Hugs and Kisses /-/ “XOXO” mini whipping cream loaf cakes |

I make it no secret that I am a singleton this year. Just like last year and the year before that. Honestly I have not missed the partner commitment because these three years I found a new love. A love for baking and cooking for my family, friends and myself.

Well I am telling all the single people to not waste your time going to speed dates, bar and sports grounds this year. This year I am spending the 14th cooking for the people I love the most. The people who have put up with my short ends, cried with me and used my living quarters as a storage unit. My friends who have grown to know my reputation and accept my “slowness” on popular culture; and accept that I would always start a conversation with ” Would you like to try my latest (cookie, cake, bread, pudding cup etc..)?”

The hardest relationship of all has to be accepting myself. I know most people have gone through the stages where they despise themselves. Looking in the mirror makes you want to barf and you grab the skin on your body, hoping that you will magically turn into the play doh where you can model yourself all over again. Late at night hitting your head on the open sea of text books, giving anything to have the words transfer into your Hippocampus.

I maintain the same philosophy for every post I place on here. I actually want to eat it. So if you track the post, there are phases of wanting pastry, bread, cake and desserts. I will never post anything just for shake of it looking good. Even some savoury meals are in there because I felt the need to share a recipe even a cooking novice can do.

If I wanted to do that I would post pastel layer cakes, cupcakes and macarons all the time but that is not me.

There are no red roses around here. I have no boxes of chocolates or giant novelty teddies at my doorstep. I can not stand red and pink colours in general, so this holiday is a colour eye sore. Rainbow colours are much more fun! Also it much more family and friends friendly if you get my drift.

After being more sociable on the food blog network, I discovered a whole host of blog I instantly feel in love with. Not only where they creation delicious recipes, with flawless images but they were one than one-dimensional bloggers. Introducing us into their lives, post recipes from fancy desserts to single person meals and having a personality that could bring a smile to anyones face.

Molly from mynameisyeh has to be of latest food blog crushes with her use of simple design, marzipan figures and the cutest smile on the internet. Her Mini trashed up vanilla cake were the inspiration for these too! However this post also is highlighting a few others.

Mandy (ladyandpups) direct and unapologetic style of food writing. That egg picture is haunting my food dreams.

Stephanie (iamfoodblog) ability to turn any food mini is like a super power.

Cynthia (Two Red Bowls) because she is the modern up town goddess of the kitchen welding a DRSL as her sceptre.

Thaila ( Butter and Brochie), a fellow Australian with baking skills I dream of having one day. Also here instagram account had me going crazy in a good way.

So these are my love letter mini loaf cakes. “XOXO” is the thing most of us put that on the end of any messages we write. A simple message dictating our hugs and kisses that we wish we could give them when we are away. I drew my inspiration this year from this universal message of love to create these sprinkle dotted whipping cream loaf cakes. This recipe is my “XOXO” mini whipping cream loaf cakes. They are dead easy and all you need a good recipe of butter cream and lots of rainbow candy for decorating.

‘If you have never tired folding in whipped cream into your cake batter; I seriously recommend it! Learning this trick from thekitchn, I was weary at the beginning but I had the chance to try white cake recently and I found it too tempting not to try. Well that and the cream had to be use up before the use by date…

The extra fat in the cream prevents the dryness, makes it tender and fluffy. However I left it in a bit too long. Oppies but it still tasted great.

These little candies I found in the supermarket which can all be purchase from major stores. Star burst lollies, sprinkles and candy covered candies can be found readily in Australia; so use your faves here. The candies are great fruit addition to the vanilla strength of the cake that comes from the clear vanilla extract. However the X and O are perfect for this theme. If I can get another packet soon I might try a game themed cake featuring these two characters 😉

Anyway here is my Hugs and kisses to all my followers, food bloggers I love, Family and friends. I hope you have a wonderful Saturday and I wish you all sweet day with the people you care about. Eat an extra slice for me. 🙂

“XOXO” mini whipping cream loaf cakes

Should make about 6-8 cakes depending on how much you fill them.

FOR CAKE

200g plain flour

30g corn flour

12g baking powder

5g salt

200g caster sugar

4 egg whites

1 whole egg

150ml cream, room temp

8ml clear vanilla flavour

135g , cold butter, cubed

extra 60ml cream, chilled

1/4 cup of sprinkles (optional)

FOR BUTTERCREAM

250g unsalted butter, soften

3-5g fine sea salt

5ml vanilla extract

450g icing sugar, shifted

20ml-30ml sour cream

FINISHES

Mini Candies, sprinkles, Candy coated chocolates

CAKE

Pre heat oven to 180C. Grease and line a mini loaf tin with baking paper. Set aside

Sieve flour, corn flour, salt and baking powder in to the stand mixer bowl or large bowl if using a hand mixer. Set aside. In a jug mix room temp 60ml cream, eggs, egg whites and clear vanilla. Set aside.

Whisk cold cream in a bowl to soft peaks. Set aside.

On a low-speed using the paddle attachment or non whisk beaters (hand mixers), begin to combine the butter and flour in the bowl. Add one piece of a butter at a time for hand mixers but stand mixer users can place all the butter in nat once. Do this to all butter is combined into flour.

