What Sarah Bakes

Waiting for a baby has to be one of the strangest, hardest and tiring things. Especially when your body teases you with Braxton Hicks contractions every day.

I have said from the start though that I didn't expect to go into labour until I was about 8-10 days over. My body just seems to cook babies for a longer time. I'll be 7 days overdue tomorrow (41 weeks) so could be soon now..!🙏

Sorry to all of those who bet that baby would come last week 🤣.

Any new guesses? 🤔😏

It feels very strange not to be heading into the business of this coming wedding season. Though I am glad that I don't have to juggle trying to deliver and set up wedding cakes with a newborn in tow. 😆 I think that would challenge my stress levels to the max. 🙈😬

I mentioned on my stories that I made these sticky lemon bars in the weekend. Sooo many of you said that you also enjoy making these and we're even kind enough to share your pictures of them with me! 🙏💖

In case you missed the story and would like some inspiration, I have included the recipe here below too. I go into much more detail in the recipe notes on my website, so if you would like to know more about how to make them perfect, head to the link in my bio.

Most of the recipes on my website are my own and as much as I would love to claim the recipe, I cannot. It comes from the very first food blog I ever started reading, which was way back in 2007 sometime. Her name is Angie Dudley but you might know her better as . She’s basically the mother of all cake-pops and she is to thank for this recipe. So now I gladly share it with you!

BASE INGREDIENTS

225g (1 cup) butter
220g (1 3/4 cup) plain flour
80g (2/3 cup) icing sugar (plus more for dusting)

TOPPING INGREDIENTS

300g (1 1/2 cup) white sugar
30g (1/4 cup) flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup lemon juice

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 175 C (350 F) and grease and flour a 20cm x 30cm (9 x 13) pan.

To make base

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and icing sugar. Cut the butter into small cubes and using your finger tips, rub into the flour until combined and crumbly (alternatively you could use a food processor)

3. Press mixture into bottom of pan and smooth with hands. Bake for 20 minutes or until just golden brown.

To make topping

4. While the base is baking, prepare topping – In a larger bowl, sift sugar, flour, and baking powder together and whisk to combine.

5. Add slightly beaten eggs and lemon juice and mix well. Pour on top of warm baked base and bake for 20-25 minutes.

6. When cool, dust with icing sugar and cut into desired sized bars (either 12 large bars or 24 smaller bars).

Prepare to be amazed and prepare to be hooked. These sticky lemon bars are like no other.

💖🍋🌸💖🍋🌸💖🍋

Sometimes it is so hard to know what to do... You may remember seeing a story I posted about the devasting news of talented . Her community continue to wrap love and support around her and I want to keep the love going.

So - the very last cake I make tomorrow before heading on maternity leave will be auctioned off for Chloe, with 100% of the proceeds going to her and her family.

It will be an 8" chocolate cake, filled with a berry compote and a vanilla bean icing (similar to the one pictured above).

To enter the auction, add your bid below in the comments. The highest bidder will win and can collect on Saturday 9th October at a pre arranged time (from my home in Nelson city).

The auction will close at 7.30pm Friday 8th October.

Bidding starts from $10 and you can bid as many times as you would like, in increments of at least $1. The auction is also on Instagram - the highest bid from either will win.

Please share and/or tag anyone who needs/would fancy a last minute cake for the weekend so that we can help raise money for Chloe 💖

You can read more about Chloe's story here: https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/10/01/nelson-mum-diagnosed-with-bowel-cancer-days-after-giving-birth/

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Need a better banana cake recipe? Then this may be for you. 💖

I created this recipe a few years ago when I was sick of banana cake recipes that were dense and stodgy. My banana cake recipe promises a super light and fluffy texture with all the flavour.
Click on the link below to find out the secret to making the best banana cake ever (in my humble opinion...). 😏

https://whatsarahbakes.com/recipes/best-banana-cake-chocolate-mascarpone/