Christmas Pudding

Macadamia Choc Chip Cookies

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line cookie trays with baking paper.

Beat butter, extract, sugars and egg in a small bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; stir in sifted flour and soda, in two batches. Stir in Sunbeam macadamias & chocolate chips.

Roll tablespoons of mixture into balls; place 5cm apart on trays.

Bake cookies 15 minutes or until golden; cool on trays.

Choc Sultana Hot Cross Bun

Preheat oven to 200°C

1. Sieve plain flour and mixed spice. Rub butter into the flour until well incorporated and add dry yeast, castor sugar, sultanas, currants and chocolate dots. Add the milk and eggs and mix well. Place on a floured surface and gently knead dough for ten minutes until smooth and velvety. Cover and leave to rise for one hour or until mixture has doubled in size.
2. Gently knead for 2 minutes then divide into 12. Gently knead into balls and shape into buns. Arrange in a greased baking tin and leave to rise again for 15 minutes.
3. Combine ingredients for flour paste crosses and place in a piping bag. Pipe crosses onto buns.
4. Bake for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 170°C and bake for a further 20 minutes.
5. Turn onto a wire rack, serve hot with butter, if desired

Carrot & Sultana Tray Bake

Date Cookies

1. Pre-heat oven to 170°C (150°C fan-forced). Line oven trays with baking paper. Place oats, flour, dates and pepitas in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Remove to a mixing bowl.
2. Place butter and honey in a small saucepan and heat until melted. Add to oat mixture with the banana and mix well. Spoon tablespoons of mixture onto prepared trays. Bake for 20 minutes or until just golden. Remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.

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

Mini Easter Panettone

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolk and vanilla.

In a separate large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Pour in the warm milk, then add the egg mixture. Stir well to combine until a dough forms. Cover with cling film, sprayed with oil, and set aside to rest in a warm place for approx. 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Place 12 cardboard patty cases on a baking tray. Alternatively, place regular cases into a muffin tin. Set aside.

Stir in the butter, sultanas and mixed fruit. Mix until combined.

Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and put into prepared cases.

Cover again and let rise for a further ½ hour.

Brush the tops with milk and bake for 25 mins or until cooked through and golden.

Cool on tray.

Meanwhile, make the icing.

In a small bowl, place the icing sugar and 1 tablespoon of water. Mix until a paste forms. Add small amounts of water until desired consistency. Add a few drops of food colouring to make a pale pink icing.

Drizzle over cooled cakes and sprinkle with dried rose petal leaves or your choice of sprinkles.