Carrot & Sultana Cake
Preparation 10 Minutes
Cook 40 Minutes
Serves 8
Method
Preheat oven to 180C. Grease and line two 20cm cake tins.
In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, bicarb, spices and salt. Stir to combine.
In a stand mixer, beat the eggs, sugars, oil and vanilla until smooth. Add half of the flour mix and mix on low speed until combined. Add remaining flour mix and mix on low speed again until all of the flour is incorporated. Add the pineapple and sultanas. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
Divide evenly between the prepared tins and bake for 40 mins or until cooked. Rotate the cakes after 20 mins. (You can test with a skewer, and the cake is ready when the skewer comes out clean.)
Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 mins, then transfer to cooling racks and leave until cooled.
Meanwhile, prepare the icing.
In a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until very pale and creamy, about 4 mins. Add half of the sifted icing sugar and beat on low speed for about 1 min. Increase speed to medium to combine. Add remaining icing sugar and reduce speed to low for a further minute, then increase to medium speed for another few minutes until all of the icing sugar is combined. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon of the milk. Beat for 1 minute or until combined. Add extra tablespoon of milk of you would like a thinner frosting.
Divide the frosting between the centre of the cakes, reserving the remainder for the top and the sides.
Decorate with topping of choice.
Ingredients
2 ½ cups plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarb soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp salt
4 large eggs
1 ¼ cup brown sugar
¾ cup caster sugar
1 ¼ cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups shredded carrot
¾ cup tinned pineapple chunks, drained
1 cup Sunbeam sultanas
Icing
250g unsalted butter, softened
5 cups icing sugar, sifted
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
Recipe Collection
Beef Crostini Sunmuscat Relish
This appetiser is nice way to begin a Christmas meal.
For the relish. Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Add shallots, and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add Sunmuscats, port, vinegar, chilly, and thyme sprig. Raise heat to medium-high, and simmer until thickened, about 8 minutes. Let cool slightly. stir in chopped thyme, celery, salt, and pepper.
To serve, combine mayonnaise and mustard, and spread about 2 teaspoons on each slice of baguette. Top with a slice of beef, season with salt, and top with 1 teaspoon sunmuscat-port relish. Garnish with micro herbs.

Turmeric Chicken Curry
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Heat oil in a frying pan. Add onion, ginger and garlic, cooking over low heat for 4-5 minutes until tender. Stir in spices and cook a further minute.
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Add coconut milk, chicken and almond meal to pan. Simmer over a low heat partially covered until chicken is cooked through.
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Serve curry sprinkled with flaked almonds, tomatoes and coriander. Accompany with rice and cucumber.
White Christmas Tree Bites
- Line the inside of 12 ice-cream cones with baking paper, using a stapler or sticky tape to secure paper.
- Place white chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (ensuring bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water) and stir until the chocolate has melted and is smooth. Remove from heat.
- Allow to cool then add all the other ingredients and stir to coat. Spoon into the prepared lined cones Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set before serving.
Apple & Sultana Crumble Cake
1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Lightly grease a 22cm spring form pan and line the base with baking paper.
2. Place butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until pale and creamy. Add eggs one at a time until well incorporated.
3. Add sour cream, followed by the flour, almond meal and spice. Mix until batter is smooth. Add sultanas, mixing in well. Spoon into prepared pan, smoothing the top. Sprinkle with diced apples.
4. For the crumble, combine oats, sugar and butter in a bowl and using fingertips, rub to combine so mixture resembles chunky breadcrumbs. Mix in the almonds. Sprinkle over apples and bake for 1 hour or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Serve warm with custard or cream.
Baby Spring Vegetables
Preheat oven to 180ºC.
- Place the carrots and corn in a large pot of boiling water and cook for 5 minutes or until almost tender. Add asparagus and zucchini and cook for 2 minutes. Drain well and place in serving dish.
- Combine butter, apricots, Brazil nuts and chives in a saucepan and cook until nuts have begun to brown. Pour over cooked baby vegetables and toss to coat. Serve.
Rainbow Couscous & Sultana Salad
In a small saucepan, bring water and salt just to the boil. Add couscous and stir once. Cover pan, remove from heat and set aside 10 mins, until water is absorbed.
Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well.
Fluff couscous with a fork and transfer to a large bowl. Add sultanas, chickpeas, veggies, herbs, and onions, and tosswell.
Drizzle salad with half of the dressing and toss again. Season to taste with salt and pepper if desired. Sprinkle salad withwalnuts and feta. Serve with remaining dressing.
Tips
- Store salad in a covered container in the fridge, for up to three days.
- Couscous can be substituted with cooked and cooled quinoa, if preferred