Perfect pizza base recipe  

Perfect pizza base recipe

Since I was little, myself and my brother were always in the kitchen. Eating and baking simple cakes or trying to master our ever changing pizza base recipe.

A long, long time ago, when there was no internet… oh my I sound old… we had to be very creative and try to guess our own Perfect pizza base recipe.

We had pizza at least once a week. Thin base pizza, crispy base pizza, stuffed crust pizza, thick base pizza… You get the idea.

 

To the last crumb

We always liked what we created and in most cases pizza was gone before it managed to cool down.

The other day I was on the hunt searching for a Perfect pizza base recipe again. This time, being  a busy mum and running my own business I needed something as little time consuming as possible. It happen that we were talking pizza with my brother and he gave me this Perfect pizza base recipe!

I am not entirely sure where he got it from but he reassured me I wont be disappointed! This Perfect pizza base recipe is absolutely amazing. Not only you make it in the morning or a day before but also can freeze some for later. It definitely is the Perfect pizza base recipe as you can adapt it if you prefer thick or thin and crispy.

Perfect pizza base recipe is very easy and takes less time when you use a standing mixer.

I use fresh yeast but luckily it’s become more popular and easy to buy these days.

If you sprinkle some semolina when rolling, Perfect pizza base recipe will get a perfect texture to it. {No soggy bottoms here.}

 

Perfect pizza base recipe

 

You can top it with absolutely anything you like. Be creative with your choices or use the traditional margherita combination.

 

Method:

For the Perfect pizza base recipe you will need:

  • 800g plain flour
  • 450 – 480ml room temperature water (some brands of flours will require more liquid)
  • 1/2 tsp rock salt
  • 1.5g fresh yeast
  • 30ml olive oil

Top tip. I always use my scales to measure the liquids like water, milk or olive oil to be more precise.

Put everything in a mixer and work it on medium speed until well combined. It will become quite still. Mix on faster speed with a hook or paddle till stops sticking to the sides and will be easy to handle. About 10 – 15 minutes depending on the power of your mixer.

If you want thin and crispy divide the Perfect pizza base recipe to four balls. Place in the fridge covered in cling film for at least 8 hours.

 
Perfect pizza base recipe
Perfect pizza base recipe
Perfect pizza base recipe

Sometimes when I am busy and super organised I will make this a night or two before but only save two balls which feeds the three of us. I put the other two parts in the freezer for another time. When you ready just place in the fridge for a couple of hours before you will want to use it.

When you ready warm up the oven to 185C/175C fan.

Roll each ball to 12″ circle on a surface sprinkled with

  • couple of handfuls of semolina

 

I bake mine on a pizza stone. It’s a great invention and keeps the Perfect pizza base recipe hot during the dinner!

When rolled and ready top it with some tomato or BBQ sauce, cheese etc.

 

Perfect pizza base recipe

Perfect pizza base recipe    Perfect pizza base recipe

 

Bake for around 20 minutes until the crust is golden brown. If you unsure you can lift up slightly one of the sides with a long knife to check underneath.

 

I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!

 

Until next time.

Keep on baking,

Aggy x

Very berry cookie dough cake

Very berry cookie dough cake

Last summer we spend an amazing few weeks in Poland. The weather was outstanding, almost every day over 30C and the gorgeous weather meant there was plenty of juicy and delicious fruits to be picked.

Originally Very berry cookie dough cake was my mums recipe that she made over and over again for us when we visited. She made it with apples and cherries but we adapted it slightly and came up with this Very berry cookie dough cake version.

Very berry cookie dough cake

The Very berry cookie dough cake is a fresh, quick and easy reminder of those long hot summery days. It taste perfect when eaten warm with ice cream or cold even on its own!

The base.

For the Very berry cookie dough cake base you will need:

  • 400g plain flour
  • 4 organic egg yolks
  • 200g sugar
  • 250g cold, unsalted butter
  • dash of vanilla
  • 2 tsp baking powder

Sieve the flour. Chop the butter in to small cubes and place all the of the ingredients in a food processor. If you haven’t got a food processor you can ‘rub’ it with your fingers. It suppose to make a loose crumble like texture. Put a side.

Meringue.

In the meantime prepare:

  • 4 egg whites
  • pinch of salt
  • 100g brown sugar

Whisk the egg whites with salt until stiff. Slowly add sugar and set aside.

Fruit mix.

