Author Archives: ann

About ann

Hi I am Ann, How to Cook That is my cake, chocolate & dessert recipe blog featuring recipe videos from my cooking channel on youtube. I have a degree in nutrition and food science and a post grad in dietetics. I have worked as a consultant, community and public health dietitian and then gave that up to work as a youth pastor. I am married to the most wonderful husband in the world and we now have three great boys. HowToCookThat YOUTUBE CHANNEL: http://goo.gl/UOORI Google Plus: http://goo.gl/l0vy7 Facebook: http://goo.gl/H6gvn Twitter: http://goo.gl/bKyq3 Instagram: http://goo.gl/QIXQt Pinterest: http://goo.gl/bQNoX

Perfect Sponge Cake Recipe: Light Fluffy Moist and Tall

victoria sponge cake recipe how to cook that

The Perfect sponge cake should be light, fluffy, moist, tall, soft on the edges and of course beautiful. Easy with the right recipe, painfully frustrating with all of the rest. After testing many, many sponge cake recipes my kids got … Continue reading

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Top Ten Most Popular Chocolate Truffle Recipes

chocolate truffles recipes ann reardon

Peering through the glass display cabinet at the chocolatier, I would have loved to buy all of them.  I was struck by how expensive it was for one such truffle.  Things which although delightful seemed relatively simple to make at … Continue reading

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Magic Chocolate Lava Cake Recipe | Chocolate Fondant

chocolate lava cake reardon

Step 1: Serve the dessert to the guests at the table. Step 2 add some hot chocolate sauce. Step 3 The sauce magically drops down into the middle of the dessert. Step 4: Take a spoonful and chocolate ganache oozes … Continue reading

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Hello Kitty Cake

hello kitty cake

Without so much as a taste, we kissed Hello Kitty goodbye. Sure, the cute cartoon cat is adored around the globe and frequently requested on my YouTube channel, but in our boy-filled home this lovely cake was never going to … Continue reading

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Chocolate Truffles Recipe

chocolate truffles recipe how to cook that

Is there a better gift than home made chocolate truffles? They cost you an arm and a leg at the chocolatiers and yet you can make them yourself for a fraction of the cost. You will need your chosen truffle … Continue reading

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Salted Caramel Macaron Recipe

salted caramel macaron recipe

These salted caramel macarons are seriously addictive.  You will not be able to stop at one.   Make a batch of dulce de leche first so it has time to cool, you need that for the filling. Macaron shells – … Continue reading

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Rainbow Cake

rainbow cake recipe ann reardon

Here’s another super easy cake that is bright and fun for a rainbow themed party. You will need three quantities of the basic buttercream recipe  three 20cm (7.87 inches) round cakes of your choice 1/2 cup of filling if desired (I … Continue reading

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Pink Ombre Cake Recipe How To

ombre cake recipe

Inspired by the ombre fashion trend this pink ombre cake is super easy and will delight your friends at your next party. You can just as easily turn it into a blue ombre cake or purple ombre cake but for … Continue reading

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Despicable Me 2 3D Minion Cake Decorating Tutorial

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Despicable Me 2 is coming soon and my middle boy loves the cute minions so this year he wanted a minion birthday cake. There have also been some requests from subscribers for a 3D upright cake tutorial and despicable me … Continue reading

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Piping Using Just a Ziplock Bag

This page gives you all the videos so far that show different techniques for piping using just a ziplock bag, for the recipes associated with each video click the links shown under the video. 1:18 cut to replace star shaped … Continue reading

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Caramel Cupcake Recipe

caramel cupcake recipe

It was six o’clock in the morning, I just putting the finishing touches on a birthday picnic for my hubby to take to work.  Caramel cupcakes with salted caramel frosting sat at the top of the picnic basket alongside chocolate … Continue reading

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Raspberry Creme Brûlée Recipe

raspberry creme brûlée

Tap your spoon onto the hard caramelized sugar crust and break into the thick creamy brulee that awaits. Dive deeper to find raspberry sauce that awakens the tastebuds with a zing leaving you with a thirst for more. Creme Brulee … Continue reading

