Recently I made a Passionfruit cake for my mother-in-laws birthday. I really like the flavour of passionfruit but I'm really not that keen on the pips!!!! I was super happy to find this recipe that gives an easy way of removing the pips.

I was a bit pushed for time so I wanted a simple way to decorate the cake (and I've made quite a few cakes for my in laws now its hard to keep coming up with new ideas!) This time I was inspired by Bluebell's use of real flowers. So simple & sweet, don't you think?

Passionfruit Cake

Ingredients

•       ½ cup passionfruit pulp 

•       ½ tsp vanilla essence 

•       1 tsp baking soda 

•       1 ½ cups flour 

•       2 tbsp golden syrup 

•       1 tsp baking powder 

•       125g butter 

•       ½ cup sugar 

•       1 cup milk 

•       1 egg

Icing

•       1 tsp melted butter

•       1 cup icing sugar

•       2 passionfruit (strain pulp)

Method

Place the pulp and milk in saucepan. Heat to lukewarm, then add the baking soda. 

Cream the butter and sugar then add golden syrup and egg. Mix well and then add the vanilla. Strain the pulp through a sieve into the creamed mixture. Add the sifted flour and baking powder. Place tin and bake at 180 degrees C for 40 minutes.

Here's a printable version of this recipe :)

Cake for One.

Recently I've been trying to reduce my sugar in take....I have good days and not so good days! I'd quite like to adjust my taste buds to not 'need' dessert every night but I'm not there yet. In the mean time I mix it up a bit, sometimes having real (sugary) desserts, chocolate etc and sometimes I make Paleo style (sugar & carb free) desserts or baking.

Recently in a novel (a trashy chic lit book called Smitten if you must know - I don't really recommend it, but I'm still getting the hang of finding good e-books to get out from the library so my reading list is a bit hit and miss quality wise at the moment!) I came across a recipe for a Sugar/Carb free Mug cake - you know, 1 serving of cake cooked in a mug in the microwave. I've tried it a couple of times now and I do quite like it - its not that sweet, so if you're really after a sweet fix I'd suggest adding more sweetener. I've also been serving it with "The Collective Dairy's" Blood Orange Yoghurt, as I didn't have any cream, but I think cream would go better (would give it more decadence).

Give it a go and let me know what you think!

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Sugar Free Mug Cake

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp Almond Flour
2 tsp Xylitol (or more depending on how sweet you'd like it)
1 Tbsp (heaped) Cocoa Powder
1 egg
1 Tbsp Butter/Coconut Oil
1.5 Tbsp Milk or Cream
Splash of Vanilla Essence
1 Coffee Mug

Mix all dry ingredients in the mug, add egg and blend thoroughly. Add milk, oil (I melted mine first so it mixed smoothly) & vanilla. Mix well.
Place in 1000 watt microwave for 90 sec) 
Do not cover mug. Cake will rise.
Let cool and place on a plate. Serve with a little whipped cream on top.

Enjoy!