SmartCookieSam

SmartCookieSam

Welcome to my very own Yorkshire Kitchen Bakery!

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  • April 13, 2022

    #100bakeschallenge: Rice Crispie Cakes

    #100bakeschallenge: Rice Crispie Cakes

    Well these strictly aren’t Rice Crispie cakes, as there isn’t a single Rice Krispie in them. But allow me to bend the rules slightly as I wanted to make some Chocolate Easter Nests but you don’t make them with Rice Krispies. Cornflakes or Shredded Wheat. I noticed the wording on my #100bakeschallenge poster (see Crumbs […]

  • April 13, 2022

    Mini Egg Flapjacks

    Mini Egg Flapjacks

    I can’t get enough of Mini Eggs and I can’t get enough of Flapjacks. So I thought what if I could combine the two? My regular Flapjack recipe is one I’ve used for over 15 years and I’ve lost count of the times I’ve baked it. It’s been baked for my family, for friends, baked […]

  • April 7, 2022

    International Coffee Cake Day-Coffee and Walnut Cake #100bakes

    International Coffee Cake Day-Coffee and Walnut Cake #100bakes

    Today (Thursday April 7th) marks International Coffee Cake Day! Can’t beat a nice bit of Coffee Cake and my Coffee and Walnut Cake always goes down a treat. A tearoom classic, I love a slice of this if it’s ever on the menu anywhere I go. Mr S doesn’t like sickly sweet cakes and lots […]

  • April 7, 2022

    Salted Caramel Pretzel Cupcakes

    Salted Caramel Pretzel Cupcakes

    On Tuesday I baked some Salted Caramel Pretzel Cupcakes. One of those flavours that was around everywhere a few years ago and it still is popular with lots of people. It’s been a while since I’ve made anything salted caramel related, though. Tuesday 5th April was Caramel Day according to My Legoman’s Foodie Days Of […]

  • March 30, 2022

    fitwaffle’s baking it easy- a book review

    fitwaffle’s baking it easy- a book review

    I must admit I’d never heard of Fitwaffle before I picked up a copy of this book the other day. I’d gone to Northallerton to buy baking supplies and saw Fitwaffle’s Baking It Easy on the shelf in WHSmith! I am always looking out for new baking books. Those of you who know me well, […]

  • March 29, 2022

    #100bakeschallenge: Sausage rolls and scones.

    #100bakeschallenge: Sausage rolls and scones.

    For Mother’s Day this last Sunday I made an Afternoon Tea for my own mum, Mr S and I to enjoy. My son is away at uni and my daughter was working, although I did get to see her in the morning and then she was home to enjoy the Afternoon Tea leftovers later! For […]

  • March 21, 2022

    #100bakeschallenge: Raspberry and white chocolate muffins (Muffin Monday!)

    #100bakeschallenge: Raspberry and white chocolate muffins (Muffin Monday!)

    Did you know that Muffin was my nickname as a little girl? I think it was my Dad who called me that as apparently I couldn’t say Samantha properly and it came out something like “Muffind”! Or maybe I was like Muffin the Mule, haha! Whatever the reason, I love baking muffins even though it’s […]

  • March 20, 2022

    #100bakes: Lemon drizzle cake

    #100bakes: Lemon drizzle cake

    There are quite a few Lemon Drizzle Cakes or variations of Lemon Cakes already on my blog. But I was wanting to contribute a couple of cakes to the Cake Stall at our village coffee morning. Lemon Drizzle cake always seems to be popular at events and a traybake is so easy to make. Just […]

  • March 20, 2022

    #100bakes: Victoria Sponge.

    #100bakes: Victoria Sponge.

