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Who doesn't love chocolate and strawberries?
Today's post is a recipe that is perfect for Valentine's Day, whether you are spending it with a loved one or having some me-time. It's a three layered chocolate cake, topped with dark chocolate dipped strawberries. The icing is even white chocolate flavoured. It would be a great dessert for a Valentines date night, as it's impressive to look at when cut, as it has an ombre effect. Chocolate dipped strawberries are a typical Valentines date food, and having it mixed with a cake, makes this recipe even more decadent for this holiday. Even if you aren't celebrating Valentines Day and are single, this cake recipe is great for a relaxing evening in by yourself, or sharing with your best friends.


Ingredients

Cake

360g Softened Butter
360g Caster Sugar
6 Eggs
10 tbsp Milk
360g Plain Flour
4 tsp Baking Powder
100g White Chocolate
100g Milk Chocolate
100g Dark Chocolate
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
6 tbsp Cocoa Powder

White Chocolate Buttercream

175g White Chocolate
250g Unsalted Butter
500g Icing Sugar
3 tbsp Milk

Decorations

8 Large Strawberries (Washed)
100g Dark Chocolate

Method


1 - Preheat the oven to 170c.
2 - Grease and line with baking paper 3 x 20cm circular baking tins.


3 - In a stand mixer, beat the caster sugar and softened butter together until light & fluffy.
4 - Add the eggs to the mix, one at a time, beating well after each addition.


5 - Once all of the eggs have been added, add 6 tbsp of milk, and beat again. Then sift the flour and baking powder into the mixture, and mix until fully combined.


6 - The divide the mixture evenly into three bowls. Put to one side.
7 - Now on to melting the chocolate. Break up each of the different chocolates into three small bowls, and melt in a microwave. You can use the bain marie method if you prefer. Let cool slightly, but not harden.


8 - For the white chocolate layer, add a tablespoon of the cake batter into the melted white chocolate, and stir quickly. Then gently fold the white chocolate mix and vanilla extract, into the rest of the cake mixture. Once fully combined, pour into one of the tins, until 2/3 full.
9 - For the milk chocolate layer, stir in 2 tbsp of milk and 3 tbsp of cocoa powder into the second bowl of cake batter. From this bowl, add a tablespoon of the mixture into the melted milk chocolate, and stir quickly. Then fold the melted chocolate mix back into the cake batter. When fully combined, pour into one of the tins until 2/3 full.
10 - For the dark chocolate layer, stir in 2 tbsp of milk and three tbsp of cocoa powder into the final cake batter bowl. Then quickly mix a tablespoon of the cake batter into the melted dark chocolate. Fold the melted dark chocolate mix back into the cake batter, until fully combined. Pour into the final tin, until 2/3 full.
11 - Smoother out the top of each cake mix, and bake all three cakes for 25 minutes, until the cake springs back when pressed lightly and when a skewer comes out clean.


12 - Let cool in the tins for 2 minutes, then remove and cool completely on wire racks. Don't forget to peel off the baking paper from the bottom of the sponges.


13 - Whilst they are cooling, melt 100g of dark chocolate in the microwave. Then dip your washed strawberries into the chocolate, letting the excess drip off. Then lay them on a plate covered in baking paper. Leave to harden in the fridge.


14 - Now to make the icing. Melt the white chocolate and leave to cool. Then beat together the butter and icing sugar, until fluffy and combined, in an electric stand mixer. Finally, add and beat in the cooled white chocolate and 3 tbsp of milk.




15 - Once the cakes are cooled and the icing is ready, it's time to assemble the cake. Place the dark chocolate sponge onto your cake board/stand first, and spread a layer of icing on top.
16 - Then place the milk chocolate sponge on top of the icing. Cover the top of this sponge with icing too.
17 - Add the white chocolate sponge on top of that layer of icing, and then cover the top of the white chocolate sponge with icing. Also take the icing down the side of the cake too. This layer of icing should be thin, as it is just to seal in the crumbs. Place the cake in the fridge to harden slightly for 30 minutes.


18 - Remove from the fridge, and cover the cake with more icing and smooth the icing as best as you can, as this is the final layer. I'm not the best at icing, so just try your best.
19 - Finish with decorating the top of the cake with the chocolate dipped strawberries.
20 - Slice the cake and enjoy!



And that is how you make this triple chocolate layer cake with chocolate dipped strawberries! A perfect Valentines Day recipe, that's great for a romantic date night, a girls night or for a relaxing solo night in.

I hope you like this recipe and have a great Valentines/Galentines, if you like to celebrate it.
Let me know if you make it!

