Hot Cross Cookies
Preparation 15 Minutes
Cook 15 - 17 minutes Minutes
Serves 24
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180Β°C. Line cookie trays with baking paper.
- Beat butter, vanilla, 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 bicarb soda, in two batches. Stir in fruit, nuts & chocolate.
- Roll tablespoons of mixture into balls; place 5cm apart on trays.
- Bake cookies 15 minutes or until golden; cool on trays.
- Once cookies are cooled, pipe cross with melted white chocolate.
Notes: Each cookie weighed 50g before cooking to make 24. Keep a few extra currants and choc chips to add to cookies when removed from oven to decorate top.
Ingredients
250g unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup (165g) caster sugar
3/4 cup (165g) firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 1/4 cup (335g) plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp Cinnamon
200g White Choc Chips
1/2 cup (70g) Sunbeam Macadamia
1/2 cup (85g) Sunbeam Currants
Extra white chocolate to pipe cross
Recipe Collection
Carrot & Sultana Cake
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.
Frozen Christmas Pudding
Combine sugar with 250ml water in a small saucepan. Stir over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved, then increase heat to high and boil for 1 minute.Remove from heat, add sultanas and cranberries and allow to sit for 10 mins. Drain and set aside to cool.
Use muslin to line the inside of a 1.75L capacity pudding basin.
Meanwhile, spoon icecream into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a beater attachment. Allow to soften slightly before beating until smooth.Add cooled fruit mixture, vanilla, cinnamon, pistachios and brandy and beat until just incorporated. Spoon into the prepared basin, smooth the surface, cover with the lid (or plastic wrap) and freeze overnight or until firm.
Turn out onto a serving plate, top with fresh berries and shower with icing sugar to serve.
You will need a 1.75L pudding basin and muslin for this recipe
You will need to begin this recipe the night before
Traditional Hot Cross Buns
Place your flour, yeast, sugar, allspice, cinnamon and salt in your mixing bowl and briefly mix until combined.Β
Add in your melted butter, warm milk, eggs and raisins.Β
Mix with your dough hook on medium speed for 5-7 minutes until a dough ball is formed and is coming away from the sides of the bowl.Β
Leave the dough covered with clingfilm in a warm place for approximately 1 hour or until doubles in size.Β
Knock the air out of the dough and roll it into a log before cutting it into 12 even pieces.Β
Roll each piece into a smooth ball and place into a grease proof paper linen baking tray (approx. 30cm x 20cm) in a 3 bun by 4 bun pattern.Β Β
Cover balls of dough with cling film again and let rise for approximately 40 minutes or until it has risen to about 70% of its original size.Β
Pre heat oven to 180 degrees after leaving it to rest.Β
Right before placing it into the oven make your cross mixture by mixing your flour and water until a thickish paste forms. Using a ziplock bag with the corner cut off or a piping bag, pipe your crosses down the center of each bun horizontally and then vertically.Β
Bake in the oven for approximately 20 minutes or until nice and golden brown.Β
Meanwhile, place jam and water in a bowl and microwave for approx. 30 seconds until melted and combines.Β
Once buns are fresh out the over, brush your glaze over each one to give them a beautiful glossy finish.Β
Spinach & Ricotta Tart
- Pre-heat oven to 180Β°C (160Β°C fan-forced). Line an oven tray with baking paper.
- Steam or microwave spinach leaves until just wilted. Squeeze any excess liquid when cool enough to handle and then finely chop.
- Heat oil in a large frying pan over low heat, add spring onions and garlic, cooking for several minutes until just tender. Add spinach and cook a further minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Meanwhile, lightly whisk the egg white with a splash of water, set aside.
- Combine spinach mixture in a large mixing bowl with the ricotta, egg yolk, parmesan, pinenuts, mint and lemon rind. Mix until well combined and season well.
- Lay one pastry sheet onto oven tray and spoon spinach mixture over the top, leaving a 2cm border around each edge. Lightly brush the edges with some of the egg white mixture.
- Using the tip of a knife, lightly score the other sheet of pastry without cutting all the way through. Place on top of spinach mixture and seal the edges with a fork. Brush top sheet with some more of the egg white mixture and sprinkle with the seeds. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden.
Easy Florentines
Preheat oven to 180ΒΊC (160ΒΊC fan).Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
In a large bowl, combine Corn Flakes, almonds, sultanas and cherries, mix well.Pour over the sweetened condensed milk and stir to coat.Β
Place an egg ring onto prepared pan.Spoon the mixture into the egg ring, filling to the top and gently pressing down to compact.Remove egg ring and repeat, with remaining mixture, 6 biscuits on each tray.
Bake biscuits for 15 mins, swapping the trays around half way.Remove from oven and allow biscuits to cool completely on trays.
Melt the chocolate and brush onto the bases of each biscuit.Rest cookies on a baking rack, chocolate side up, to allow chocolate to set.
You will need a 7.5cm egg ring for this recipe
Chocolate Ripple Christmas Wreath
You will need to begin this recipe the night before
Whip the cream to soft peaks.Β
Spread a few tablespoons of whipped cream onto the base of a 26-28cm round serving plate.Β Β This will stop your wreath from sliding around.
Dollop 1 flat tbsp of whipped cream onto a biscuit and top with another biscuit.Β Β Repeat until you have a stack of 5 biscuits, the top biscuit should not have any cream on top.
Repeat to make 8 stacks of biscuits.
On the prepared serving plate, arrange the biscuit stacks into a wreath shape.Β Β Spread the entire biscuit wreath with just enough whipped cream to ensure the biscuits are covered on top and around the sides.Β Β Refrigerate overnight, reserving remaining whipped cream.
When ready to serve, spread remaining whipped cream around the wreath.Β Β Decorate with dried fruit and nuts.