    You can’t beat a traditional Victoria Sponge. It’s got to have fresh cream in it, for me. I also prefer it sprinkled with caster sugar, rather than icing sugar. A Victoria Sponge is another bake to scratch off the #100BakesChallenge Poster. I chose to use Mary Berry’s recipe, which always works for me. Instead of […]

  • March 20, 2022

    National Chocolate Caramel Day: Caramel Chocolate Rocky Road

    National Chocolate Caramel Day: Caramel Chocolate Rocky Road

    I absolutely adore Rocky Road and made a batch of it the other day thinking ahead to celebrating National Chocolate Caramel Day on Saturday 19th March (see my National Mostly Foodie Days Of 2022 calendar by My Legoman! It was also another challenge to scratch off my Crumbs By Collette #100BakesCalendar As I make a […]

  • March 20, 2022

    #100bakeschallenge: Fondant Iced Birthday Cake

    #100bakeschallenge: Fondant Iced Birthday Cake

    What a busy few days it’s been both in the SmartCookieSam kitchen. As I type, it is Sunday March 20th and it has been a glorious, sunny Spring weekend up here in North Yorkshire. We have been very lucky with the weather over the past couple of days. But as I am so busy, I’ve […]

  • March 7, 2022

    Mary Berry’s Love To cook- Recipe book review.

    Mary Berry’s Love To cook- Recipe book review.

    It’s been a while since I’ve done a recipe book review. If you have a new book you would like me to review, do let me know! I love new recipe books and testing them out. Send them my way, I will only be too happy to help! This time I am reviewing Mary Berry’s […]

  • March 7, 2022

    National Oreo Cookie Day

    National Oreo Cookie Day

    Who likes Oreo cookies? I do, although they’re not my favourite cookie. I like baking with them, though. I like the mini ones best, which are the lunchbox bag ones with six cookies inside. Yesterday (Sunday, March 5th) was National Oreo Cookie Day according to the My Legoman Foodie Days Of 2022 calendar. When I […]

  • February 23, 2022

    Banana Bread Day- February 23rd.

    I feel as if I’m walking in a permanent brain fog at the moment. I can’t remember anything and I feel so tired this week. Last week was half term week but I spent most of it catching up. Even then, I didn’t achieve everything I needed to get done. One of these was to […]

  • February 22, 2022

    Lindor Mini Mint Truffle empire biscuits- National Mint Chocolate day.

    Lindor Mini Mint Truffle empire biscuits- National Mint Chocolate day.

    It was National Mint Chocolate Bar on Saturday 19th February. As mint is my absolute favourite flavour for cakes and ice-cream, I had to create something to celebrate this day on the Foodie lovers calendar! I was actually in London all day on Saturday so my post is three days late. A very early start […]

  • February 21, 2022

    Jammy Biscuits #100bakes

    Jammy Biscuits #100bakes

    It’s now Monday 21st February and I’m on half term week this week. I am glad of the break and the catch up. It made me think about what half term was like last year and we were still in the third lockdown. The weather was definitely wet after all the snow had melted up […]

  • February 21, 2022

    National Have A Brownie Day- Crunchie Brownies

    National Have A Brownie Day- Crunchie Brownies

    As I type this, it is Monday 21st February. This post has been edited several times and sat in draft form for nine days now. I honestly don’t know how bloggers with other jobs manage to fit in all their writing time. Last Sunday I was busy with Valentine’s Day baking orders. Then last week […]

  • February 10, 2022

    Nutella Brownie Cake: National Nutella Day

    Nutella Brownie Cake: National Nutella Day

    It was National Nutella Day on Saturday 5th February. I wanted to test out a recipe on the day but this didn’t happen. Saturday was my “catching up day” at home and I also needed to actually go out and buy some Nutella as I didn’t have any in my baking cupboard. Do you like […]

  • February 8, 2022

    Carrot Cake #100bakeschallenge

    Carrot Cake  #100bakeschallenge

    Thursday 3rd February was National Carrot Cake Day! I know what you’re all thinking! Oh, she’s a bit late here, it’s now Tuesday 8th February. But last Thursday was so busy, I had no time to think about making any carrot cakes. Instead I shared a photo collage of some previous carrot cakes I’d made, […]

  • February 7, 2022

    Chocolate Fudge Cake: #100bakeschallenge

    Chocolate Fudge Cake: #100bakeschallenge

    I’ve been so busy this week I haven’t had time to update my blog. Every afternoon after work has been taken up with something: baking, trying to catch up on jobs around the house or even to go out for walks in the fresh air with the dog. It has been a crazy week. It’s […]