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Today's post is a recipe for a gorgeous gingerbread flavoured cake, with gingerbread icing. This cake is so tasty, and the sponge is beautifully fluffy & light. It is a great cake for this time of year, and would make a great alternative dessert on Christmas day, if your family doesn't like Christmas pudding. Depending on how you decorate it, it could be a great showstopper cake at a Christmas party this season too. Everyone in my family loves it, and I think it will be asked for every Christmas from now on.


Ingredients

Cake

150ml Full-Fat Milk
3 tbsp Black Treacle
225ml Vegetable Oil (+ extra for pan greasing)
375g Plain Flour
3 tsp Baking Powder
1 1/2 Bicarbonate of Soda
375g Light Brown Soft Sugar
2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
2 tsp Ground Ginger
300ml Buttermilk
3 Large Eggs
3 tbsp Amaretto (not pictured above)
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Salt


Icing

200g Butter
400g Icing Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 tbsp Black Treacle
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 tsp Ground Ginger


Decorations

50g Desiccated Coconut
Homemade Gingerbread Biscuits (recipe)


Method


1 - Preheat the oven to 180C. Then, line & grease 3 x 20cm cake tins ready for the cake mix.


2 - Pour the 150ml milk and 3 tbsp of treacle into a saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly until combined. Leave to cool.


3 - In a stand mixer, add the 375g of Plain Flour, 3 tsp Baking Powder, 1 1/2 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda, 375g Light Brown Sugar, 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon, 2 tsp Ground Ginger and a pinch of salt. Gently mix the dry ingredients until the brown sugar breaks up, and you have a sand-like texture. 


4 - In a large jug, whisk the 300ml Buttermilk, 225ml Vegetable Oil, 3 Eggs, 3 tbsp Amaretto and 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract together. Once mixed, add the milk-treacle to the jug and mix well. 


5 - Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, in the stand mixer. Whisk the ingredients together to form a smooth cake batter. 


6 - Divide the batter equally between the three tins and bake for 25-30 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean, after you poke it into the middle of the cake. Once cooked, cool the cakes in the tins for 10 minutes. 


7 - Then turn out the cakes onto a wire rack, for cooling. Remember to peel of the baking paper from the bottom of the cake. Leave to cool completely. 


8 - When the cakes are cool, make the icing. In a stand mixer, whisk the 200g of Butter and 400g Icing Sugar together, until combined. Then add the 1 tsp Vanilla Extract, 2 tbsp Black Treacle, 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon and 1 tsp Ground Ginger to the mixer, and whisk until combined & has an icing-thick texture.


9 - Place the first cake sponge layer on your chosen cake board. Then spread a thin layer of icing on the top of the sponge. Apply the next sponge layer, and spread icing on the top of that sponge. Then add the final sponge, and apply the icing on the top. 


10 - Smooth a thin layer of the icing around the sides of the cake. It won't look pretty just yet, as this is the crumb layer. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes, to set the icing. 


11 - Once out of the fridge, spread the remainder of the icing (should be about half of the original mixture) on top of the hard crumb layer. Smooth out as this is the final layer. 


12 - Then finish your cake with whatever decorations you like. I decided to go with some desiccated coconut on the top, to look like snow, and several gingerbread biscuit trees around the outside.
And that is it!
Finished!



And that is how you make this delicious gingerbread cake, with gingerbread icing. It's a perfect cake for this festive season, whether you want it for cosy winter nights in, or as a centre piece for your holiday party.


I hope you like this recipe, and let me know if you decide to make it.

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Time for my final Christmas gift guide of 2018!
This one is to help you possibly find a gift for a couple or a family, so that you don't have to buy individual presents. I have split this guide into 4 sections, which are food & drink gifts, homeware gifts, alternative gifts and stocking fillers. The stocking fillers will all be £20.00 & under, per item. The stocking filler ideas would also make great small gifts, if you aren't spending lots of money this festive season. 

I hope you can find a gift in my suggestions below.


1 - Personalised Mummy, Daddy, Little Balmoral Mug Set £9.99 Very
2 - Edinburgh Gin Cocktail Shaker and Glasses Set £60.00 John Lewis
3 - Copper Rose Cocktail Glass Set £42.00 Oh So Cherished @ Notonthehighstreet
4 - Alfresco Terracotta Tagine £35.00 John Lewis
5 - Copper Pineapple Ice Bucket £40.00 Oliver Bonas
6 - Grow It Chilli Peppers Set £12.99 Studio
7 - Cuisinart Electric Wine Opener £45.00 John Lewis
8 - Luxury Fresh Pasta Making Kit £35.00 Pasta Evangelists @ Notonthehighstreet
9 - Marble & Copper Bar Tools Set £60.00 Oliver Bonas
10 - Paella Set £18.00 Food Nation @ Boots
11 - Christmas Wine Hamper £100.00 Harrods
12 - Tea for Two Gift Set £24.99 Very



