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Original poster

Hummingbird Bakery cupcake problems

28 replies

PinkyDink · 14/02/2010 17:28

I have just made a batch of Hummingbird Bakery vanilla cupcakes, but I have to say I am not impressed , my dh also says that the cupcakes that I usually make are alot nicer.
Did I do something wrong? Am usually quite good at baking, but they look lke they have lots of little holes on the top.
Anyone else experienced problems or is it just me?

OP posts:
Bumperlicious · 14/02/2010 17:32

I have read (can't think where, maybe amazon?) that the book is pretty crap and full of errors.

taffetacat · 14/02/2010 18:54

Was your butter soft?

I made a batch and the same happened, I assumed it was because I was in a rush and didn't let the butter soften properly

but the peanut butter cookies are to die for

Original poster
PinkyDink · 14/02/2010 19:25

taffetacat that is interesting that you say that because it says room temp which I thought my butter was, but when I was mixing I was concerned that it wasn't blending well and thought it could have done with it being a bit softer
I think I will try again with much softer butter, have you tried again?

OP posts:
satc2bringiton · 14/02/2010 19:29

My cupcakes came out ok, but there seemed way to much frosting. I've made a note to only make half next time.

SofaQueen · 14/02/2010 19:30

I agree with the very soft butter. The first batch I made was a disaster because the butter was room temperature, but that meant 18C. The next batch, I had the butter very, very sort (placed a dish with the butter in it in the warmed oven for a few minutes) and that did the trick. This batter makes a very light sponge. I use only this cookbook now for cupcakes (PS, the red velvet ones with cream cheese frosting are TDF!).

TeamEdward · 14/02/2010 19:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

janeite · 14/02/2010 19:45

Have had this book for months and still not made anything. Makes a note of the red velvet ones.

I bought the Green And Blacks book today for a fiver in WH Smiths. has anybody got any recs from that?

MayorNaze · 14/02/2010 19:50

i love this book!
everything i have made has come out fine and i have made a lot!

how vair strange....

Bumperlicious · 14/02/2010 19:52

Oooh I bought that (G&B) from a charity shop, but not made anything yet. Looks yummy!

CMOTdibbler · 14/02/2010 19:53

I wasn't impressed at all tbh

MayorNaze · 14/02/2010 19:56

does everyone seriously not like hummingbird? i know loads of people who have it and love it also

just tonight i made banana cream pie - came out fine - last week made double choc cookies - lush - whassa problem?

MarthaFarquhar · 14/02/2010 19:56

I've got the Green and Blacks. Not done much, but what I have done has worked:
banana and white choc muffins
the brazil nut biscuits
white choc moussee
banana and white choc cake (notice a theme?)

the choc biscuit cake was very good but IMO needed a lot more "stuff" (nuts, sultanas etc) for the amount of chocolate.

Some of the savoury stuff in that book looks sinister though

TwentiethCenturyHeffa · 14/02/2010 19:56

Everything I've made from the book turns out really well, I've been quite impressed. I do use really soft butter though, which possibly helps? I've heard other people have had a terrible time with it though so not sure what's going on. Definitely way too much frosting though.

MayorNaze · 14/02/2010 19:58

weird...

i use regular butter, softened up a bit...bake and mix like anything else...

janeite · 14/02/2010 19:58

Thanks Martha.

Mayor Naze - which Hummingbird stuff do you most rec then?

Splishysploshy · 14/02/2010 20:02

Hi
We have the Hummingbird book and have made loads from it, my 10 year old makes cakes from it too. We also have the Magnolia books but the ingredients in it can be harder to source as alot of them are American. Purchased the primrose bakery book the other week and my DD made a lovely vanilla cake from it only yesterday. it is scrummy. x

MayorNaze · 14/02/2010 20:03

all the cookie recipes

lemon bars (bit of faff but worth it)

vanilla, red velvet and strawberry cheesecake cupcakes

pampkin pie

lemon meringue and banana cream pie..

am thinking...

MayorNaze · 14/02/2010 20:05

oh oh the chocolate three layer cake thing covered in chocolate custard was v v g

only thing i am a bit about is rocky road - looked up ingredients for that and need 1.4 KG of chocolate???

janeite · 14/02/2010 20:06

Thanks again.

Don't think I fancy pampkin though!

TeamEdward · 14/02/2010 20:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MayorNaze · 14/02/2010 20:10

ah

i can assure you that pumpkin pie is marvellous.

god knows what pampkin pie would be like

janeite · 14/02/2010 20:11
Smile
Splishysploshy · 14/02/2010 20:16

Major naze - We made that Rocky Road, it was amazing but took us weeks to eat as you can only eat a tiny, tiny piece at a time. It is only supposed to make something like 12 slices but we could not never have eaten anything that big. x

YoniBare · 14/02/2010 20:19

Brooklyn Blackout Cake worked fine although the custard was very thick. It was gorgeous in the end however. Sorry I can't help with the holes issue.

PfftTheMagicDragon · 14/02/2010 20:27

I have made the lavender cupcakes and they were nice (and very lavender like, which was a strange taste). Worked well and was surprised as had heard bad things. Mixture was exact in terms of amount and how many, which I don't find happens often/