  • February 2, 2022

    Empire Biscuits

    Empire Biscuits

    I don’t know what it is about Empire Biscuits but I love them! I can’t even say why I love them but they’ve always been my favourite biscuit. Before I had the children, years ago you used to be able to buy them in my local Sainsburys from the bakery counter. Every Saturday we used […]

  • January 31, 2022

    Devil’s Food Cake -National Chocolate Cake Day

    Devil’s Food Cake -National Chocolate Cake Day

    I had no idea it was National Chocolate Cake Day on the same day as Mr S’ birthday! It was a huge coincidence that I was baking him a chocolate flavoured birthday cake this year for him instead of the Lockdown brownies he got last year. I love baking chocolate cakes (and eating them, too […]

  • January 23, 2022

    Lotus Biscoff Blondies: #100bakeschallenge

    Lotus Biscoff Blondies: #100bakeschallenge

    I wanted to scratch off another two recipes from my #100bakeschallenge this week. I’d already made some pizza dough on Monday for challenge number 5 which incidentally was also World Pizza Day! Saturday 22nd January was also Blond Brownie Day. I had to make some Lotus Biscoff Blondies so great: another challenge could be scratched […]

  • January 23, 2022

    Homemade pizzas- WORLD Pizza Day

    Homemade pizzas- WORLD Pizza Day

    January 17th is World Pizza Day as I found out when looking at my #mostlyfoodiedaysof calendar from mylegoman.com. As if I need an excuse to eat Pizza? To be honest, I didn’t often eat pizza at home until a few months ago when I started a new job. On my way home from work I […]

  • January 19, 2022

    Oat And Raisin Cookies: #100bakes

    Oat And Raisin Cookies: #100bakes

    For those that are wondering what the #100bakes challenge is: it is a poster from www.crumbsbycollette.co.uk featuring 100 popular bakes. As you bake the recipe, you scratch the relevant square off the poster, revealing a beautiful hand drawn picture of that bake underneath. Mine doesn’t look that neat when scratched off as you can tell […]

  • January 12, 2022

    Marzipan, cherry and almond Cake: National Marzipan Day

    Today is National Marzipan Day! To be honest, although I love marzipan, I only bake with it at Christmas, Easter and for traditional fruit cakes. I never bother with it at other times of the year. I see it as something you use for special occasions. Even if it isn’t used as a layer for […]

  • January 9, 2022

    Cranberry and White Chocolate Shortbread #100bakeschallenge/ National Shortbread day

    Cranberry and White Chocolate Shortbread #100bakeschallenge/ National Shortbread day

    January 6th 2022 Did you know that January 6th is #NationalShortbreadDay? I didn’t until I got a My Legoman Mostly Foodie Days of Calendar for my kitchen wall. Or rather, its framed but still on the floor in my office until I can move pictures around in my kitchen and have the space to put […]

  • January 2, 2022

    Sticky Toffee Pudding- #100bakes

    Sticky Toffee Pudding- #100bakes

    This is my go-to dessert recipe for New Year’s Day or for a winter family Sunday lunch

  • October 27, 2021

    Amazing Cakes #30: Fairy Cakes

    Amazing Cakes #30: Fairy Cakes

    Hi everyone! Once again I’ve not kept up with my blogging. I’ve started a new job. I only work part time (every morning) but I’m busy with my online baking commitments and juggling lots going on at home at the moment. I’m pleased to say it’s actually now half term week here and although I […]

  • August 23, 2021

    Amazing Cakes #29: Fondant Fancies

    When you hear the name Fondant Fancies you immediately think of Mr Kipling’s yellow, chocolate and pink creations. Or if you live in Yorkshire like me, you might have even tasted the delectable version which Betty’s creates. I must admit I find Fondant Fancies too sweet and sickly, even though I’ve got a sweet tooth. […]

  • August 22, 2021

    Amazing Cakes #28: Mint Chocolate Roulade

    Amazing Cakes #28: Mint Chocolate Roulade

    Baking roulades and Swiss Rolls always fills me with dread. They look fiddly and messy whenever I make them and the filling never looks neat when I roll them up. Or the actual sponge cracks so much. Roulades are usually made without flour and fat and are whisked sponges baked in a flat rectangular cake […]

  • August 13, 2021

    Amazing Cakes #27: White Chocolate and Blueberry Layer Cake.