Very berry cookie dough cake

You will need :

  • 1200g – 1500g fresh or frozen mix berries*
  • 4-5 tbls of corn flour depending on type of fruit you use
  • couple of spoons of sugar to your taste*

*I have used frozen mix of summer berries (red currants, black currants, strawberries and raspberries) with some extra frozen strawberries which allowed me to skip the sugar. We prefer our fruit to be slightly sour in taste especially when the cake and meringue are quite sweet. I have also added two crunchy apples, chopped to small pieces for the texture but again you can leave it out.

Mix the fruit with corn flour (and sugar) so it is coated evenly.

Very berry cookie dough cake

Warm the oven to 180C or 160C fan.

TOP TIP. First line a 10″ baking tin with tin foil making sure it overhangs the tin (this is to help to remove the cake later). Then using one, large piece of baking paper place it on top and press it into the corners again making sure it overhangs slightly.

Assembling the layers for Very berry cookie dough cake.

Depending if you are using fresh or frozen fruit please follow step 1 or step 2!

  1. Fresh fruit baking.

Sprinkle evenly 3/4 of the crumble mix in the baking tin. Gently cover with the fruit and then spread the meringue. Crumble the remaining mix on the top.

Bake for 45-50 minutes till golden brown.

  1. Frozen fruit baking.

Sprinkle evenly 3/4 of the crumble mix in the baking tin. Gently cover with the fruit and place it in the oven. Bake it for 25 minutes. Take it out and quickly top it up with the meringue and crumble the remaining mix on the top.

Bake it for 50-60 minutes till golden brown.

Very berry cookie dough cake

 

You can enjoy a slice or two straight from the oven but cool completely before removing from the tin.

I hope you like it as much as we do!!

Aggy, Andy & Zara

xxx

Aggy’s chocolate orange gateau

Aggy’s chocolate orange gateau

Slow almost lazy you would say Saturday at home. I felt like baking something light and naughty. Usually we are ending up with our favourite chocolate brownie cake but this time it didn’t feel quite right… so I came up with this amazing “Aggy’s chocolate orange gateau”.

It can be as easy as you like or you can decorate it with elaborate sugar work.

Aggy’s chocolate orange gateau is a slightly chocolaty, light and moist sponge with delicate creamy orange after taste. Almost like a cake version of the famous orange chocolates.

Aggy’s chocolate orange gateau

For the Aggy’s chocolate orange gateau cake prepare:

  • 280g caster sugar
  • 8 organic eggs (room temperature)
  • 200ml water
  • 200g dark chocolate (I have used 60% cocoa but you can use higher if you wish)
  • 280g plain flour
  • dash of vanilla
  • 1tsp of baking powder

Whisk sugar and eggs on high speed until almost white.

In the meantime boil the water and let it cool down slightly. Smash the chocolate into small pieces. Use a plastic bowl preferably and slowly mix the water into the chocolate until combined and smooth.

Sieve and mix the flour and baking powder. Fold it in slowly simultaneously with melted chocolate in to the egg mixture in few portions.

Prepare two 8” tins. Do not grease the tins! Instead only use paper circles for the base.

Split the mixture evenly and bake it at 160C fan for around 55 minutes. If unsure check with a skewer.

When ready take out the oven and cool in the tin for 15 minutes. Then cut around the sides, turn up side down and remove the paper. Turn the right way up on a rack and leave to completely cool.

Cut both cakes in half.

TOP TIP. The easiest way to cut neatly and accurate that works every time! Mark around your cake lightly with a sharp knife. Take about two foot long piece of dental floss and wrap around the cake. Cross the floss at the front and gently pull through until it comes out the cake.

Aggy’s chocolate orange gateau

Filling.

  • 750g mascarpone cheese
  • high quality organic orange marmalade (I have made my own, if you’re brave enough give it a go keep an eye out for the recipe in one of the upcoming posts)

Add to taste, mix it trough.

Aggy’s chocolate orange gateau

Assembling Aggy’s chocolate orange gateau.

Additionally you will need

  • juice from 2 organic oranges

Drizzle each cake with some orange juice and sandwich with the cream. Decorate as you wish.

Aggy’s chocolate orange gateau

 

Hello my dears,

and Happy New Year!! I hope you had an amazing Christmas.

 

Cherry, vanilla mousse cheesecake with chocolate and vanilla cookie.

cherry vanilla mousse cheesecake with chocolate and vanilla cookie

 

I have made a new light and delicious recipe, cherry, vanilla mousse cheesecake with chocolate and vanilla cookie.