1 - Flow Recipe Stand £29.00 Oliver Bonas
2 - Get Naked Bath Mat £25.00 Urban Outfitters
3 - Yankee Candle 3 Small Jar Candle Gift Set £24.99 Very
4 - Stockholm Rug £180.00 IKEA
5 - Embroidered Initial Bath Towel £16.00 Next
6 - Savone 12 Photo Black Frame £20.00 Paperchase
7 - Personalised Gold Heart Pillowcases £18.00 Loveabode @ Next
8 - Ronda Round Hanging Mirror £95.00 John Lewis
9 - Filodendron Quilt Cover & Two Pillowcases Set £40.00 IKEA
10 - Personalised Special Location Framed Print £45.00 Letterfest @ Next
11 - Home Collection Red Sherpa Fleece Throw £22.00 Debenhams
12 - Personalised Couples Candle Set £75.00 Illumer @ Notonthehighstreet



1 - Personalised Whitewashed Wood Pot Planter £29.99 Getting Personal
2 - Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travelist £19.99 Waterstones
3 - Name A Star Gift Box £17.99 Very
4 - Buyagift Relaxation for Two £59.99 Debenhams
5 - Swing Dance Class for Two £60.00 Indytute Experiences @ Notonthehighstreet
6 - Personalised His & Hers Aprons £25.99 Getting Personal
7 - Personalised His & Hers Calendar £14.99 Getting Personal
8 - Personalised Postcode Jigsaw Puzzle £19.99 Getting Personal
9 - His & Hers Sole Mates Socks Set £28.00 Solesmith @ Notonthehighstreet
10 - Spectrum Solo Portable Radio £40.00 John Lewis
11 - Jamie Cooks Italy by Jamie Oliver £26.00 Waterstones
12 - King/Queen of Hearts Couples Sweatshirts £25.00 We Love To Create @ Notonthehighstreet



1 - Fizz Make Your Own Neon Light £14.99 Very
2 - Initial Hooks £7.00 Next
3 - Star Wars Classic Set of 4 Shot Glasses £9.99 Very
4 - Couples Carved Heart Personalised Marble Coasters £16.00 Sophia Victoria Joy @ Noonthehighstreet
5 - Santa Banter £9.99 Waterstones
6 - Grow Your Own Coffee Plant Kit £8.50 Plants from Seed @ Notonthehighstreet
7 - TGIF Burger Seasoning Selection £8.50 Boots
8 - Grow Me Brussels Sprouts £4.50 Paperchase
9 - Mr & Mrs Novelty Pillowcases £12.00 John Lewis
10 - Festive Hot Chocolate Flavours Set £5.00 Wilko
11 - Personalised Street Sign Tea Towel £14.75 This is Nessie @ Notonthehighstreet
12 - Yankee Candle 3 Votive Gift Set £4.99 Boots


I hope you have been inspired by my choices in the gift guide, for all the couples or families you need to buy a gift for. To be honest, even single people would like some of these gifts. 


What's on your Christmas wishlist this year?

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Halloween is officially over, which means only one thing in the blogging world; it's time for Christmas posts!
I have been browsing online, and have compiled 4 different lists of advent calendars, that are different to buying a simple chocolate one. The 4 different categories are beauty calendars (for women), calendars for children, alternative (non-beauty) calendars for adults, and calendars for the men in your life. The calendars I have chosen are from browsing online, I haven't tested any of these or been paid to promote them. I only felt like sharing which advent calendars stood out to me as good choices for this year. I hope you find the advent calendar for you, this year!


1 - Makeup Revolution Beauty Advent Calendar £30.00 Superdrug
2 - The Face & Body Advent Calendar £55.00 ASOS
3 - 24 Days of The Enchanted Advent Calendar £45.00 The Body Shop
4 - The 12 Days of Liz Earle £80.00 Liz Earle
5 - NYX Sugar Trip 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar £50.00 Boots
6 - Charlotte's Beauty Universe £150.00 Charlotte Tilbury
7 - Maybelline 12 Day Beauty Advent Calendar £50.00 Very
8 - Beauty Advent Calendar £35 (when you spend £35) Marks & Spencer
9 - Sleek Can't Wait Another Day Advent Calendar £35.00 Boots
10 - Soap & Glory It's in the Calendar £40.00 Boots



1 - Crayola Christmas Countdown £17.99 Amazon
2 - Lego City Advent Calendar £22.99 Lego
3 - Paw Patrol Advent Calendar £15.00 Argos
4 - Advent Calendar Christmas on the Farm £19.99 Playmobil
5 - VTECH Toot Toot Animals Advent Calendar £25.00 Selfridges
6 - Play-doh Advent Calendar £13.99 Amazon
7 - Disney Snow White 12 Days of Beauty £7.00 Superdrug
8 - City Vehicles and Accessories Advent Calendar £25.00 John Lewis
9 - Hatchimals Colleggtibles Advent Calendar £23.80 Amazon
10 - Disney Frozen Olaf 's Adventure Advent Calendar £24.00 Amazon



