Monday 28 June 2010

International Picnic Day

Incredibly Fruity Raspberry Cakes

Raspberry Latin Rubus idaeus well it's got an I in it!





I am taking part in International Picnic day organised by Months of Edible Adventures


Each blogger taking part choses a letter and devises a recipe beginning with that letter. I have chosen the letter I. I only found out about it at the last minute so there weren't many letters left and I don't think there are many foods beginning with this letter! The first 2 that come to mind are ice (as in ice cream ) and ink (as in squid ink) so it's a bit of a challenge.

At the moment there are plenty of raspberries in the garden so I thought I would devise a recipe using these.



Incredibly Fruity Raspberry Cakes

I think I put raspberries in the bottom of a PineappleUpside Down cake in place of cherries so I thought I would try them in a Victoria cake mix.
200g olive spread or butter
190g golden granulated sugar
4 large eggs
150g raspberries
200g self raising flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla essence.

Oven on at gas 5
Beat the olive spread and sugar and vanilla essence till it looks creamy
Add the eggs one at a time and continue to beat
Gently fold in the flour and the whole raspberries. If the mixture looks a bit stiff add a little milk. I didn't need to as the mixture slipped easily off a spoon.
Half to two thirds fill cupcake cases with spoonfuls of mixture and bake. Check after 10-15 min, they should spring back when you gently touch them. If too soft bake for a few more minutes.
This quantity will make about 20-24 cakes depending on the size of the cases.
Dust with icing sugar if you like otherwise they are lovely as they are and you are ready to pack them in a box and join the picnic.

Variants using the mix above

1 Add fresh basil leaves. Tear the basil into small pieces and add to the mixture or put a leaf on the top before baking. I think the flavour combines well.
2 Add cocoa powder for a chocolately version, I didnt measure this I just added it till it looked really chocolatey.



I need to get some bigger paper cases!

15 comments:

Aldona said...

Mmmmmm,Tessa,they looks so tasty!Lovely recipe!

Dena said...

YUMMMY!! Thanks for sharing the recipe. My mouth is watering... ;)

Erika Price said...

Oh my, I've just GOT to try these out this evening! Thanks for the recipe!

baahar said...

Hmmm !! They look yummy indeed :)

Julie G. said...

Tessa, you make the most delicious foods. I wish I could just pull it off my screen and eat it! 'course, probably better for my diet that I live across the pond! :))

~~louise~~ said...

Hi Tessa!!!
Oh, my, Goodness!!! (as Shirley Temple use to say:) Don't those Incredibly Fruity Raspberry Cakes look, well, INCREDIBLE!

Where are you sitting at the picnic? I want to be right next to you so I get the first one:)

You did a beautiful job with so little time and I really appreciate it. The other picnickers are just going to flip!

Thank you so much for sharing and thank you very much for playing the Picnic Game. I can't wait to see the basket filled!!! Louise

kraplap said...

ohhhh so yummy !

Morrgan said...

Oooh, yum!

Also, am so very jealous of all the delicious-looking rasberries you have. =)

Colours and Textures said...

Thanks for your comments.
Morrgan I hope you get some raspberries in Finland soon.

Heather S-G said...

Oh!! These are gorgeous...what a delicious contribution to the picnic =)

Unknown said...

This is going to add some extra kilo's Tessa! THANKS! ;-)

Johanna GGG said...

what a great creative attitude to the letter I - I can't think of many other foods - although injera comes to mind - and those cupcakes look great - I love anything with raspberries but will have trouble choosing as both the vanilla and chocolate versions look delicious

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

You will bring some chocolate ones also, please or is it pleeeeeeze.

I love chocolate and chocolate and raspberry is even better.

Colours and Textures said...

Thanks for all your comments and I hope you enjoy making them and eating them!

acme Holidays said...

Nice post