24.12.2011- Make It Yourself Christmas: The Hummingbird Bakery's Grasshopper Pie

This recipe is another really great alternative to the traditional Christmas desserts- and even if you don't get round to making it for tomorrow, it's a great way to use up leftover sweet treats which you might have as presents. (Also, I hasten to add that this isn't made from actual grasshoppers!)

The Hummingbird Bakery's Grasshopper Pie
Serves 10-12

Ingredients

For the biscuit base:
250g double chocolate cookies
175g unsalted butter (melted)

For the filling:
180g large white marshmallows
180ml whole milk
1/4 teaspoon peppermint essence
1/8 teaspoon green food colouring
700ml double cream
Chocolate shavings to decorate

To make the pie:
1) Take the double chocolate cookies and crush into a fine crumb by placing in a food bag and hitting with a rolling pin.
2) Gently melt the butter in a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of water.
3) Pour the biscuit crumbs into a bowl and add the melted butter, mixing together until the crumbs are covered.
4) Pour the mixture into a medium sized pie/flan dish, ensuring it is pressed firmly into the base and sides. Pop into the fridge and leave to cool for thirty minutes.
5) Whilst the base is chilling, make the filling. In a saucepan over a low heat, melt the marshmallows into the milk. Once the marshmallows have melted fully, remove the pan from the heat and add the peppermint essence and green food colouring. Leave to cool for approximately ten minutes.
6) Pour 300ml of the cream into a large bowl and whip. I found it's just as easy to do this by hand, but feel free to use and electric whisk if you want to.
7) Fold the cream into the marshmallow mixture and then pour into the biscuit base. Don't worry if you have too much filling (I always end up with some excess), just make sure not to overfill the dish.
8) Pop back into the fridge and allow to set completely for about two hours.
9) Once set, whip the remaining 400ml of cream and spoon onto the top of the pie. Decorate with chocolate shavings and serve.

And there you have it! A really simple treat, with no actual cooking involved. Perfect!

Are you prepared for Christmas?

(Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)

18.03.2011- Happy Pie-day!

I've blogged time and time again about my adoration for all things cake related, so you can imagine my excitement when got home from Uni yesterday and saw that my copy of The Hummingbird Bakery: Cake Days had been delivered. This new book is a follow up to 2009's The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook, and, as well as revisiting some old favourites, features some fantastic new recipes, for sweet treats such as Whoopie Pies, cookies and muffins. There are also some very special recipes for seasonal events, such as Christmas and Easter, as well as Summer Afternoon Tea and Rainy Days- it really is a baking book for all seasons. I can't wait to try out some of the new recipes!

You can buy the book over at Amazon.

What do you think? Will you be buying this book and trying some of the recipes?

(Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)