1 - Christmas Tea Lover's Advent Calendar £25.00 Fortnum & Mason
2 - Kikki.K Stationary Lover's Advent Calendar £90.00 Selfridges
3 - Advent Calendar with Jewellery £24.99 H&M
4 - Lisa Angel Create a Charm Bracelet Advent Calendar £52.00 Notonthehighstreet
5 - Luxury Advent Calendar £49.99 Aldi
6 - Dazzling Mini Mince Pie Advent Calendar £35.99 Selfridges
7 - Personalised Retro Sweet Advent Calendar £10.99 Very
8 - Pop-a-ball 12 Days of Prosecco Advent Calendar £29.99 Lakeland
9 - Yankee Candle Wreath Advent Calendar £20.00 Debenhams
10 - Snaffling Pig Pork Crackling & Beer Advent Calendar £65.00 Selfridges



1 - 12 Days of Whiskey Advent Calendar £36.00 Debenhams
2 - Clarins 12 Days of Christmas Calendar Male Skincare £51.00 John Lewis
3 - LYNX Men's Grooming Countdown £15.00 Superdrug
4 - Bristle and Smith Mens 12 Days Advent Calendar £9.00 Superdrug
5 - Merry Little Gifts Seven Days of Sockmas £15.00 Debenhams
6 - Haynes Build Your Own Retro Camera Advent Calendar £22.00 Debenhams
7 - The Bearded Man Company Christmas Beard Oil Advent Calendar £29.99 Notonthehighstreet
8 - The Grooming Advent Calendar £30.00 ASOS
9 - Craft Beer Advent Calendar £40.00 Iceland Groceries
10 - Protein Ball Advent Calendar £12.99 The Protein Ball Company

There you go, my 4 lists of the best non-chocolate advent calendars for 2018! Each year, more and more companies are coming out with them, so you are bound to find a different advent calendar that you like. I hope my lists have inspired you & that you might of found the calendar for you, this year.


Which advent calendar is your favourite?

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As the festive season is fully upon us now, I thought that I would share my gingerbread recipe, that I love to make during this time of year. 
They are great just as a snack, or even as a gift for your friends & family, if you don't have a lot of money to buy presents. This recipe made about 84 biscuits for me, but my cutters are quite small. So how many you make, depends on how big your cutters are. I have festive shaped ones, but you can use any shape you want, and you can decorate them with whatever you want too. 
I hope you like them, as much as I do!

Ingredients

350g Plain Flour (+ extra for rolling)
1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp Ground Ginger
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
125g Butter
175g Light Soft Brown Sugar 
1 Egg
4 tbsp Golden Syrup
Writing Icing & Other Baking Decorations (1/2/3)

Method 


1 - In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and cinnamon. Add the butter and rub together until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Then stir in the sugar. 

2 - In another mixing bowl, lightly beat the egg and golden syrup together. Add this to the dry ingredients and mix until the mixture clumps together. 

3 - Tip the mixture onto a flat surface, and knead briefly until smooth and dough-like. Wrap in clingfilm, and leave to chill in the fridge, for 15 minutes.




4 - Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4, once the dough has finished chilling. Also line 2/3 baking trays with greaseproof paper. 

5 - Lightly flour your flat surface and rolling pin. Then, roll your dough out to a 0.5cm thickness. Using cutters, cut out your shapes and place them on the baking sheets, leaving a gap between them. The size of your cutters will give you an estimation of how many gingerbreads this recipe will make. Mine were quite small, so I ended up with 84 biscuits. 

6 - Bake for 12 - 15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. 

7 - Transfer them to a wire rack to cool down. Once cool, you can start decorating! 
Make sure the icing is completely set before storing them in a tin. 









8 - (Optional) I am planning on giving a few of this as a small gift this Christmas, so here is how I wrapped them. I purchased some festive cellophane wrap and created a little parcel with about 8 gingerbreads inside. I then used a little bit of ribbon for a festive touch. You could also add a tag, if you wanted to.



And that is my gingerbread recipe! 

I hope you guys try this recipe, and if you do, please let me know!

Shannon
xxx

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About me

About me
*Blog ended July 2019* Shannon Furniss - A recent MA Fashion & Textiles Graduate & Fashion Designer. I'm 25 years old, UK based (Leicester/East Midlands), and a Dalmatian mummy to my baby boy, Wizard. For all enquiries - s.a.furniss2303@gmail.com or hit me up on any of my social media accounts.

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