Honey Chocolate Pastries Food

EASIEST EVER CHOCOLATE HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 inch springform pan and line the bottom.
• In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the chocolate and butter and microwave until in 30 second bursts (stirring every time in between) until melted. This should take about 90 - 120 seconds.
• Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, until fully combined. Add the honey, milk and sugar and whisk well. Sift in the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and baking soda and stir until just combined.
• Pour into the prepared baking pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. The cake will rise quite a bit but it should NOT overflow. Once the baking time is up it will still feel very soft and it will also lose some height, especially in the center. But don't worry - it will be completely fine. Let it cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing the sides and allowing the cake to cool completely on a wire rack.
• Once the cake has cooled, level the top with a sharp knife. You shouldn't need to slice off too much and small differences in height can be made up for with ganache as well.
• Make the ganache by combining the chocolate and cream in a small saucepan. Gently heat over medium-low heat while stirring with a spatula or wooden spoon. Once the chocolate has completely melted and the mass is smooth, cool to room temperature before coating the cake. Allow the ganache to settle before slicing.

SALTED HONEY FUDGE & CHOCOLATE TART

Steps:

• Dice the pastry into chunks and put in a food processor. Sift over the cocoa, drizzle over the honey, then pulse to combine into a chocolate pastry (see tip box, below left). Roll out the dough on a lightly cocoa-dusted work surface, big enough to line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin with a little overhang. Cover and chill for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Scrunch up a big sheet of baking parchment and use to line the tart tin. Fill with baking beans and bake for 15-20 mins until sandy and the sides are firm. Remove the beans and paper, and bake for a further 5-15 mins until really biscuity. Trim off the overhang and cool.
• Put the honey fudge ingredients into a small pan and warm gently until the butter has completely melted. Bring to a gentle simmer and bubble, stirring, for 4-5 mins until more golden coloured and thickened. Stir in ¼-½ tsp good salt (to taste), then pour into the tart case. Chill for 30 mins.
• For the topping, mix the chocolate and cream in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Gently melt, stirring occasionally, until combined. Cool for 5 mins, then pour into the tart case gently, covering the honey layer. Chill until ready to serve.
• Remove from the fridge 10 mins before serving, to soften a little. Dust with cocoa and scatter with a little crumbled honeycomb, if you like, then serve with dollops of crème fraîche or a jug of cream.

HONEY & SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Rub the butter into the flour in a large bowl until you have fine crumbs. Stir in the beaten egg, our festive spice, golden caster sugar, honey and cream of tartar. Stir unil a soft dough forms, then wrap in cling film and chill for 20-30 mins.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Roll out the dough, cut into festive shapes and bake for 10-12 mins on lined baking trays. Dip in melted dark chocolate, if you like.