the back of my mind since. 

I used a recipe I found online for dairy free brownies but I only ever use these as a guide. 

What you'll need: 

125g Dairy Free Margarine ( I used Pure) 

100g Dairy Free Chocolate ( or near enough, 70% green and black works well or Dark Divine)

50g Ground Almonds

80g Cocoa

300g Caster Sugar

4 Medium Eggs

Dash of Vanilla Essence 

& any extras you like. I added some broken Almond pieces and some chocolate chunks :) 

Method:

1. Pre heat the oven to 180/160 fan
2. Grease and line a square baking tin.. they say 25cm ( I just used an average baking tray) 
3. In a large glass heat proof bowl, place the chocolate and margarine in and set over a pan of simmering water 
4. Let it melt and stir until glossy and set aside
5. In a bowl mix the cocoa, flour, sugar & almonds then pour in the chocolate mixture- very thick
6. Whisk the eggs in a bowl or cup and add to the bowl, mix until smooth and silky!
7. Add a dash of vanilla essence and any extras i.e. nuts/raisins/chocolate chips!
8. Pour into the tin and cook for 25 mins. It should have a crusty top with a soft bottom. 
9. Allow to cool- it will take a while. Then cut into slices and store :) 

MMMmmm!! So so good :) 

Kathryn xx

Benefit Gimme Brows: Medium//Deep

Ekkk! I am so excited over this product ha! I am a big fan of all things brow related, especially as unlike girls who made their brows really thin, I had untameable brows (thanks dad) which just grew within an hour of plucking. 

I have used various brow products including the Brow Zing by Benefit and all kinds of brow pencils. As much as I love Browzing, I always feel it takes a while to get the current definition. 

I was in much debate with the girls at the Benefit counter whether to go for the light shade or the dark shade, in the end I opted for Gimme Brow in Medium//Deep. I am naturally blonde (with highlights) but have dark eyebrows, and seeing as I usually get them tinted I thought I may as well purchase the dark shade to get the extra umpth! 

Review

Usability: At first attempted I got the product everywhere ha and it showed me how many stray hairs I have (urgh). You are supposed to first go the opposite way to the brow so the tiny fibers cling onto the brow hairs. Once done you go in the direction of the brow and straighten it and what not to make them look beautiful. I love the fact that it also has a brilliant staying powder and acts like a gel/wax to keep your brows in place.

Colour: I chose the dark as my brows are dark anyway so it would just fill in the gaps to match. I loveee it, it instantly adds definition and you can layer it to keep filling in those sparse areas. 

 To finish using this product I do place a little bit of browzing, I don't know why but I feel like I can make it a little neater around the edges. I then conceal around the brows to give them even more definition! This has also shown me that I need to neaten my brows a little bit ha.

Overall, a beautiful little product which I feel is worth the money ( £17.50)  and hopefully last a while, although I will probably use this ALOT..! :)