Coffee and dark chocolate celebration cake

 

A big anniversary calls for a big cake, and this is certainly one for the books… Cupcakes and Couscous turns 10 this month!! I’m not sure where 10 years went, it’s wild, but I do remember starting out on this blogging journey having to figure things out as I went along. I honestly had no idea whether anyone would bother reading my little blog and had so much to learn about photography, websites, etc. etc. Luckily, soon after starting I connected with some local food bloggers who welcomed me into the fray and were so supportive from the get-go. I worked hard to improve my photography skills and post new recipes regularly. Since then I have published 375 posts, launched a freelance career, met so many lovely members in the creator community and learnt a HUGE amount. I’m grateful for every part of the journey so far.

 

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Lockdown recipe ideas and my top 8 stay at home tips

 

It’s week three of self isolation for my family not to mention one week into South Africa’s lockdown, and it felt wrong to just put out another recipe without acknowledging the strange and unsettling situation that we all find ourselves in right now. So for this post I’m doing something a little different and sharing not only some recipe inspiration but some thoughts on how we’re managing at home, and our new routine. Please feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments, I’d love to hear how you’re doing!

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Coconut, almond and blueberry cake

 

It’s been a while since we had a cake recipe on the blog and this one is such a treat! I made it a few weeks ago for a school picnic and it disappeared in no time. The cake is lovely and moist with a delicious flavour, and is very easy to prepare.

 

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Recipe round up: 15 chocolate recipes you need to try!

Top 15 chocolate recipes

 

It’s no secret that I am a chocoholic, and chocolate recipes are always very popular with my lovely Cupcakes and Couscous readers. So I decided that I would round up fifteen of the best chocolate recipes all in one post, yum! I have included something chocolatey to suit everyone, whether you are avoiding refined sugar, vegan or up for a fully loaded, indulgent treat. (Don’t forget to let me know which is your fave!) Without further ado let’s jump in. Continue reading “Recipe round up: 15 chocolate recipes you need to try!”

Dark chocolate cupcakes with whipped whiskey ganache

Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate and whiskey ganache.

This week’s recipe comes from a feature I put together for Cheers Magazine last month in which whiskey and sherry were the heroes. I have to be honest and say that sipping spirits has never been my thing, I am more of a wine gal myself! But I do keep a small stash of tipple tucked away for culinary purposes. A splash of brandy here, a dash of sherry there… they certainly add a deep richness to the dishes they are added to. These easy dark chocolate cupcakes are proof that whiskey is not only good for sipping but also has its place in the kitchen (and that cupcakes aren’t just for the kiddies!).

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Lemon loaf cake with saffron syrup

Lemon loaf cake with saffron syrup.
A few weeks ago I was given a pack of gorgeous saffron to try out at home. I have only ever used saffron in savoury dishes in the past (this saffron chicken dish is one of my favourites) and wanted to try it in a sweet recipe this time around.

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How to make easy rainbow meringues (and a rainbow cake!)

Chocolate cake topped with meringues.

Crisp, white meringues are one my favourite things to make, but a few weeks ago I tried something a little different by adding some colours to the mix! The reason? I wanted to top my daughter’s rainbow birthday cake with rainbow meringues. I had so many party guests (well, the parents) asking me for the recipe that I have decided to pop it on the blog this week along with my go-to meringue recipe. I am also sharing a few tips for making your own rainbow cake.

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Semolina, coconut and marmalade cakes

 Semolina, coconut and marmalade mini cakes.

I could not resist this recipe when I came across it – the title alone has me dreaming of soft cake drenched in sticky citrus deliciousness. It is adapted from a recipe by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi from their book Jerusalem. I also happen to have an excess of marmalade in my fridge and adore anything with coconut in it so this one had my name written all over it!

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