Spiced Currant Biscuits
Preparation 10 Minutes
Cook 20 Minutes
Serves 15
Method
- Sift the flour and spices into a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric beaters until thick and pale, then add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Fold ii the flour mixture slowly, then stir in currants and lemon zest. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 2 hours.
- Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Preheat the oven to 180Β°C. Roll out dough 4-5mm thick then cut with a round biscuit cutter and place on the trays. Repeat with remaining dough, re-rolling the trimmings.
- Sprinkle biscuits with extra sugar. Bake for 10 minutes until firm to touch but still pale. Cool on trays for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Ingredients
3 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
225g salted butter, at room temperature
1 cup caster sugar, plus 2 tbsp extra to sprinkle
2 eggs
3/4 cup Sunbeam currants
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
Recipe Collection
Hummingbird Christmas Cake
Preheat 170ΒΊC (150ΒΊC fan).Β Grease and line 2 x 17cm round cake tins.
Combine flour, sugar, coconut, bicarbonate of soda and spices in a large bowl.Β Make a well in the centre, add fruit and vegetables, lime zest, nuts, Angas Park Fruit Medley, oil, eggs and salt, stirring until combined.Β Divide evenly among the two pans then bake for 35 mins.Β 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.Β Arrange flowers, Angas Park Fruit Salad and extra cashews on top, to decorate.
Almond Joy Cookies
Preheat the oven to 180Β°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 Flaked Almonds, coconut & chocolate.
Roll tablespoons of mixture into balls; place 5cm apart on trays.
Bake cookies 15 minutes or until golden; cool on trays.
Feel the joy!
Apricot Balls
- Place apricots, sultanas and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- 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.
Rum & Raisin Profiterole Wreath
To make the custard, combine raisins and rum in a small bowl and allow to soak for 10 mins.Β Β Drain and roughly chop the raisins.
Combine milk, cream and vanilla in a medium sized, heavy based saucepan over medium heat.Β Β Not letting the milk come to a boil, stir until warmed.Β
In a separate bowl combine egg yolks and sugar, whisk until mixed then add flour and whisk to incorporate.Β
Gradually add the egg mixture to the milk, whisking over a medium heat, until it is all added and incorporated.Β Β The custard will thicken, continue to whisk until smooth.Β Β Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before stirring through the soaked raisins.
To make the choux pastry, preheat oven to 190ΒΊC (170ΒΊC fan).Β Β Line 2 large baking trays with baking paper.Β
In a medium saucepan, combine butter and sugar with 250ml water.Β Β Stir over a medium-high heat until the water begins to boil and the butter has melted.Β Β Remove pan from the heat, add the flour and use a wooden spoon to vigorously mix to combine.Β Β The mixture will begin to resemble a dough β return pan to medium heat and cook for a further 1-3 mins, stirring, until you notice the dough pulling away from the sides of the pan.Β Β Spoon the dough into a bowl of a stand mixer and allow to cool slightly (10 mins).
Fit the stand mixer with a whisk attachment.Β Β Add vanilla bean paste and 1 egg and whisk until just combined.Β Β Repeat with remaining eggs until your dough is glossy.
Transfer the mixture to a large piping bag fitted with large, round, open tip.Β Β Spray the surface of the baking paper with a fine mist of water.
Pipe 12 rounds, evenly spaced, onto each prepared tray.Β Β Bake for 30-40 mins, ensuring the oven door stays closed for the first 25 mins, until the pastries are puffed and golden.Β Β In the final 5 mins, prick the base of the pastries with a toothpick and return to the oven to dry out.
Turn off the oven and open the door, allow pastries to cool completely in the oven.
Once the pastries are cool dip in melted chocolate (white and dark) and rest on a baking rack until chocolate sets.
Pipe each profiterole with the rum and raisin custard.Β Β Arrange in a wreath shape on a large, round serving platter.Β Β Decorate with cherries, raspberries and mint leaves.Β Β Generously drizzle with chocolate sauce to serve.
Sultana & Date Scones
Mini Bombe Alaskas
Line 6 x 180ml dariole moulds (or 6 x 180ml capacity small dishes) with plastic wrap.*
Place icecream into a large bowl and allow to stand at room temperature for 10 mins, or until soft (do not allow to completely melt).Β Β Add fruit, nuts and sherry and use a spatula to mix well.
Spoon the mixture evenly between the prepared moulds and freeze overnight or until firm.
Slice the madeira cake horizontally into three big slices, about 2cm thick.Β Β Use a cookie cutter (just bigger than the bases of the icecream moulds) to cut 6 rounds from the cake slices.Β
To make the meringue, combine egg whites and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.Β Β Whisk until stiff peaks form.
One at a time, carefully remove an icecream from the mould and place on top of a cake round.Β Β Working quickly, smooth meringue around the cake and icecream to completely cover then blowtorch until golden.Β Β Serve and repeat with remaining prepared icecreams.
