Occasionally the stars align and you get a fantastic opportunity. For a blogger who’s only just started delving into recipe posts, hearing that I’d been picked to review the new Hummingbird Bakery book “Life Is Sweet” was one such moment. I love Hummingbird Bakery recipes!
It’s a beautiful book, you could while away hours just flicking through the pages and gazing at the gorgeous pictures. The recipes range from simple-to-create yumminess to dazzling (slightly more complicated!) deliciousness. There are 10 chapters, containing recipes for Cakes, Cupcakes, Layer Cakes, Pies, Cookies & Candies, Tray Bakes, Pancakes, Ice Cream, Puddings and finishing with Bread & Savouries. I want to make them all!
For the purposes of this review though, I wanted to make something with the boy – so we sat down together to choose a recipe. Every turn of the page was met with a “Wow! Let’s make this!” moment, but we eventually settled on what he’d wanted to make from seeing them on the cover – the Vanilla-filled Chocolate Cookies.
I was immediately impressed with how un-fussy the recipe was. I actually already had all the ingredients I needed except for an extra block of butter. Quite a few of the recipes I looked at were like this – nothing you’ll need to traipse around to find. I don’t think any of the recipes are beyond your once in a while baker, even the more complicated ones.
A lot of the recipes suggest using a free standing mixer, which I don’t have – yet! – but I do have a food processor with a dough blade, which worked just fine. Elbow grease should also do the trick for anyone who thinks mixers are cheating (Nana I’m looking at you!)
I got permission to reproduce the recipe below for anyone who wants to try making these at home – hope you enjoy yourselves as much as we did (especially the eating part – I should add they were completely delicious, if not quite as pretty as the ones in the book!)
If you would like to buy “Life Is Sweet” by the Hummingbird Bakery you can find it on Amazon here.
I am linking up this post to #puddinglove, #KCACOLS and #bigpinklink
| Servings |
Cookies
|
- 225 grams unsalted butter softened
- 435 grams icing sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Ingredients
For the vanilla filling
|
|
- Pre-heat the oven to 190'C (375'F). Line 3 baking trays with baking parchment (I cooked mine in batches as I only have one tray!) Gather your ingredients, and your minion.
- Sift the flour, cocoa, bicarb, baking powder and salt into a bowl
- Using a mixer with paddle/food processor, or willpower and elbow grease, cream the butter and sugar together for 5 minutes until it's light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat on medium speed until just mixed. Lower the speed and add the dry ingredients gradually until the dough is well combined.
- Use a small 15ml scoop or teaspoon to drop round dough balls on to the baking parchment, about 5cm apart. Use the bottom of a glass to squish to about 4mm thick. Dip the glass in your spare sugar first as this will stop the dough sticking to it.
- Bake for approx 10 minutes until the cookies are firm, then turn out on to wire racks to cool.
- To make the filling, use the same method as you did before to beat the butter until it's light and fluffy. Carefully add the icing sugar, and once it's incorporated, beat for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat for an extra 2 minutes.
- Put the filling into a piping bag and allow your minion to run amok with the bag, squirting filling everywhere. Or end up doing it yourself once he's made one to eat himself.
Oh i’m drooling….so delicious. Huge Hummingbird fan here. Their red velvet cupcakes are my weakness… Fab post, will definitely be uring the recipe too!
That’s *using not uring…or urinating… And, #bigpinklink
I lOVE Hummingbird cookery books and have their first one I think. I have to say those biscuits look amazing and you make it sound like it is really easy to make! I need to have a go at making these. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Mmmmm these look great! (Tribsters are making me want biscuits today!) And well done you for getting the review, it’s great! Lucy xx #Triballove
Those cookies look great – and so easy to make too. I’m trying to be satisfied with the peach I just ate instead, but it’s not really cutting it. #bigpinklink
Oooo these look like a big YES! #MarvMondays
Oh I am a HUGE Hummingbird Bakery lover – have you ever been? Such an indulgent treat – we should meet there for tribal tea and cake one afternoon. These cookies look divine – well done you two! x
Oh wow they look fantastic! Totally unsatisfied with my Tesco own brand chocolate chip cookies now #BigPinkLink
Oh lord, these look amazing. I mean it, they actually look like they do in the book! And very store cupboard-y as well, might have a crack at these at the weekend. Hummingbird books are proper sugar porn. #triballove
They look great! and totally like the photo on the front of the book! Sometimes it’s hard to bake stuff that actually looks like it’s supposed too!
