I don’t know if you remember this but my blog wasn’t always called The Beautiful Bluebird. In fact, it wasn’t even a beauty blog! It was called Roxie’s Makes & Bakes (I know, cringe!) and was primarily about crafting and baking. Baking has taken a bit of a back seat to beauty reviews recently. It’s still one of my passions though. Please don’t get your hopes up I’m not Mary Berry or anything but it’s one of my favourite things to do at this time of year. I think it was lighting my first Apple Spice Potpourri Yankee Candle of the year that did it. Suddenly I’m reaching for cinnamon and nutmeg, pinning pumpkin and hot chocolate recipes on Pinterest and buying fluffy socks and tartan flannel pj’s. I’m feeling all, dare I say it, Christmassy (#sorrynotsorry). Anyway, I popped off to ASDA to restock my baking cupboard (yes, I have a dedicated baking cupboard) to get my baking game back and this is what I bought…
Nestle Carnation Condensed Milk (£1) – My all time favourite ingredient! I love to make my own hampers for presents and I use this to make the most delicious fudge, tablet & caramel shortbread. I couldn’t find their pre-prepared caramel for my banoffee pie but I’ll definitely be picking it up next time.
Dr Oetker’s Madagascar Vanilla Natural Extract (£1.09) Most of my baking recipes have some form of vanilla in them, I’m obsessed with my house smelling of vanilla cupcakes so I always have this little bottle at hand.
Lyle’s Squeezy Golden Syrup (£1.50) Less messy and awkward than the tin and a must have for my carrot cakes, gingerbread and on top of my banana bread.
I also bought Glace Cherries (£1.29) to make scones, Fine Dark Cocoa Powder (£1) for brownies, baking powder, lemon juice, plain and dark chocolate, flour and honey.
I hate finding a recipe but not having the right ingredients so I try to cover most options. I find that golden caster sugar is perfect for gingerbread, demerara for flapjacks and dark muscovado for brownies. These were all £1 and I find that Whitworths ingredients are great quality so I took full advantage of this offer and stocked up.
I’m pretty sure it’s the photo above that you’re most excited about, me too! I mean mallow frosting and salted caramel, I could literally eat all of this straight out of the packet. I hope I manage to save this for an actual recipe and don’t give in to temptation. I was excited to see that ASDA is finally stocking Cake Angels! This Mallow Icing was only £1.50 and they also stock sprinkles and melts to make your own cake pops. The Dr Oetker Cupcake Centre (£1.50) also comes in rich chocolate and zingy lemon and I couldn’t resist partnering this up Dr Oetker’s Salted Caramel Crunch topping (£1).
Do you have a passion for baking?
Share your recipes below, I’d love to give them a go!
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