Commence the Stress-Baking with These Recipes

While many expected the extension of the MCO this time around, some frustrations are still unavoidable. Apart from ongoing Work From Home (WFH) concerns, people can’t help but seek out other avenues to give their mind a break and focus on.

Stress-baking has risen in popularity during such times, as nothing beats visual progress and a tasty self-made treat as a reward!

Here are some more recipes graciously provided by the MIB College (formerly known as the Malaysian Institute of Baking) to help you expand your home-baking repertoire!

Carrot Walnut Cake

*Makes 2 cakes.

Ingredients

• 175g sugar
• 3g salt
• 140g eggs
• 140g all purpose flour
• 35g bread flour
• 5g cinnamon powder
• 3g baking powder
• 2g baking soda
• 2g vanilla extract
• 175g carrots, grated
• 52g walnuts, chopped
• 70g prunes
• 70g raisins
• 105g sunflower oil

Method

1. With a paddle, mix sugar, salt and eggs on medium speed for 5 minutes. The batter should turn white but still watery and not thick at this stage.
2. Premix dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon powder and vanilla extract. Then mix into batter on slow speed for 1 minute.
3. Add finely grated carrots, walnuts, prunes and raisins and mix on slow speed for 1 minute.
4. Blend in sunflower oil on slow speed for 30 seconds until evenly mixed.
5. Transfer into two, 6-inch tins and bake on a tray of water at 180°C, for 35 to 40 minutes.

Carrot & Honey Bread

*Makes 4 loaves.

Ingredients

• 600g bread flour
• 270g cold carrot juice
• 120g honey
• 120g carrots, grated
• 60g eggs
• 18g milk powder
• 12g instant dry yeast
• 12g salt
• 48g butter

Method

1. Mix grated carrots and all ingredients except butter on slow speed for 1 minute.
2. Change to medium speed and mix for 10 minutes. Add butter and mix for 10 minutes until dough is fully developed.
3. Round up and ferment for 1 hour until dough doubles in size.
4. Scale 4 pieces at 300 g. Round up and rest for 10 minutes. Sheet dough out, fold into three, turn 90° and roll before placing into small tins.
5. Prove for 45 minutes until dough doubles in size and reaches the top of the tin.
6. Bake at 220 °C for about 25 minutes with a low top heat of 170°C.

English Scones

Ingredients

• 350g all purpose flour
• 21g baking powder
• 140g butter, unsalted
• 147g cold milk
• 70g sugar
• 60g eggs
• 5g salt
• 70g raisins

Method

1. Sieve flour and baking powder twice.
2. Add butter and rub-in with a paddle on slow speed for 1 – 2 minutes until the butter resembles small peas.
3. Dissolve salt and sugar in milk and eggs. Add over 30 seconds on slow speed and scrape down.
4. Add raisins and mix for a further 30 seconds on slow speed.
5. Scrape out on a floured bench, flatten slightly and carefully fold in two once.
6. Rest dough for 10 minutes and roll out to 2 cm thick using 2 cm guide sticks.
7. Cut out individual scones using a floured 4 cm square cutter or a sharp knife, place on a tray and rest it for 15 minutes. Brush whole egg on the surface.
8. Bake at 220 °C – 230 °C top heat and 170 °C bottom heat for 15 – 18 minutes. If bottom of scones bake too fast, add an additional tray at the bottom to prevent over baking.