If you are like us and love food you probably indulged yourself over the Christmas period quite a bit. After all the rich and heavy food, I was craving a simple and light dessert. I love cherries and cookies and always have a spare jar of cherries in the pantry. So I came up with cherry, vanilla mousse cheesecake with chocolate and vanilla cookie bake.

cherry vanilla mousse cheesecake with chocolate and vanilla cookie

cherry vanilla mousse cheesecake with chocolate and vanilla cookie

 

It’s quite easy to make it and you can eat it almost as soon as it is out the oven. First taste is almost like warm marshmallows and if you manage to save any to the next day it will become a light moussy cheesecake texture.

It tastes very delicate and light . A little burst of slightly sour black cherries, followed by subtle vanilla cheese layer with soft and crumbly vanilla and chocolate cookies.

cherry vanilla mousse cheesecake with chocolate and vanilla cookie

cherry vanilla mousse cheesecake with chocolate and vanilla cookie

To make the cookie dough you will need:

  • 450g all plain flour
  • 5 egg yolks
  • 80g icing sugar
  • 250g unsalted butter, chopped
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • dash of vanilla

—— sieve and put aside —–>

  • 2 slightly hipped tbls of dark cocoa powder

The quickest way is to place all the ingredients in a mixer with plastic dough knife. Otherwise rub flour and butter together. When ready quickly combine all the ingredients together. Do not overmix.

Split into three parts. Put two together in a sealed bag and place in the freezer. To the third part add the cocoa powder and place it in the freezer as well.

In the meantime prepare a 10″ square tin lined with tin foil and baking paper. I like this cheesecake to be quite tall hence I am using the smaller tin. However you also would be fine with a 12″ square or rectangular equivalent.

Cheese filling.

  • 5 egg whites
  • pinch of salt
  • 250g sugar
  • 750g mascarpone
  • 300g natural yoghurt
  • sieved 2 hipped tbls corn flour
  • dash of vanilla

Whip the egg whites with salt until stiff. Keep whipping while adding the sugar slowly. Mix the mascarpone well in a separate bowl and add in to the egg mix in 3 to 4 portions. Fold in the rest of the ingredients carefully not to knock the air out of the filling mix.

You also will need

  • large jar or tin of cherries

or some fresh or frozen if available. I like to add a spoon of corn flour to my cherry compote to make a light cherry sauce that you can use as well.

Putting the layers together.

For the bottom of the tin grate on a cheese grater the two vanilla dough balls and distribute the layer evenly. Gently put the cheese layer next followed by cherries. Top this off with grated chocolate cookie dough.

TOP TIP. Make sure you don’t handle the cookie dough to long otherwise it will start melting and will be difficult to grate.

cherry vanilla mousse cheesecake with chocolate and vanilla cookie

cherry vanilla mousse cheesecake with chocolate and vanilla cookie

Bake it in a preheated oven at 180C (160C fan) for 50-55 min. Cool in slightly open oven.

If you have any left after hot tasting drizzle with dark or white chocolate.

cherry vanilla mousse cheesecake with chocolate and vanilla cookie

cherry vanilla mousse cheesecake with chocolate and vanilla cookie

Lemon, almond and poppy seeds roulade

Lemon almond and poppy seed roulade recipe

So who watched the ‘Great British Bake Off’ last week? I think we will be trying our hands at the show stopper as it looked amazing!

Lemon almond and poppy seed roulade Here at Cotswolds Finest Cakes HQ not only do we have a passion for outstanding sculpted, gravity defying and wedding cakes; we also love baking breads, preparing desserts making the ultimate sweet treats. In our new blog we would like to share our favorite recipes with you all so you too can make and bake the most delicious desserts for you and you friends and family.Lemon almond and poppy seed roulade and our litte modelAll the recipes will be varying in skill level but with good planning and attention to detail there should be no recipe that is too difficult for the home baker!

Lemon almond and poppy seed roulade recipe

All the ingredients we use are things that are either found at home already or are easily available from your local store.

So, get your aprons on, the oven fired up, zero the scales and let’s get baking.

First recipe we would like you to try is our amazing Lemon, almond and poppy seed roulade with delicious cream cheese filling. This really is a very moreish dessert which all the family can get involved in making and certainly enjoy eating! The only down side to this dessert is that it’s so easy to make and so delicious – you may find yourself making it over and over again!

(more…)

error

Enjoy my blog? Please spread the word and share the hapiness...

Suscribe
Instagram
YouTube
YouTube
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
RSS
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share