Blog
How to Make Self-Raising Flour
How to Make Self-Raising Flour at Home One of the most common questions from international Brooki readers is how to make self-raising flour yourself at home. We use self-raising flour a lot in the bakery and it is a staple in Australian supermarkets. But we've come to learn that while it might be a staple ingredient on this side of the equator, it isn't as easy to find in some places! Don’t worry—you can whip it up in minutes with pantry staples. Self-raising flour is simply all-purpose flour combined with baking powder. It's that simple! To make 1 cup (125g) of self-raising flour, just mix: 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder Whisk everything together to evenly distribute the baking powder, and you’re good to go. This DIY version works perfectly in cakes, muffins, biscuits, and any recipe calling for self-raising flour. You can add a sprinkle of salt (1/4 teaspoon) if you're making a savoury item, or skip the salt for your sweet bakes. The best part? Making your own means you’ll always have it fresh, and you can scale the recipe up or down depending on how much you need. Get the Baking Book! You will find 100 recipes from our founder, Brooke Bellamy, inside her debut cookbook Bake with Brooki. An instant best-seller, this book is filled with recipes from Brooke's childhood, as well as a decade in commercial kitchens as a self-taught baker. Each recipe is easy to follow and even easier to eat! Buy the book now.
Learn more
Red Velvet Cupcakes
There's just something so irresistible about red velvet cupcakes! They've been our best selling cupcake flavour in the bakery since we opened the doors to Brooki, so we figured what better Brooki Bakehouse recipe to share with you all. Red Velvet is a flavour that is hard to describe but when done right, is the perfectly balanced cupcake sponge topped with delicious, glossy cream cheese frosting. Many red velvet cupcake recipes are similar with little to no variation, but there are a few handy baking tips to make sure you get that bakery quality every single time. Baker's tips for Red Velvet Cupcakes 1. Always sift your cocoa powder. This is an ingredient I make sure to always sift, as it often forms little clumps that will not break down in the mixing process (and result in clumps of cocoa in your cupcake!) 2. Room temperature ingredients are key. To ensure a smooth even batter, always use room temperature eggs, butter and buttermilk. 3. Real buttermilk is best! For that delicious crumb you find in a bakery cupcake, real buttermilk is best (you can buy it in the supermarket near the milk). That said, you can always make your own following our quick substitute in the recipe below. 4. Use gel food colouring (not liquid). This ensures a strong red colour. I recommend Americolor or Chef Master brands. 5. Bake at a lower temperature. Compared to other cakes, red velvet are better baked at a lower temperature. If your oven runs hot, you might even consider baking 5 degrees lower, to ensure the sponge doesn't rise too quickly. Red Velvet Cupcakes Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 18-20 minutes Servings: 12 cupcakes Ingredients For the cupcakes: 160g plain flour 2 tbsp corn flour 1 1/2 tsp cocoa powder, sifted 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1/2 tsp salt 45g unsalted butter, room temperature 180g caster sugar 120ml vegetable oil 2 eggs (large), room temperature 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 2/3 tsp white vinegar 1 tsp red food colouring (gel), I recommend Americolor or Chef Master 110ml buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk, you can easily make it with this substitution!) For the cream cheese frosting: 225 Cream Cheese, room temperature 100g unsalted butter, room temperature 1 tsp vanilla extract 300g icing sugar, sifted Method: Step 1 Preheat oven to 170 degrees C. Line a 12-cup cupcake pan with cupcake liners (white is fine but I find red gives them an extra pop!) Step 2 Place the flour, cornflour, cocoa powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt together in a bowl and whisk to combine, then set aside. Step 3 In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and the sugar on high speed until light and fluffy. This should take about five minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure there are no clumps, then slowly pour in the oil and beat on low speed until combined. Step 4 Beat in the eggs, vanilla, vinegar and food colouring on low speed, until just combined. Step 5 Use an ice-cream scoop to evenly portion the batter between the 12 cupcake liners. I like to fill them a little over half way. If you don't have an ice cream scoop, two metal spoons will work just fine (see a tutorial here). Bake for 18-20 minutes (I like to keep an eye on them from 16 minutes as my oven runs hot). Step 6 While the cupcakes are baking, prepare the cream cheese frosting by placing the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and beating on medium speed until smooth, around 3-5 minutes. Add the vanilla. Slowly add the icing sugar on low speed until fully combined, before increasing to high speed to whip it good! You're looking for a light, fluffy, glossy cream cheese with no clumps that is silky smooth. Ice the cupcakes once completely cool to touch.
