Sweet Things from Winter

It has become obvious to many people that I really have a sweet tooth. So, when my cousin suggested we do a bit of baking, I couldn't resist. 

So first of, since I called dibs on the oven first, I made these cupcakes. I made the basic vanilla sponge cake batter 'spiked' with powdered almonds. It was more nuts then flour to be honest, which is something we seem to like.

Delicious looking or Weird?

The icing I made was a basic cream cheese icing, with Amaretto liquor and cocoa powder. To decorate the cupcakes I used flowers and leaves. If you have little ones, or little ones at heart like we are, get them to decorate the cakes. It is much more delicious when you eat something you've made :)

It was so much fun decorating!

Now onto the part I was really excited about. My cousin made a delicious chocolate and orange marble cake for a friend's baby shower and I've been on her case to make it for us ever since. I roped in my sister to join me in the pleading puppy face begging scheme and it finally paid off.

She, my cousin, made the delicious cake for us at last!!!!

My new favourite Winter warming dessert

Her tip for making this cake is 'use the best chocolate you can afford'. So after purchasing a lot of dark Swiss chocolate, and giving me evil looks for wanting to eat up the chocolate (I love dark chocolate) and for hogging the oven, she started with her baking. Be warned, this cake takes 3 hours to make!!

She made separate batters, one made with orange zest and the other with some of the chocolate. I don't  quite remember what she did, it went by in a bit of a blur on account of the chocolate I was praying she'd have leftovers of. After she had baked the cake she then turned it out, cut it up and served with melted dark chocolate. This cake has to be eaten warm - which is probably why it is best for winter.

mmm...

Need I even write the verdict: Yes! Around. This is the type of thing that makes one sound like Oliver Twist.

What is your Winter sweet of choice?