Hello,
With the bank holiday weekend ahead of us, you might be wondering what to bake? Well l’m here to help with this KP recipe round-up!
It’s been over a year since I did one of these, so now felt like a good time to drop an overview of Kitchen Projects right into your digital lap aka your inbox. Although I’m trying to figure out a way to make the recipes more easily searchable, here’s a reminder of what wonderful bakes await you whenever you’re ready!
Oh.. I can’t quite believe it but… I counted… and there’s over 130 recipes available on KP at the moment. That’s a lot of recipes to sort through, so at the end of this email, you’ll find a link to a recipe index with all the recipes so far that I’ve sorted into categories for maximum searchability.
So… what should you bake?
First I’ll start with YOUR favourites – these are recipes I’ve seen you make again and again; The rhubarb custard crumble cake is such a crowd pleaser and has the softest sour cream sponge and could be adapted to use summer berries – cherries would be amazing. The only thing that I think really makes people happier than cake is biscuits so why not try these peanut butter shortbreads, salted apple caramel bars or the always great 3pm oat biscuits.
There’s also a plethora of options in the Christmas biscuit bonanza which is proof that biscuits really aren’t just for Christmas (hello brown butter Viennese fingers!). When it comes to cookies, a chocolate chip cookie can’t be beat, except when it’s a chunky faux Levain cookie. Oh, and if you’re looking for a warm weather bake, you can’t go wrong with these DIY Mars ice cream bars or the outrageously refreshing cucumber granita.
With focaccia season well underway, now is a perfect time to get into the flow with my extra bubbly 3-day method. I am also never not going to be obsessed with my go-to brownies aka a friend for life recipe. It’s ALWAYS a good idea to make these endlessly adaptable XXL cheese scones.
Fancy a slice of cake? Only always. The HK milk tea tres leches is a secret favourite of mine, as well as the chocolate chip vanilla loaf cake (tastes like the ones you get in park cafes but 1000x better?) and olive oil cake, which can be updated to use seasonal fruits. The lemon-butter-ricotta cake is also a total winner. Maybe you’ve always felt stressed about making genoise sponge? I’ll help you get into your comfort zone (‘the foam beyond the foam’ is the key to everything) and make the fluffiest strawberry shortcake of all time. Follow that up with the toasted flour honey cake and feel like a total master.
Got a birthday coming up? There’s two epic celebration cakes to make too – this coffee and walnut and the citrus dream cake will do the trick.
There’s not much I love more than tarts and pies; Perhaps you want to master blind baking (and a fancy rhubarb tart, too), or nail the classic lemon tart? What about a triple-threat apple tart, or this 10/10 chocolate tart (that also happens to be plant-based!)?
What about a truly epic pistachio custard sandwich in the form of a gateau basque?!?! On the flaky side of things, there’s also caramel pear pie, classic lemon meringue pie, not-key-lime-lime pie, an addictive cornflake tart AND double apple turnovers to keep you busy.
On the savoury side of things, there’s no better snack than the Japanese curry bread. As well as that, I can vouch for the buttery onion tart, and potato tart tatin. Or maybe the sound of an ultra squishy spring onion babka makes your heart flutter with its perfectly jammy salty sweet swirl. I also have a real penchant for my friend Jordon’s Sfincione, a sicilian style pizza using that focaccia dough I mentioned earlier, and find myself craving the tomato parmesan linzer all the time. Or, maybe it’s time to make the ultimate chicken pie so you can ask yourself what took you so long?! And let it be known that bagels are always a good idea.
When it comes to cheesecake, I’ve got your back; If you like things BURNT (I do) you have your pick between classic or chocolate basque (inc details of how to adapt your own!). If that isn’t your thing, there’s a whole world to enjoy: A baked white chocolate mini tart, a whipped feta light-as-air moussey cheesecake, AND the citrus jelly cheesecake.
I’ve always felt like yeast was my fighter of choice, so you’ve got your pick of buns: From the caramelised BUN-ana to apple butter cinnamon buns (level-up with a custard soak and butterscotch icing) to the quick kouign amann to the honey-rhubarb maritozzi, it may be time for you to dust off your neglected yeast sachet and get your hands into some dough. I also think there’s nothing lovelier than a slice of shokupan – classic or as honey toast, though a chocolate-chocolate babka does come close.
If you’ve got guests coming and you’re looking for a dessert, you can’t go wrong with things-in-glasses: Chocolate mousse, passionfruit & lime posset, banana pudding or a stunning Neapolitan panna cotta or custard panna cotta will make everyone happy. Outside of glasses, you can never fail with a gooey olive oil Pão de Ló, Pavlova OR chocolate cake (especially if its Landeau style). I’ll also never not be obsessed with freshly filled cannolis.
Or, why not make a drink? This shiso and raspberry pink lemonade is a great shout.
Fancy a bit more of a challenge? Making your own puff pastry (classic or invert) is always fun – especially when there’s a mille-feuille waiting at the end it. There’s also nothing more satisfying than a perfect line of eclairs, or building the epic tiramichoux. And, of course, an honorable mention goes to the epic inside out trifle and trifle eleganza™
The Kitchen Projects recipe index
I’ve finally got around to it and I’m excited to finally share the Kitchen Projects recipe index with you! With over 130 recipes, it is sorted by category – cakes, biscuits, confections, jams, tray-bakes etc. I will aim to keep this updated each week so you can browse through the index for up to date baking inspo. If there are any other ways that I could sort this that would be helpful e.g. time / “difficulty” then let me know in the comments:
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Love you forever for this!!!
Amazing recipes all year thank you.