    Amazing Cakes #27: White Chocolate and Blueberry Layer Cake.

    It’s been a few weeks since I’ve tried out a recipe from The Great British Bake Off The Big Book Of Amazing Cakes. Most of the recipes I have left over in the challenge are the more complicated ones or the ones you would bake for a special occasion. Can’t imagine me baking a three […]

  • August 3, 2021

    Chocolate Orange Tiffin (aka Terry’s Tiffin)

    Chocolate Orange Tiffin (aka Terry’s Tiffin)

    This blog post is written in memory of a very special person. My Dad Terry passed away on June 11th. As I was growing up, my Dad was always encouraging and enjoyed sampling my baking. In more recent years he would enjoy various treats I would make for him and my step mum. Dad was […]

  • May 7, 2021

    Amazing Cakes #25: Coconut Sugar Fruit Cake

    Amazing Cakes #25: Coconut Sugar Fruit Cake

    I’ve been trying out recipes from The Big Book Of Amazing Cakes recently. The book has a chapter brimming full of Free-From recipes which is really useful. So far I’ve made the Gluten Free Brownies, the Vegan Marble Bundt Cake and the Vegan Lemon Drizzle Loaf Cake. To fit in with dietary requirements, lifestyles and […]

  • February 12, 2021

    Amazing Cakes #23: Vegan Lemon Drizzle Loaf

    It’s been a busy week here, not had much chance for actual baking as I’m getting my website ready for my online cookie business! All will be revealed by next week. I’m waiting for some new packaging to arrive so I can send out cookie samples to my taste testers. I’m also rethinking a couple […]

  • February 7, 2021

    Amazing Cakes #22: Angel Cake Slices

    Amazing Cakes #22: Angel Cake Slices

    As I mentioned before in my previous Cherry Cakes post, there are a couple of recipes I’ve already baked which I can tick off my Amazing Cakes recipe book challenge. Angel Cake as from a British point of view is the traditional cake you buy in slabs which contains a triple layer of sponge in […]

  • February 7, 2021

    Amazing Cakes #20: Vegan Marble Cake

    Amazing Cakes #20: Vegan Marble Cake

    It’s been about three weeks since I baked this cake.  I wanted to try out another recipe from The Big Book of Amazing Cakes but not to make anything which would be time consuming and fiddly to do. I wanted something which would double up like a pudding with a scoop of ice cream. Looking […]

  • November 22, 2020

    Parkin: Amazing Cakes #11

    Parkin: Amazing Cakes #11

    It’s that time of year again as Autumn draws upon us that I begin to think about recipes I love baking when it gets colder. One recipe I love making at this time of year is Parkin. If you don’t know what Parkin is or you have never tasted it, then you are missing out! […]

  • October 15, 2020

    Amazing Cakes #9: Coffee and Salted Caramel Cake

    Amazing Cakes #9: Coffee and Salted Caramel Cake

    While we’re self isolating and Mr S is working from home sometimes he likes to have something with a cuppa to keep him going on an afternoon.  Last week’s Victoria Sponge had been eaten and he doesn’t really like gingerbread like the gingerbread loaf I made the day before.  So on Sunday morning I planned […]

  • October 13, 2020

    Amazing Cakes #6: Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Brownies

    Amazing Cakes #6: Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Brownies

    There are a couple of Brownie recipes in The Great British Bake Off Amazing Cakes which I’ve been really keen to try out. I have my own favourite regular Brownie recipe but I must admit I’ve never made a gluten free brownie before. The Amazing Cakes book has a whole chapter dedicated to Free From […]