Learn more
Brooki Bakehouse to Open new location in Gold Coast
Brooki Bakehouse is opening its first location outside of Brisbane and bringing our signature treats to the Gold Coast! Get ready: Brooki Bakehouse is coming to the Gold Coast! The rumours are true! We've heard your calls, and we're absolutely thrilled to announce some seriously sweet news: Brooki Bakehouse is officially opening our first store outside of Brisbane, on the Gold Coast! Our first location outside of Brisbane That's right, after years of serving up our famous chunky cookies, best-selling brownies, and signature treats to our amazing Brisbane community, we're packing our ovens and heading south to bring the Brooki magic to the Gold Coast. And where better to set up shop than in the heart of it all – the iconic Pacific Fair Shopping Centre! For so long, we've received messages, comments, and even in-person pleas from our Gold Coast customers asking when we'd finally make the move. Your passion for our gooey centres, crispy edges, and decadent flavours has been truly overwhelming, and we couldn't be more excited to finally make your sweet dreams a reality. Get ready to experience the Brooki difference! We're bringing our full menu of irresistible goodies, including: Our legendary Chunky Cookies: From classic chocolate chip to innovative flavour combinations you won't find anywhere else, these are the cookies that started it all. Prepare for a mouthful of pure indulgence. The Best-Selling Brownies: Fudgy, rich, and utterly addictive. Whether you're a fan of classic dark chocolate or crave something a little more adventurous, our brownies are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth. Signature Treats: Think loaded blondies, decadent cookie bars, and other delightful creations that are perfect for a little pick-me-up or a special treat. We've been working hard behind the scenes to create a beautiful new space within Pacific Fair where you can come and experience the Brooki Bakehouse atmosphere firsthand. Expect the same warm welcome, the same mouthwatering aromas, and of course, the same exceptional quality you've come to know and love. We can't wait to become a part of the vibrant Gold Coast community and share our passion for all things baked and delicious. Keep your eyes peeled for our official opening date – we promise it's coming soon! Follow us on our social media channels for sneak peeks, updates, and details on Opening Day giveaways! Gold Coast, get in line! We can't wait to see you at Pacific Fair these July school holidays. Brooki Bakehouse Gold Coast details Location: Pacific Fair Opening date: July 2025 This news was first announced on Instagram. Follow Brooki Bakehouse on socials to stay up to date with new store openings!
Learn more
Baking Equipment Every Baker Needs
The best baking equipment every baker needs Whether you're a brand new beginner or a seasoned home baker looking to refine your setup, having the right equipment is key to success. This guide will walk you through the essential baking equipment every home baker needs, from must-have basics to helpful upgrades. Discover the best baking tools to invest in, understand their importance, and unlock your full baking potential. Baker's Essentials Top 10 Essential Baking Equipment 1. Sifter If there's one bakery item that gets used every day, it's our sifting machine. For home bakers a sifter is an essential item for sifting ingredients that clump together - because no one wants a crumb of dutch cocoa powder or baking powder in their bite of a cupcake! Take note, however, that not all ingredients need sifting. You can skip the flour, but always sift your icing sugar for a smooth buttercream. Buy now $9.29 2. Stand Mixer It’s no secret a stand mixer will make your baking days easier and more efficient. But that doesn't mean you have to race out and buy the most expensive mixer on the market. The best mixer is the one you can afford, so be sure to shop around! Buy now $738 3. Cake Tins As far as cake tins go, there are certain brands and materials that are way better than others. Fat Daddio's is a personal favourite, known for their anodized aluminum pans (which results in even heating and durable pans that will last a lifetime). Buy now $24.99 4. Macarons Mats If you ask me what my favourite thing to bake is, macarons would win every time. There’s just something so therapeutic about making them! Perhaps it is the concentration required to get them right, which allows you to totally switch off your mind from anything else. Having a pair of macaron mats is essential to making perfect macarons that are uniform every time. Join me for my macaron masterclass if you’d like to bake along with me and get my fail-proof recipe! Buy now $28.99 5. Soaker Bottle If you’ve ever wondered how cake decorators keep their cakes fresh by making them in advance, you need to know about sugar soaking! This soaker bottle is the perfect way to soak your cakes with simple syrup to increase their lifespan. Buy now $40 6. Oven Mitts As a baker, oven mitts are an essential part of your tool kit. For me, oven mitts are kind of like shoes for fashion people - I just can’t buy enough of them! These oven mitts from Amazon come in a bunch of colours at an affordable price, so stock up! Buy now $14.99 7. Kitchen Scale In the bakery I always measure everything in grams. For bakers and pastry chefs this is pretty normal, as it ensures more accuracy in baking. If you plan on developing recipes, it is a great habit to adopt as early as possible and these small kitchen scales are the perfect addition to your home