Ang’s chocolate cake

This is from a very special lady, Ang. Amongst her many gifts, she was a talented baker. This is my go-to birthday cake recipe, and baking it brings back the love and warmth she radiated.

This cake can be made dairy-free and is also egg free.

2 1/2 C flour

2 C sugar

1/2 C cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 C warm water or milk

1/2 C oil

2 Tbspn vinegar

2 tsp vanilla essence

Sift the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients. Stir until just mixed. Bake at 180oC for 35 minutes or until cooked through.

Wainui special

No idea how this got the name but it sure is special. Another regular in Nanny’s tins.

1 C flour

½ C sugar

1 Tbspn cocoa

1 tsp baking powder

1 C coconut

1 C crushed weet-bix, cornflakes or rolled oats (rolled oats are Mum’s favourite)

125 g butter

Melt butter and combine with dry ingredients. Bake 180˚C for 20-25 minutes.

Ice while hot with chocolate icing. Cut when cool.

Albert square

This is a cake-y slice.

1/4 lb butter

1 small C sugar

1 dessert spoon golden syrup

2 eggs

2 C flour

2 tspns baking powder

1 C currants

Line a 20 x 30 cm tin, bake for 30 minutes at 180oC. When it’s cool, ice with lemon icing (icing sugar + lemon juice + zest + tsp vanilla essence) and sprinkle with coconut.

Jam gems

I love how simple this recipe is!

8 oz butter (that’s 225g)

3 oz sugar (1/2 C)

8 oz flour (1 C)

Cream together and put jam in. (Cream B+S, add flour, then shape into rounds. Make a little indent in the middle to add jam into. Dollop 1/2 teaspoon into each). Bake at 325 deg (160o C) for 15 minutes.

Golden syrup biscuits

Another recipe from Nanny. I love how much these recipes are so unfussy and assume an inherent understanding of how long and how hot you would bake everything for. So clever. 🥰

1/2 lb butter

2 C flour

1 C sugar

2 tsp baking powder

2 Tbsn golden syrup

Cream butter and sugar and add golden syrup. Then add dry ingredients. Mix well. Place on tray and bake.