Put on that Bikini and eat some cookies

Back to baking!


Inspired by my recent travels back to Canada and an upcoming visit by friends I decided to bake today. A little rusty at it all, and forgot to take some pictures of the first recipe until I was almost done, but got the finished product which matters most!


I've also used a new photo editing technique, let me know if you like it!


I was inspired by a baking treat that Justin's dad always makes. Bikini Bars. I have NO idea why they are called as such since the certainly don't improve your bikini figure considering they're made with sweet condensed milk, coconut and chocolate, but they're darn tasty! So I found a recipe online and altered it a wee bitty. 



Bikini Bars


Ingredients:
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
2-2.5 cups of shredded coconut (I could only get my hands on desiccated, no biggie)
2 cups of chopped dates
2 cups of chopped pecans
200 g digestive biscuits (Graham Crackers for Canadians)
100 g melted butter
100 g of semi-sweet chocolate chips/plain chocolate bar chopped


The original recipe also called for adding baking cherries, blargh I'm not a fan but feel free to add them yourself! Also, the original recipe didn't call for a digestive base but I decided to add one for extra texture, and I have a feeling Justin's dad makes them with a base....


Method:
1) Preheat the oven to 180 C. Whiz up the digestives in a processor until crumbs, melt the butter in the microwave and mix the two together. Line the baking dish with greaseproof paper and then pour in the crumb mix. Using the back of a metal spoon, push it down until fairly flat and covering the entire base. Then put this in the fridge for at least 30 mins to cool and set. 

2) Mix the milk, salt and vanilla together.

3) Chop the pecans and add them to the bowl as well as the coconut. 

4) Chop the dates and add those to the bowl also. (Don't you think dried dates look like beetles....I do.....I know I'm weird....)

5) Mix it all together!

6) If like me you couldn't get your hand on chocolate chips, chop the chocolate.

 7) Put the chocolate aside for later. Put the milk/pecans etc mix on the digestive base. Put it in the oven and let it bake for 30 mins.

8) As soon as you take it out, sprinkle the chocolate chunks on top to melt. Let it sit and cool for at least 10 mins in the fridge before cutting into bite-size squares. Mmmmmm enjoy!

I was also wanting to bake some cookies since it's been a long time since I have. So I scooped up my new Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days cookbook and decided on the Oatmeal Apple Cinnamon Cookies. 

 Ingredients:
135g unsalted butter, left out to soften
80g caster sugar
80g soft light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
190 g plain flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (I made mine HEAPING)
1/2 tsp bicarb of soda
2 Granny Smith apples
60g oats


Method:
1) Preheat the oven to 170C and line two baking sheets with greaseproof paper. 


2) Whisk together the butter and two sugars until completely mixed.  Add the egg and vanilla.


3) Sift together the flour, salt, cinnamon, and bicarb of soda then add it into the wet mix in two batches making sure to mix it well. 


4) Peel the apples and then grate them as finely as possible. Then squeeze the grated apple to get out as much of the juice at possible. Discard the juice. 


5) Put the apples and oats into the mixture and mix with your hands! GOOOEEEY! :)


6) Then take a piece of the dough (about 2 tbsp) and roll into a ball. Space them out on the baking trays - about 6-7 per tray as they should spread a little bit.  Bake for about 15-20 mins or until lightly golden brown. 

The mix. 

The final product

Extreme Cookie Close-up!

Enjoy!

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