Add the remaining milk. Mix for 30 seconds till combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the egg mixture slowly while the beaters are running. When combined turn it on to high and mix for 4 minutes. It should turn white and fluffy.

Scrape the sides of the bowl and fold in the whipped cream slowly till just combined. Add sprinkles and fold if using. Pour into the mini lined loaf tin and flatten surface gently with a mini palette knife.

Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until a stick of uncooked spaghetti comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the cake.

Cool in the pan for 10 minutes then remove cakes to wire rack.

BUTTER CREAM

In a stand mixer place butter and sea salt. Whip with paddle mixer to light and fluffy, this helps it to dissolve. I normally do this for 7 minutes, scraping the bowl well.

Add vanilla and beat well. In small batches all the icing sugar and beat. Make sure it returns to the creamy, white texture before adding the next batch. Use the sour cream to thin out the mix if yours is too thick.

ASSEMBLY

Place butter cream in piping bag fitted with a large star. Pipe in any fashion to cool cakes. I used a variety, so go crazy!

Add the lollies in the X and O order, sprinkle or use candies chocolates.

Fridge for 30 mintues before serving.

'Hugs and Kisses /-/ “XOXO” mini whipping cream loaf cakes' have 18 comments

February 11, 2015 @ 4:48 pm molly yeh

so many x’s and o’s to you, dear!!!!!!!!!!!! these cakes look wonderful. i love the rainbow colors and gummy letters!

have a wonderful valentine’s day! i’ll be dreaming of these little cakes 🙂

- February 11, 2015 @ 5:12 pm themoonblushbaker
  
  I am over joyed that you like them! I will never be as good as your but I try 🙂
  
  I hope you eating lots of tortes for me with egg boy. Enjoy your trip. Many XOXOs to you too.
  
February 11, 2015 @ 5:34 pm Trisha

Hope you have a great valentines! These cakes are über cute. LOVE LOVE LOVE

- February 11, 2015 @ 8:39 pm themoonblushbaker
  
  Thank you Trisha! Sharing the love through cute cakes is what I do.
  
February 11, 2015 @ 7:04 pm June Burns

Awwww those are so cute! A great variation on Molly’s recipe 🙂 Wishing you a lovely valentine’s day, single or no! 😀

- February 11, 2015 @ 8:40 pm themoonblushbaker
  
  Molly is ever growing genius but I still love these cakes. Thanks June!
  
February 11, 2015 @ 10:30 pm Fiorela

Hey! I totally agree with you. This San Valentin I’ll make a chocolate pie for my family and me. Hurra! for the single ladies!

Happy Valentine’s! and I love your blog, is an inspiration!

- February 12, 2015 @ 9:39 pm themoonblushbaker
  
  Thank you Fiorela!
  
February 12, 2015 @ 1:47 am Michelle @ Hummingbird High

Aw, this post made me smile! I hate how Valentine’s Day has become a couples thing; really, it should be a celebration of people you love, whether its your significant other, friends, family or even yourself! I think you’re celebrating it the right way, especially with these mini cakes.

ALSO that trick of folding in whipped cream into batter?! Holy freaking COW, can’t wait to try it!

- February 12, 2015 @ 9:35 pm themoonblushbaker
  
  Dessert is always brings people round anyway, Valentine’s day is just eh excuse 😉 Thanks Michelle!
  
February 12, 2015 @ 3:29 am Jerrelle | Chocolate For Basil

I love it! Replacing men with cake covered in all the hugs and kisses you could ever need <3!! You go girl!

- February 12, 2015 @ 9:40 pm themoonblushbaker
  
  Yep Jerrelle boys are temporary; cake is forever!
  
February 13, 2015 @ 5:21 am Thalia @ butter and brioche

I’m the same as you Belinda – my greatest love definitely has to be baking for myself and those I adore. These little cakes look so sweet and delicious – and the xoxo candies definitely take me back to my childhood.. they always frequented my school lunch box!

- February 13, 2015 @ 7:26 pm themoonblushbaker
  
  Great minds think alike 😉 Kiddy sweets are the best ones! Nothing like a bit of immaturity on V’s day to make you feel young. Thanks Thalia
  
February 13, 2015 @ 11:08 am Sugar et al.

So excited to discover your sweet-sweet blog Belinda! OMG it is filled with all the things I love! And these mini cakes are beautiful. So creative!

- February 13, 2015 @ 7:31 pm themoonblushbaker
  
  Thank you Sonali! You are Sydney sider too with a even more beautiful food blog! Thank for your lovely comment 🙂
  
February 24, 2015 @ 1:16 am cynthia

I don’t know how I missed this!!!! First of all, these little cakes = PERFECTION. Second your words on accepting yourself and friendship — they really resonate with me. And last, omg I’m blushing at your sweet words!!!! So honored to call you a blog friend, Belinda. Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful post.

- February 24, 2015 @ 8:26 pm themoonblushbaker
  
  Cythnia I could not be happier that read and loved this post! I am always trying my best to write down meaningful post with my recipes; so for it to connect with you is an honour. Thank you for kindness towards me, you are really an inspiration.