kitchen. Buy now $18.99 8. Offset Spatula If there’s one thing in my baker’s tool kit I could not live without, it’s an offset spatula. I use these nifty tools to ice and stack all of my cakes, as well as decorating them. Buy now $11.66 9. Cake Turntable Another cake decorating tool I cannot live without is my cake turntable. Investing in a sturdy turntable is a no brainer if you ask me, especially when you’re making tens of cakes each day! Buy now $87 10. Fondant letter stamps Finally, these fondant letter stamps have become a staple in our kitchens at the bakery. We use these to stamp the letters for our heart cakes and vintage style cakes, which is how we get those perfect letters on the top of the cakes. Buy now $15.29 See Product See Product See Product Books For Beginner Bakers 1. "The Cake Bible" by Rose Levy Beranbaum: This meticulously detailed book is a great starting point for all things cake. The book itself is full of great recipes and explanations and is a favourite among cake bakers and decorators. 2. "The King Arthur Baking Company Baker's Companion": A comprehensive baking book with a wide variety of recipes, baker's tips, and a focus on using quality ingredients. This is a great starting point for anyone considering a career path in baking or patisserie. 3. "Jenna Rae Cakes & Sweet Treats": When I started my baking journey one of the bakeries that inspired me most was a small pastel coloured cakery in Winnipeg, Canada, named Jenna Rae Cakes. Their debut book is a great modern baking book for beginners. 4. "Sweet Enough: A dessert cookbook": When you're looking to upgrade your dessert game from bakery goods to desserts, look no further than Alison Roman's debut sweets cookbook. I'm a huge fan of her work for being fuss free and just downright delicious, and her baked goods are no exception. 5. "Momofuku Milk Bar": As far as famous bakeries go, Milk Bar has always been one of my absolute favourites. With locations across America, you can now create some of the best selling bakes from your home kitchen. https://amzn.to/43ANfD2 Visit our store The Author: Brooki Brooki is the owner of Brooki Bakehouse, a popular online bakery with multiple locations in Australia. We hope you love baking with us! Read more Products Featured In This Blog See Product See Product See Product View our Online Baking Classes
Learn more
Brooki Buttercream recipe
The Best Buttercream At Brooki we make a tonne of cakes for every kind of celebration. Birthdays, engagements, weddings and gender reveals are some of the most popular cakes we make and we pride ourselves on having some of the best cakes in Brisbane. Every week we're asked about our glossy buttercream and what buttercream recipe we use. There are a bunch of different buttercream recipes you can choose from to decorate your cakes, and every baker has their favourite. Today, we're going to share with you the recipe we use, which is a little different to most! So here it is from start to finish, so you can try the famous Brooki buttercream for yourself from home! The Brooki Buttercream Recipe There are various styles of buttercreams that bakeries use to ice cakes. Some of the most popular buttercreams include American buttercream, Swiss Meringue buttercream and Italian Meringue buttercream. At Brooki, we use our own variation of American buttercream to ice our cakes, but there is one key difference in our recipe to the typical style: the butter:sugar ratio. It's this Brooki buttercream recipe that creates the base for all of our cakes at the bakery. This recipe is not only glossy and easy to decorate with, but it is also reacts really well to colour. In the bakery we use Colour Mill for colouring our buttercreams and have found this buttercream acts best to soak up the colour (so we don't have to use too much!) Another recommendation for your buttercream recipe, no matter which recipe you decide to use, is to always sift your icing sugar. No matter what, we always sift the icing sugar before placing it in the mixer for our buttercreams, as the last thing we want to see are big clumps of sugar in an otherwise smooth buttercream. When it comes to crumb coating, we use a more traditional ratio of butter:icing sugar for our American style buttercream, so the centre is nice and sweet (which balances perfectly with the buttery exterior). Brooki Buttercream Recipe Prep time 10 minutes Servings One cake Category Cakes Ingredients 500g unsalted butter, room temp 250g icing sugar, sifted 1 tsp vanilla extract Instructions Cube your butter into small 1.5cm squares. Place them in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on high with the paddle attachment for at least 5-7 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl twice every few minutes. Once the butter is glossy and a lighter colour, change the speed of your mixer to the lowest setting and add 1/2 cup of icing sugar at a time, until fully incorporated. Turn the mixer back on to high and continue to beat the buttercream until it is glossy - around 5 minutes. Finally, turn the mixer on to low and add the vanilla. Mix until incorporated. OUR BEST SELLING CAKE Ever since we opened the doors of Brooki there has been one cake that sells better than all others, every day of the week. Our fully customisable heart cakes are a Brisbane party favourite! See Product Brooki's Vanilla Cake Brooki baking supplies See Product See Product See Product The Author : Brooki Brooki is the owner of Brooki Bakehouse, a popular online bakery with multiple locations in Australia. We hope you love baking with us! Discover Our Online Baking Classes
Learn more