  • September 25, 2020

    Battenburg Cake: Amazing Cakes #3

    Battenburg Cake: Amazing Cakes #3

    I’ve been so excited for the Great British Bake Off. It’s exciting every year but this year it’s been more welcomed as something special and comforting in these difficult times. At one stage I was wondering if it would make it onto our screens this year. Baking has helped a lot of us through difficult […]

  • September 23, 2020

    Amazing Cakes #2: White Chocolate Blondies

    Hot on the heels of baking my successful Lemon Drizzle Traybake,  I wanted to try something slightly different to take along for my work mates to enjoy as an alternative to the lemon drizzle.  I’ve lost my baking confidence recently and have found recipes I’ve baked time and time again going wrong.  I have always […]

  • September 21, 2020

    Amazing Cakes #1: Lemon Drizzle Traybake

    Recipe Challenge #1: Lemon Drizzle TraybakeLemon Drizzle Traybake is a classic recipe and one I’ve made lots over the years.  Recently I have made Mary Berry’s version and this always goes down well.  I was keen to see how this version from The Big Book Of Amazing Cakes measured up to Mary’s version.  At first […]

  • July 9, 2020

    Lemon Cupcakes

    Lemon Cupcakes

    How are you all doing? As I write, I’m catching up on my day off after a busy first week back at work.  My workplace reopened last Monday and it’s just fantastic to be back. To mark the day of reopening, I just had to celebrate by taking in some baking to share with my […]

  • June 18, 2020

    Blueberry and White Chocolate Layer Cake

    Cake baking to me is a great stressbuster and it really helps with my anxiety. It brings me back into the moment and has been a huge help to get me through all the worries brought about by this coronavirus pandemic. I was feeling a bit off it on Monday. I know I am far […]

  • June 8, 2020

    Traditional Classic: Victoria Sponge

    Traditional Classic: Victoria Sponge
  • June 5, 2020

    #BakeWithStork: Vegan Oat and Cranberry Cookies

    #BakeWithStork: Vegan Oat and Cranberry Cookies

    It’s been nearly three weeks since my birthday but one of the presents I got with my birthday money was a fantastic recipe book. Called Stork The Art Of Home Baking, it is an amazing collection of recipes which celebrate the centenary of the famous baking ingredient. I sometimes use Stork in my sponges and […]

  • June 1, 2020

    Sultana Scones- My Favourite Recipe

    I’ve been meaning to write this blog post up for ages. Having a bit more time being in lockdown has given me the time to add more things on the blog. Scone’s have always been one of my favourites. You can’t beat a fresh, homemade scone. One of the things I am really looking forward […]

  • May 31, 2020

    Chocolate Chip Muffins

    Chocolate Chip Muffins

    It’s been ages since I’ve baked muffins. At the beginning of the lockdown when going off to the supermarket for our weekly shop, my son asked if I could buy some of those mini muffins you can buy in plastic tubs on the bakery counter. I never usually buy these as they taste horrible to […]

  • April 13, 2020

    Yeast Free Naan Bread

    Yeast Free Naan Bread

    With a shortage of strong bread flour and yeast in the shops the other day, I’ve been making my own naan bread. I’ve always loved naan bread but the beauty with this recipe is that it doesn’t need yeast or strong bread flour to make it. This naan recipe contains self raising flour and full […]

  • April 3, 2022

    Daim Caramel Mini Egg Brownies

    Daim Caramel Mini Egg Brownies

    The other day I had a great response on social media to the Terry’s Chocolate Orange Mini Egg Brownie recipe I posted. I also had lots of compliments about them from my work colleagues who actually got to test them out. Tomorrow, they will be getting an alternative flavour. This time, it’s going to be […]

  • March 30, 2022

    terry’s chocolate orange mini egg brownies

    terry’s chocolate orange mini egg brownies

    As it’s getting closer to Easter and I’ve been getting ready for the Easter Bunny coming chez SmartCookieSam, it’s got me started to think about some Easter recipes. Usually I look at what Easter Chocolates are around in the shop although I’m surprised the mini eggs have lasted that long. Once a packet is open […]

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