Halloween Cupcakes

Happy nearly Halloween everyone! This post is long overdue. Not just because it's been far too long since my last baking post but also because apart from the usual Autumnal header, we've been seriously lacking Halloween and general seasonal content on Megan Jean this year. So this year I've got an exciting one for you. Though they have a delicious orange chocolate chip sponge and smooth vanilla buttercream, if anything these cupcakes are purely style over substance. (I'm sorry Paul) But if you can't go overboard with the food colouring and fondant icing at Halloween, then really, when can you? They're also super easy to make and can be adapted to all sorts of different designs and seasons. So keep reading to find out how I made these spookily good cupcakes.

Double Chocolate Valentine's Cupcakes

If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that my love of chocolate will never die. Particularly my love of chocolate cakes. And as Valentine's Day is a time for celebrating with the cakes people you love, I thought I'd have a go at baking my own indulgent treat.

Simple Eton Mess Inspired Cupcakes

I have a confession. This post did not go as planned, like really not as planned. I was originally going to make two different types of cupcake and they were going to be amazing with loads of Eton Mess, crushed meringue, strawberries, the absolute works. But me being me, I managed to mess up the Eton Mess. Of all the things to mess up, I messed up the one thing that is just three or four different ingredients thrown together. Long story short I forgot that strawberries are essentially water and if you stir too much, the cream you spent ages whipping into stiff peaks will start to go runny and no amount of stirring, icing sugar or meringue will help, in fact it just makes it worse. What I ended up with was a pink, runny, tubby custard looking mess. So instead, have a super simple Eton Mess inspired recipe. Inspired being the key word here.

White Chocolate & Malteaser Cheesecake

When it comes to baking, I tend to stick with what I know, mainly cupcakes and cakes of some sort as the flavours are so easy to mix up and decorating is always fun. But for Christmas I wanted to try out something a little different, as I'm personally not a fan of the usual Christmas dessert options like mince pies, Christmas pudding or Christmas cake. Having not made a cheesecake in years, I thought it was time to try one out again This recipe is super easy to follow and make, mainly consisting of just mixing up ingredients, whacking them in a cake tin and leaving them to set. No baking involved whatsoever!

Gingerbread & Cream Cheese Cupcakes

Baking posts are some of my absolute favourites to write on my blog and not just because I end up with a batch of cupcakes or brownies at the end of them! I love spending a morning baking and decorating, I find it incredibly relaxing and I always get such positive feedback with these kinds of posts. Since we're heading towards Christmas, the time of year when I can stuff my face full of calorie laden goodies and not feel guilty about it, I though I'd do one or two festive themed bakes for you to tempt your taste buds with. I've gone for a very stereotypical yet delicious flavour, gingerbread. Mixed with a cream cheese frosting these are incredibly moist, rich and delicious.

Bonfire Night Brownies

Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night, is one of my favourite events during the Winter season, mainly because it's a night spent with friends and family in front of a fiery inferno, watching fireworks while you stuff your face with a massive amount of treats and goodies and write your name in the sky with sparklers.  In honour of the occasion I've created some mouth watering treats, gooey chocolate orange brownies topped with a delicious mini bonfire. For more information on how I made these, then carry on reading.

Halloween Cupcake Recipe

What better way to celebrate Halloween than by stuffing your face full of devilishly tasty cupcakes? I've been planning these tasty treats for a couple of weeks now and I finally found time to make them this week! These combine a tasty orange sponge with two toned vanilla buttercream icing (wow, that's a mouthful) and I can honestly say these are some of the best cupcakes I have ever made, the buttercream is particularly mouth watering. What I love about these is how easily you can chop and change up your colours and flavours to create something for any special occasion. Think pink and white for Valentines Day or red for Christmas.

September Baking

I don't know whether it's the latest series of Great British Bake Off or a general craving for sweet food recently but something has me in the mood to bake. So much so that on a recent trip to Asda for cans of Coca-Cola, I ended up leaving with fifty pounds worth of baking equipment. (Woops!) The George Home section at Asda currently has a beautiful selection of baking goods in an array of pretty pastel shades, from pretty pink mixing bowls to adorable ceramic measuring cups decorated with little cakes. It's a good job I have some self restraint or I really could have ended up spending hundreds. I also found myself picking up Mary Berry's Baking Bible, mainly because that woman is just an absolute queen and I wish she would adopt me but also because it's a really wonderful baking book. There's a great selection of recipes across bread, cupcakes, tray bakes, pastry, etc etc. There really is a little something for everyone and I also like how she included the basics which can then be really easily spruced up and changed about.