What are you baking?

[MrCurry]

My first loaf for ages. Tastes great

Looks great too

 

[sojourner]

Double choc chip chocolate muffins with rose buttercream icing, and a spicy fruit loaf

 

[moose]

I'm having to put the oven on to get the kitchen warm enough for the fridge to operate
So a sunflower sourdough and a self-saucing lemon pudding.

 

[Biddlybee]

My dough won't rise in these temps

 

[Epona]

My dough won't rise in these temps

Treat it as if you were doing an overnight prove in the fridge?

Or put the oven on the lowest setting for 10 mins then turn off, allow it to cool a little then put the bowl of dough in there when it is a suitable temperature.

(ETA: My PC has a tower case and I put the bowl of dough on top of it when baking during winter!)

 

[Biddlybee]

First prove is 15-18 hours, neither of those will work.

 

[moose]

My dough won't rise in these temps

Got the starter going by sticking it up my jumper Then the dough spent 18 hours in the not-very-warm airing cupboard, then 4 hours with the basket in the oven at low temp (it was 9 degrees in the kitchen this morning, so took some effort!)
Came out ok, not quite as well-risen as summer ones.

 

[Biddlybee]

What I'd give for an airing cupboard

(I have the matryoshka cups too <3)

 

[RubyToogood]

A trick they taught us in the Bread Ahead classes was to put a tray of boiling water in the bottom of the oven and use it as a prover. You do have to change the water periodically or accept it'll be colder some of the time.

The other thing I do is put it on the back of the sofa which is next to the radiator, and swaddle it in a blanket. Starting with nearly hot water helps.

 

[Saffy]

I've had to wrap my starter up with a hot water bottle before. My kitchen is so chilly.

 

[Biddlybee]

Oh mine goes near a radiator, but not swaddled. Also our radiators aren't on for very long

 

[moose]

If the radiator's on, I balance the bowl on the edge of the cat basket. Hoping to normalise the situation enough that the cat tucks himself round the bowl and keeps it warm.

 

[RubyToogood]

I also have a probably crackpot theory that plastic bowls are warmer than china ones.

 

[Epona]

I also have a probably crackpot theory that plastic bowls are warmer than china ones.

Aye well I am with you there, I always use pyrex/glass/ceramic rather than plastic when I am making shortcrust pastry as I just have a gut feeling it helps keep the butter cold while I am rubbing it in.

 

[Biddlybee]

I also have a probably crackpot theory that plastic bowls are warmer than china ones.

I do the first prove in plastic

 

[RubyToogood]

I suppose it's not that deranged. They do marble slabs for pastry making.

 

[Fez909]

Made some soda farls

 

[sojourner]

Admittedly not the most aesthetically-pleasing of cakes, but I'm willing to bet these choc chip muffins with a coffee glaze, topped with a walnut, will taste fkn amazing

 

[moose]

Made this berry and hazelnut galette based on my favourite Thomasina Miers rhubarb recipe. It's great because it has a layer of ground hazelnut powder underneath the fruit which soaks up the fruit juices and means it never gets a soggy bottom.

 

[kittyP]

Made this berry and hazelnut galette based on my favourite Thomasina Miers rhubarb recipe. It's great because it has a layer of ground hazelnut powder underneath the fruit which soaks up the fruit juices and means it never gets a soggy bottom.

View attachment 299519

Oh My Goodness that looks/sounds incredible!!

 

[moose]

Oh My Goodness that looks/sounds incredible!!

Also very easy to make with frozen berries

 

[Saffy]

It's my boy's birthday and he asked for a chocolate cake.

 

[Epona]

View attachment 300065
It's my boy's birthday and he asked for a chocolate cake.

Lovely glossy icing, light reflecting off that can probably be seen by the folks on the ISS as it goes over... nice job!

Happy b'day to your boy

 

[smmudge]

Sorry for the silly question. I want to do some Xmas baking so I'm not just buying chocs for everyone, but not that experienced a baker!

If I were to make the dough for both of these: Gingerbread men recipe and Shortbread recipe on 23rd in the evening, and leave to chill until the afternoon of the 24th, would that be OK?

I read it was good to chill shortbread dough especially but is that too long? As they say 15-20 mins in the recipe.

 

[iona]

Sorry for the silly question. I want to do some Xmas baking so I'm not just buying chocs for everyone, but not that experienced a baker!

If I were to make the dough for both of these: Gingerbread men recipe and Shortbread recipe on 23rd in the evening, and leave to chill until the afternoon of the 24th, would that be OK?

I read it was good to chill shortbread dough especially but is that too long? As they say 15-20 mins in the recipe.

I leave biscuit dough in the fridge for a couple of days sometimes if I don't get round to using it, never had a problem. You can freeze it too, to make it keep for longer.

 

[smmudge]

I leave biscuit dough in the fridge for a couple of days sometimes if I don't get round to using it, never had a problem. You can freeze it too, to make it keep for longer.

Oh good to know, thank you!!

 

[existentialist]

My shortbread dough spent last night in the fridge. I then whacked it in the microwave for 30 seconds to soften it to a workable texture. I do something like that most years, and it's never failed yet.

And now, I'm about to put together the savoury shortbread dough which, given my limited kitchen space, will also get "parked" in the fridge while the first lot is shaped and formed up. Whereupon it will go into the freezer, for baking off in smaller quantities as required. I've been doing that for about 10 years, too, without any complaints

 

[polly]

What I'd give for an airing cupboard

(I have the matryoshka cups too <3)

I don't know if this is helpful to anyone but my kitchen is freezing too, so I got a microwave that is also an oven and does a 40 degree setting (it's Daewoo, can look for more information if anyone likes), so I prove all my dough in that. It also has a timer which means I never forget it and let it become enormous.

I also have the matryoshka cups

 

[moose]

I also have the matryoshka cups

I wonder if they're as ubiquitous as the Urban Coffee Table

 

[Biddlybee]

Completely lost my bread mojo, starting to wonder if my starter is ok.

Have had to buy bread