Cake A Difference: Cardamom, Orange and Pistachio Cupcakes

The sexiest charity work I'll ever do.

I never break rules. Hearts, yes. Dishes, sometimes. But rules are there to be respected. Obeyed.

And yet... I feel like charity deserves a special rule breaking allowance. So for this year's 'Cake A Difference' for Bliss, the charity for premature babies that I support, I decided to bake my cupcakes in the wrong week. I figured that money's money at the end of the day and if I want to make a cupcake for charity outside of the week beginning 14 Feb, well that's my prerogative.

Besides, I almost didn't get involved this year, because - blech! - Harry Eastwood got in on the act and I just really can't bear her 'healthy cake' crap and that damned ridiculous book of hers. But, it's for the babies after all, so I put aside my disdain for an afternoon, and got out my hand mixer.

You may or may not remember that last year I made Red Velvet Cupcakes (REAL ones, Harry, real ones!) for Bliss and sold them at Mr. Other P's office (on account of my 'office' not really being suitable for cake sales). Well I did the same this year, only instead of those crimson beauties, I made up my own recipe for gluten free cupcakes, having learned that there was an anti-wheat contingent present in Rhondda-Cynon-Taff. What can I say? Everybody deserves a cupcake. Provided they pay for it.



I have banged on long and hard enough about how fabulous Rose Levy Beranbaum's book is on this blog before, so I'll spare you the details. But what I will say is that I have poached her mixing technique to make these cupcakes. It is worth it: they rise perfectly level on baking, and have a tenderly delicious crumb.

In fact, I want one now.

I used an ingredient - Dove's Farm Organic Gluten and Wheat Free Self Raising Flour - that I know US readers probably won't be able to get, and I feel bad about it. But let's remind ourselves that they get cake flour, Pam and Rose herself. It's all fair in the cake world.


I made another £50 for Bliss with these. Why not have a cupcake sale yourself? It's such a great cause to support.

Gluten Free Cardamom, Orange and Pistachio Cupcakes

You will need:

250g Dove's Farm Organic Gluten and Wheat Free Self Raising Flour
200g butter
250g caster sugar
250ml low fat yogurt
3 eggs
1 tsp ground cardamom
2 tsp vanilla

100g butter
200g cream cheese
500g icing sugar
1 tsp orange extract

chopped pistachios to decorate

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C and line two 12 bun muffin trays with cupcake liners.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour and sugar. In another bowl, mix 3 tbsb of the yogurt with the eggs, cardamom and vanilla.
3. Add the butter and remaining yogurt to the flour mixture, and beat with a handheld mixer on low speed until combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl and continue beating on high speed for 1 minute.
4. Add the egg mixture in two batches, beating on high speed for thirty seconds after each addition.
5. Divide the mixture between the liners and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and well risen.
6. Cool on a wrack and make the frosting: beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth, then add the icing sugar and beat until creamy. Add the extract, and use the icing to frost the cupcakes. Top with pistachios.

Cake A Difference

An update!

Mr. Other P sold all the cupcakes, which made a total of £38.00. I'm going to make it up to £50.00 out of my own pocket, because let's face it - fifty is better than thirty-eight, unless we're talking about lashes of a whip.

Thanks to everyone in RCT who bought cupcakes, and extra special thanks to Mr. Other P for helping me out.

Cake A Difference

A while ago now, my auntie emailed me to let me know about a charity that I'd never heard of before called Bliss. I suggest you take a look around their website for more information, but simply put, it's a charity especially for premature babies.

One in nine of the babies delivered in the UK each year is born premature or sick. You don't need to be a great mathematician to work out that that equates to a lot of poorly babies to look after. Which is good, because I am no great mathematician! I was premature though, and according to my mum, had a tough old time of it as a result. So you can see why I was really happy to learn about a charity that is dedicated to improving the care and treatment provided for babies that are 'born too soon, too small and too sick to cope on their own.'

Last week, Bliss held a nationwide campaign to raise money called Cake A Difference. The campaign forms part of their annual fundraising appeal, Kiss for Bliss. This isn't just clever rhyming. Think about it: a kiss is such an instinctive way to show love or affection. Imagine if you were unable to kiss or touch your newborn baby?

The deal is, through baking and selling cupcakes (symbolising sweet kisses), participants can raise funds that Bliss will use to help families through what must be a very lonely and frightening time.

That is the idea; frankly, I was on board from the moment I realised there was an excuse to make cupcakes. And if that makes me charitable, well, it's possibly the best thing that's ever happened!

I had intended to make cakes for Mr. Other P to sell at work on Friday - Romantic Red Velvets for St. Valentine's Day, of course - but owing to a roster change, had to delay. So I'm baking them today, and they'll be sold tomorrow. You may wonder why I'm not selling them at my place of work, but if you think about it, the answer's simple. Can you imagine trying to get three dozen cupcakes through airport security?

Exactly.

Wish me luck selling them all. It's certainly a worthy cause! If you yourself are interested in following suit and holding a sale, see the Cake A Difference website. Or if you'd just like to make a donation to Bliss, you can do so here.