Hot Cross Bun Waffles

Decadent Christmas Cake

1. Pre-heat oven to 150°C (130°C fan-forced). Lightly grease and line a deep 20cm cake pan with three layers of baking paper. Combine mixed fruit, raisins, and sultanas in a large saucepan. Add water and port, mix through. Place over a low heat for 5 minutes until liquid is absorbed and fruit softened. Set aside to cool.

2. Using electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until creamy. Add eggs one at a time until all incorporated. Fold in flours and spices.

3. Remove from mixing stand and fold in the fruit mixture with a large spoon. Mixing until well combined. Spoon batter into prepared cake tin and smooth the top. Decorate with almonds bake for 2 hours 30 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely. Brush the top with jam whilst the cake is still warm.

Christmas Chocolate Fruit Truffles

Eggnog Bundt Cakes

1. For eggnog, combine milk, cream, spices and vanilla in a small saucepan. Heat gently. Meanwhile whisk together the yolk and sugar. Gradually add warmed milk mixture to egg until all combined. Return to saucepan and continue cooking over a low heat until hot and slightly thickened. Remove, stir in rum and set aside to cool. Reserve 1 tablespoon for icing.
2. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Lightly grease 6 x 1 cup capacity bundt tins and place onto a flat baking tray.
3. Combine currants and rum. Set aside. Place butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until creamy and pale. Add eggs one at a time until well combined. Add dry ingredients and eggnog alternately until well combined and mixture is smooth. Spoon between prepared pans and bake for 25 minutes until golden and cooked through. Turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
4. Mix together the icing sugar, reserved eggnog, water and some additional nutmeg if you prefer. Drizzle over cooled bundt cakes and finish with fresh cherries.

Christmas Cheesecake

Preaheat oven 160 degrees (140 degrees fan).

1. Brush base and sides of 25cm springform pan with butter.
2. Process biscuits, extra melted butter and almond meal in a food processor until fine crumb. Press into base and sides of pan.
3. Combine ricotta, cream cheese, sugar, cornflour, butter, eggs and vanilla bean paste in food processor. Blend for 2 mins then fold through sour cream and fruit.
4. Pour filling over base, cover with foil and bake for 1.5 hours. Remove cake from oven, allow to come to room temperature before refrigerating overnight.

To make Toffee

1. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Spread nuts evenly over tray.
2. Add sugar to a medium, heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until sugar completely dissolves then remove from heat immediately and pour over nuts.
3. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes then allow to set. Serve cheesecake topped with shards of broken nut toffee.

Gingerbread Bundt Cake with Maple Fruit Glaze

Preheat oven to 180℃. 

Add the Sunbeam Mixed Fruit and cover with maple syrup. Allow to sit to soak while making the cake.  

Prep your bundt tin by rubbing all over with coconut oil and dusting with a little caster sugar to get into all the crevices.   

In a large bowl, add the flour, baking powder, soda, salt and spices. Mix together to combine.  

In a stand mixer, add the butter and coconut sugar. Cream together. Add in the eggs and coconut treacle, then mix until smooth. Add in the milk and mix again until combined.  

Add in the dry mix ¼ cup at a time, until you form a smooth batter.  

 Pour the cake batter into the prepared bundt tin, then bake for 40-45 minutes until cooked through (piece the middle with a skewer, and if it comes out clean it’s done!). Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin for 15 minutes and carefully flip and allow the cake to pop out.  

To make the icing:  beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and milk and beat until desired consistency is reached. The icing should be thin enough that it can run down the cake. Add a little more milk as needed to reach this consistency. Add the salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Blend until well combined.  

 Frost the Gingerbread Bundt Cake and spoon over the Fruit Glaze and toasted walnuts.   

Apricot Balls

1. Place apricots, sultanas and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer for 2-3 minutes.
2. Place cooled fruit in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add oats and coconut. Remove to a bowl and roll teaspoonsful into balls and then roll in sesame seeds to coat. Refrigerate until required.

Notes:
Balls can also be rolled in coconut, chopped pepitas or chopped nuts.