#triballove xx
You can’t go wrong with Hummingbird Bakery! My life would be incomplete without their books! #puddinglove
I have never experienced Hummingbird Bakery before, but it would be lovely I think. We enjoy baking in our house and I can’t wait to bake with my daughter when she’s old enough. #TribalLove
They look properly yum and definitely like little man enjoyed making and eating.
#triballove
I reviewed this book too and I made these and the tunnel of fudge cake, both delicious! x #bigpinklink
How did the tunnel of fudge turn out? That’s the next on my list to make, how funny!! I’m going to go look at your review now!!
Wow they look amazing. I love un fussy recipes as I hate having to buy loads of different ingredients! I love your step by step pictures! Jemma x #marvellousmondays
I’ve made these and they were so crisp and yummy. Try the champagne cupcakes too. Amazing. #marvmondays
Oh wow, so impressive – yours look almost identical to the picture on the book! Really lovely pics, looks like your boy really enjoyed helping out 🙂 I love recipes that don’t have too many fancy ingredients as well, puts me off having a go altogether. Fab review x #bigpinklink
These look so yummy never heard of the recipe book but will be checking it out love baking cakes with my 4 year old twin girls #bigpinklink
Wow! These look incredible! I am very impressed with your baking skills. I also love the use of the bottom of the glass to get an even and equal shape. Good tip! #triballove
Aaah, your little boy is so gorgeous!! And these look amazing, despite you saying they don’t look as good as the book! I have a hummingbird bakery book, and my children have had similar conversations where they look through it and want to make everything! But I’ve never attempted anything, because I’m just one big baking disaster! My Instagram feed used to be full of my baking disasters… But I really should keep trying-these have inspired me to do so!
#bigpinklink
I have a different hummingbird bakery book and I love it. It is my go to book when I am looking to make a sweet treat 🙂 xxxx #MarvMondays
OMG. These look like Oreo cookies but a gazillion times better! #PuddingLove
Those look so good! I love how your review is so real-life. I actually like that you didn’t have a fancy mixer (I dream of getting one, but it’s on the wish list for a couple years). Makes it very relatable for those of us that aren’t bakers and so nice to see that little ones can help! Your cookies look amazing, I bet they tasted even better 🙂 Great review! #MarvMondays
Looks like an awesome book and yum, they look delicious. My OH is getting into baking so may pick this up for him for his birthday. Thanks for linking up to #MarvMondays. Kaye xo
I have seen this book about loads and it has always caught my eye, good to know it is worth the purchase and that I don’t need a free standing mixer as I don’t have one either…mores the pity. Cakes look yummy! #bigpinklink
I’ve had a Hummingbird book for years but I hadn’t ever used it until last week. It made the best chocolate cupcakes! Delicious! Love these recipes too – what a little sweetie for helping you too!
He’s a very good helper 🙂
OMG I am sat here waiting for my takeaway to arrive and all I want is one of these cookies! They look epic! I am going to take to heart what you said about being suitable for even reasonably unskilled bakers and give this little recipe a whirl myself. I’ll let you know how I get on…. #PuddingLove
Do! They were yummy.
They look and sound delicious, and not to difficult to make either. I a a fan of The HummingBird Bakery books, I have borrowed them a few times from the library. They are even good just to browse through at all the lovely pictures and recipes. Glad you and the little one enjoyed baking and eating.
Amanda #kcacols
Looks yummy… I want one now! Absolutely love the last pic: just the best when he has it in his mouth. It says it all.
#KCACOLS
Yum, these look lovely! I’ve pinned for future reference 🙂 #KCACOLS
I want that book! I love cakes. Though, if I’m honest, I do prefer other people to make them! I love filled cookies like those – good choice!
Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
They look delicious and sound easy to make too. I definitely agree that I also have those ingredients in the cupboard, which is always a huge plus.
#kcacols
I’ve never heard of the humming bird bakery but OMG these look delicious. I will have to see of my daughter wants to atte,pt to make them. We’re not the best bakers but we try 😉 #kcacols