Scrounging through my collection of mismatched teacups and mugs for something to bake my Queen's cakes in I found the ones matching my teapot were best. Printed on the underside it claimed they could go from oven to table...perfect! Although, how many people place their mugs in the oven?
Popping the batter-filled mugs into a preheated oven at 350 degrees, I held my breath hoping they wouldn't crack. The worst never happened and soon the kitchen was filled with the heavenly aroma of cake. I debated leaving the cakes in the mugs but worried they would get a bit soggy so I turned them out.
The Royal icing was quite runny, is it supposed to be? The lemon zest made it deliciously zingy though so not a total loss.
Taking a mouse-sized slice out of one I thought they looked like just the sort of cake well-suited to a party in one of Beatrix Potter's books. For me, the delight was in trying a recipe and baking method which is hundreds of years old. I'm just so glad that I didn't have to stoke a fire for hours in the process!
Oh, they look just scrumptious!!! I made rock buns (the Jane Brocket recipe from her lovely book on Domesticity) yesterday so we ate one each whilst watching The Boat Race. To those of you in the USA and places other than the UK, this is the annual rowing event (8 men plus cox to a boat) between Oxford & Cambridge and is on the River Thames each year in March or April.
ReplyDeleteMargaret P
Oooo, they look perfect.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly my grandmother made queen cakes which weren't like these. Perhaps the South of England variety! More like fairy cakes, definitely with sultanas and a bit of lemon peel added in and baked in a tin where the holes would be about 2/3 size of small muffin sized ones. I still have the tins and find it quite silly how sentimentally attached I am to them! These look so yummy especially with the icing! Know exactly what you mean about them looking Beatrix Potterish too.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! You have both inspired me to do the same and made me very hungry all of a sudden.
ReplyDeleteMy northern queen cakes were the same as ramblingfancy's, so it's not a north-south thing!
ReplyDeleteBut they look lovely, whatever you call them, Darlene. That looks like glacé icing, though - and it's always runny. Royal icing is the hard stuff that goes on Christmas and wedding cakes.
PS I'm so impressed by the self-discipline of your mouse-like slice!
Looking so gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteJust perfect! Wish I could drop by and have a mouse-sized slice with you...
ReplyDeletegalant, Something sweet and home-baked goes with anything!
ReplyDeleteSusan, Why thank you, they're going fast!
ramblingfancy, This recipe called for currants but my husband doesn't like dried fruit of any sort so I left them out. I love that you have your grandmother's baking tins and from one sentimental to another, it's perfectly understandable.
Frances, Hahaha, excellent!
mary, The icing went hard once it sat for a bit but considering there is egg white in it, it's not that different from a glaze. Oh Mary, I've been mouse-slicing my way through these all day!
Mystica, And tastes even better!
JoAnn, Hahaha...wouldn't that be nice, but you would have to be quick, they're almost gone!
DELICIOUS. I especially like the look of the lemon-y icing. Why don't you live in New York so I can just pop over?!
ReplyDeleteYum! You are SO restrained though with such a little sliver.
ReplyDeletebookssnob, What! So you could hide Willa Cather books around the place while I'm serving up cake...no chance!
ReplyDeleteverity, Two bites here, two bites there...and now all four cakes are gone. They were delicious while they lasted though!
Oh they look sooo delicious! Wish I could pop round for tea (as don't think they'd make it through the post!). K x
ReplyDeleteGreat job!!!! They look perfect
ReplyDeleteand, yes, royal icing is supposed to be runny like that...I really think it should be named royal glaze. Next time you're looking for someone to have over for a tea party..... lol.
Also, I've become your book stalker. I was looking through your reading lists and blog entries and decided that you pretty well know the sort of books I'm interested in learning more about. So I drafted my own list based on yours and what the Uni library here has. And when I'm not grading or writing (or reading for my challenges), I've now got a lovely stack to look through. Thanks!
Darlene, you have given me ideas! :D
ReplyDeleteKristina, Hmmmm...if I completely sealed them in royal icing, now there's a thought!
ReplyDeleteBirdie, Wouldn't it be lovely to have everyone in the same room for one big tea party...we certainly wouldn't run out of things to say!
I couldn't be more thrilled that you are interested in the books that I read. There are more than a few sublime reading experiences to be found there I promise you!
What an image crosses my mind of Beatrix and her darling characters having some tea and queen's cake. I've baked in flower pots, now, must try cups. What a delightful excuse to take tea.
ReplyDeleteI just finished/reviewed Fitzgerald's The Bookshop, and gave you props for introducing me to it : Review
ReplyDeletelifeonthecutoff, Who can resist a mouse in a dress? Certainly not me!
ReplyDeleteBirdie, Wonderful...off for a peek!
I had no idea you could bake a cake in a teacup. I like the idea--very pretty, too!
ReplyDeleteThese look charming! I should try this although I am also nervous about cracking beloved teacups.
ReplyDeleteI should not be reading this while sitting at the reference desk. I'm drooling!
ReplyDeleteMy mother used to make muffins in clay pots, but who knew you could bake inside a teacup? Those are beautiful little cakes.
They look fantastic, wonderful idea.
ReplyDelete