Almond Mandarin Cake

Preparation 10 Minutes

Cook 70 Minutes

Serves 10

Method

  1. Put the whole mandarins in a saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 45 minutes or until tender when tested with a skewer, topping up water as necessary. Drain, cool to room temperature, cut in half and remove any pips.
  2. Preheat oven to 160°C and line the base of a lightly greased 20cm springform cake pan with baking paper.
  3. Blend the cooled mandarins, eggs and sugar in a food processor until well combined. Add the almond meal, baking powder and orange blossom water (if using) and pulse until combined.
  4. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and sprinkle with almonds. Bake for 1 hour 10 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool for 15 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Ingredients

4 small (about 400g) mandarins, unpeeled

5 eggs

1 cup caster sugar

2 x 110g Sunbeam Almond Meal

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon orange blossom water (optional)

1/4 cup Sunbeam Slivered Almonds

Recipe Collection

Almond Star Bread

Preheat the oven to 180℃.  

 To make the Spiced Almond Cream: place butter and sugar into a stand mixer bowl. Mix for 2 minutes, until smooth. Slowly add the whisked eggs, salt and vanilla and mix again to incorporate. Fold in the almond meal and cinnamon and fold through with a wooden spoon to incorporate.  

Slice each piece of puff pastry into 4 x 25cm circles.  

Place one dough circle onto a piece of baking paper and spread 1 tablespoon of the Spiced Almond Cream evenly over the top. Stack the next dough circle on top and repeat with more Spiced Almond Cream. Repeat again with the final two dough circles.  

Place a round object, about 7-8cm wide into the centre of the circle and make an indent, which becomes the centre of the star.   

Cut the dough into 16 evenly spaced strips, starting from the indent to the edge of the dough. Take two strips next to each other and roll them away from each other. Press the two ends together to join. Repeat with the remaining 14 strips until each are twisted and paired up.  

Transfer the star on the baking paper to a large baking tray. Brush with egg water wash and sprinkle over the flaked almonds. Place into the oven and bake for 25 minutes until puffed up and golden brown.   

Remove from the oven, allow to cool and then dust with icing sugar, to serve.  

Hot Cross Bun Choc Truffles

Combine hot cross buns, sultanas, mixed peel and mixed spice in a food processor and blend until a fine crumb. 

Combine dark and milk chocolate and cream in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 2 mins (stopping every 30 seconds and stirring) until the chocolate is completely melted. 

Add melted chocolate mixture to the food processor and blend until combined.  Transfer the mixture to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours until firm enough to spoon. 

Spoon mixture into 2 tablespoon sized portions then roll into balls.  Roll in cocoa powder, dusting off excess powder.  Line a baking tray with baking paper, place balls onto the tray and refrigerate for 30 mins to harden.

Place white chocolate into a small, microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 min, stopping every 20 seconds to stir, or until completely melted.  Allow to cool slightly before transferring to a piping bag fitted with a small, round nozzle. 

Pipe a cross (to resemble a hot cross bun) onto the tops of each ball then return to fridge for a further 30 mins to set.

Christmas Cake Friands (GF)

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Lightly grease 12 x ⅓ cup capacity muffin pans.
  2. Place fruit and brandy in a microwave proof dish and cook on medium heat for 30 seconds. Set aside to cool.
  3. Sift icing sugar into a large mixing bowl and stir in the almond meal and flour.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until frothy. Mix in the butter and add to the icing sugar mixture. Stirring until well combined.
  5. Pour mixture between prepared moulds and bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans and cool completely on a cooling rack.
  6. For icing, combine icing sugar and water mixing until smooth. Allow to sit until desired consistency is achieved. Spoon over each cake and finish with lemon rind and raspberries.

Hummingbird Christmas Cake

Preheat 170ºC (150ºC fan).  Grease and line 2 x 17cm round cake tins.

Combine flour, sugar, coconut, bicarbonate of soda and spices in a large bowl.  Make a well in the centre, add fruit and vegetables, lime zest, nuts, Angas Park Fruit Medley, oil, eggs and salt, stirring until combined.  Divide evenly among the two pans then bake for 35 mins.  Allow to cool completely in tins before turning out.

To make icing, in a stand mixer (or using a handheld mixer) beat together the cream cheese, butter, coconut essence and lime juice, then, with motor running, gradually add icing sugar 1 tbsp at a time until fully incorporated.

To assemble, spread icing onto the top of one cake, top with the second cake and spread icing on top.  Arrange flowers, Angas Park Fruit Salad and extra cashews on top, to decorate.

Granola Bar

Preheat oven to 160°C.

  1. Grease and line an 18cm x 28cm slice pan with baking paper.
  2. Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl.
  3. Mix melted butter and honey together and stir into dry ingredients
  4. Press mixture firmly into tin using the back of a spoon. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool in the tin before slicing into bars.

Crunchy Apple Slaw

  1. Place pine nuts and sesame seeds in a small frying pan and cook for 5 minutes until golden and toasted. Set aside.
  2. Combine the cabbage, apples, spring onions, raisins and mint in a large mixing bowl and toss well.
  3. Whisk together the oil and vinegar. Season to taste. Pour over apple mixture and toss well. Spoon onto serving platter and sprinkle with toasted seeds and nuts and some additional mint leaves.

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