This weekend I tried out a number of recipes I’ve been finding on the internet – those I’ve wanted to try for ages, but other things (like life) have gotten in the way.  Unfortunately I didn’t have that many successes … not to say the recipes were at fault, it was more likely my conversion to gluten-free that caused them not to stand out and make their way into my recipe folder.

The ones that worked (stay tuned for seeing these recipes on this website!):

• Flourless chocolate cloud cake, from Nigella Lawson – I saw this on TV about 6 months ago and have been meaning to make it since then but other things have always taken priority instead.  I have tried a number of different recipes for flourless chocolate cake, but this was definitely the lightest in texture and really simple to make too.  Using dark chocolate, rather than milk chocolate, may have made a difference … but the fact that the recipe doesn’t require cocoa means there’s definite scope for a trial of a white chocolate cake – I’ll let you know when we try this!!
• Oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, from Sally’s Baking Addiction.  I am beginning to find this website as one of my favourite ones.  Everything I’ve made from here has been great, as long as you follow the instructions, which are usually given with great step-by-step photos and even some of the science behind her recommendations.  These were soft and chewy … really yummy!
• Inside out chocolate chip cookies, also from Sally’s Baking Addiction.  Again, soft and chewy.  Again, really yummy.  For cookies, this website is the place to go (in my opinion, anyway!).

The ones that didn’t work as well (again, not saying there is anything wrong with the recipes, just with my making of them!):

• Peanut butter cookie dough brownies, from Crazy for Crust.  I thought this would be my ultimate – peanut butter, cookie dough and brownies all together – but it just didn’t reach any great heights.  It was ok, the kids loved it, much better when it was eaten straight from the freezer.
• Gingerbread fudge, from Crazy for Crust.  With Grant and his never-ending love of all things ginger at the moment, I thought I’d give this a try.  It just didn’t set, or turn into a fudge texture.  The taste was there, but it was very gooey, even with spending overnight in the freezer.
• Oatmeal peanut butter cookie dough truffles, from Crazy for Crust.  I didn’t mind these as I was sampling them while making them, but after they had chilled overnight in the fridge they lost a lot of the flavour.  I was going to try this recipe again, substituting the brown sugar with honey, but I’m not sure I care any more since I have a lot of other recipes that taste similar.
• Quick cinnamon rolls, again from Crazy for Crust.  This was my first attempt at making cinnamon rolls using yeast.  The taste was there, they were very yummy, but didn’t quite have the lightness that you get from Cinnabon, for example.  Again, likely due to using gluten-free flour rather than normal flour.
• Greek yoghurt truffles, from Dessert for Two.  This was a really simple recipe, Greek yoghurt and melted white chocolate.  But it just didn’t set, again, even overnight.  We think it might be due to the white chocolate that we used, considering white chocolate was used in the gingerbread fudge as well, and that didn’t set.  So I went and bought a different brand … we’ll see how that one goes next time I try something like that!

As always, please comment on any recipes, whether you have tried them, are going to try them, or just think they look cool – I would love to hear from you.  And if you’d like to get regular updates when I add new recipes, please subscribe to the website.

Until next time, enjoy cooking at home!

Sarah