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake Recipe

chocolate peanut butter cupcake recipe

Snickers, reese’s peanut butter cups, butterfingers, baby ruth, peanut m&m’s and oh Henry all make it to the top ten list of the worlds most popular chocolate bars.  How m&m’s count as a chocolate bar I am not sure, but … Continue reading

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Rock Candy Recipe How To Make Large Sugar Crystals

sugar rock candy large crystals

Large sugar crystals on lollipop sticks, otherwise known as rock candy is a fun experiment to make at home with the kids.   You don’t need many ingredients but you will need some patience as they take a few days … Continue reading

Posted in All Recipes, Dessert Recipes, Kids Cooking, Pure Indulgence Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Rock Candy Geodes Recipe

how to make rock candy

Geodes are beautiful so let’s make them delicious too. Follow the step by step instructions to make fondant or chocolate rock candy geodes. You can give them as a gift on their own or use them in cake decorating. Fondant … Continue reading

Posted in All Recipes, Cake Decorating Techniques, Decorations & Garnishes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Truck Birthday Cake How To

truck cake construction party

“Truck truck” a cute little nearly two year old voice said when I asked him what type of cake he would like for his birthday. The next day the response was ‘raa raa’.  He swapped back and forth between the … Continue reading

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Churros Recipe with Chocolate

churros recipe receta

Enjoy a pot of pure melted chocolate next to cinnamon and sugar coated churros.  This churros recipe shows you how to make curly churros and the straight ones just like you find at san churros cafe. Churros Recipe Ingredients 250ml … Continue reading

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Fun with Macaron Recipe Variations

macaron recipe reardon

Macaron shells don’t have to be plain.  For some events you need something striking or  fun. Play with these variations and post a picture of your macaron creation in the comments section below. Easy Macaron Video Recipe is here and watch … Continue reading

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Mickey Mouse Cupcakes with mickey inside

mickey mouse cupcakes

Mickey was everywhere, even honeymooners donned mickey hats with veils. It was Disney World after all, but I still did not expect the level of devotion that the adults had for the disney characters. These cupcakes are a tribute to … Continue reading

Posted in Birthday Cake Ideas, Cookies, Cake Pops & Cup Cakes, Cup Cakes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 54 Comments

Mickey Mouse Cake Tutorial 3D Fondant

Mickey Mouse Cake How To

You can make this Mickey Mouse Cake without the need for any special pans.  Follow the step by step guide in the video and your little one will be excited when they see their mickey cake. To make your mickey … Continue reading

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Valentine’s Day Heart Shaped Chocolate Box

chocolate heart ann reardon how to cook that

Tomorrow is my wedding anniversary. Seventeen wonderful and happy years. Some of our favourite memories together are the big moments like holding each of our newborn sons for the first time, trips to New York and Italy and big events … Continue reading

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Macaron Recipe Troubleshooting FAQ Cracked, Flat, Lumpy,

fix macaron cracked

1. Macaroon Cracked Try rapping the trays on the bench harder or more times before cooking. 2. Macarons Flat or Lumpy See the pictures below which show the results of under-mixed and over-mixed macaroon mixture. undermixed good overmixed More questions … Continue reading

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Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe

macaron howtocookthat ann reardon

Yummm! What more can I say, these were good… make some! To make the macarons follow the easy macaron recipe and colour however you like.  If you have never made macarons before make sure you also read the macaron FAQ … Continue reading

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Pavlova Recipe Happy Australia Day

meringue cake recipe nigella pavlova

Pavlova or ‘pav’ as we call it in Australia is easy to make, if you have never had one before go ahead and try it you will fall in love with this dessert. Pavlova Meringue Ingredients 8 egg whites (make … Continue reading

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Chocolate Feather Decorations

chocolate feathers cake topper decoration

Do you want something unique on your cake or dessert? Give these chocolate feathers a try. If you made the chocolate flower already then you will not find these too hard to do. As always with chocolate decorations you chocolate … Continue reading

Posted in All Recipes, Birthday Cake Ideas, Cake Decorating Techniques, Decorations & Garnishes, featured, Frosting & Decorations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments