In Which I Will Attempt to Win All the Things PART 2 – Baking

This’ll mainly be a picture blog because I’m still baking and don’t really have time to write much. Right now I have a chocolate cake in the oven and a sponge cake in a pan waiting. It’s 2pm right now and my oven has been running since 8am.

Did up some of the cookie and brownie dough the night before to save time. Also did a prebake cookie crumb crust.

I tried to bake my brownie recipe in the cookie crust. Bad idea.

Peanut Brownies and Chocolate Chip Cookies.

My cranberry dark chocolate shortbread cookies. I'll post a recipe for these around Christmas. — My cranberry dark chocolate shortbread cookies. I’ll post a recipe for these around Christmas.

One of the few good things about baking in New Zealand in summer; the dough rises really effing fast.

I tried to do a four strand braid but it was a mess. Three strand is less fancy but at least tidy.

My challah bread out of the oven. Prettiest thing I've made today. — My challah bread out of the oven. Prettiest thing I’ve made today.

Got the chocolate cake out of the oven. Beautiful on the outside, completely liquid centre. I think I got distracted and didn't put in the second cup of flour. The cooked bits are yummy though. — Got the chocolate cake out of the oven. Beautiful on the outside, completely liquid centre. I think I got distracted and didn’t put in the second cup of flour. The cooked bits are yummy though. Or possibly my oven is running a little hot.

Brownies Take 2. I'm a bit worried it's too warm out for them to set up right. Might have to wait until this evening to try to cut them. — Brownies Take 2. I’m a bit worried it’s too warm out for them to set up right. Might have to wait until this evening to try to cut them.

I am on a seriously intense sugar high just from taste testing things. I think I’ll let my oven cool down a bit before putting in the next cake.

Oh, and why did no one tell me about two piece spring cake pans two decades ago?

On Saturday I’ll do one more update and announce how good or bad this all went. Though if my plum jam doesn’t win then something is rigged because that is some fucking good jam I made.