Sunbeam Christmas Cake
Preparation 30 MINS + Soak Time
Cook 90
Serves 12
Method
Soak fruit overnight in brandy, if you warm the brandy it infuses faster and you can soak for a few hours instead of overnight.
Place soaked fruit, water, butter, maple syrup and sugar in a saucepan. Slowly bring to the boil then remove from heat and add bicarbonate of soda mixed with one tablespoon boiling water. Cool for 15 minutes.
Add lightly beaten eggs, mixing thoroughly. Fold in sifted flours, spices and vanilla essence.
We used a 21cm bundt tin. Bake at 160°C for 75 to 90 minutes. Cool in tin.
Decorate with Caramel glaze and Sunbeam flake almonds.
Ingredients
375g Sunbeam Mixed Fruit
125g Angas Park Diced Dates
1 cup brandy
1 cup water
125g butter
2 tablespoons S&W Maple syrup
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 tablespoon boiling water
2 x eggs
1 cup self raising flour
1 cup plain flour
½ teaspoon mixed spice
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Recipe Collection
Layered Caramel Cake with Christmas Fruit Cream
Step 1: In a medium bowl soak Sunbeam fruit with orange rind, maple syrup & boiling water for 2 hours.
Step 2: Caramel Ganache. In a small saucepan on medium heat, melt the caramilk chocolate and 400ml of cream to form a ganache. Once melted and well combined, stir and set aside to cool. Once the caramilk ganache has cooled, whip with a hand blender till firm.
Step 3: Fruit Cream. Remove orange rind and drain fruit of any excess liquid. Set liquid aside as you will use this later. In a large bowl whip 400ml cream, corn flour and All Spice until firm. Add fruit mix to cream and stir through.
Step 4: Assemble. Cut your sponge cake into halves so you have 4 pieces to form 4 layers. On each layer of the cake spread 2-3 tablespoons of the caramilk ganache followed by 2-3 tablespoons of the fruit cream mix – spread evenly and layer your cake.
Garnish with any leftover ganache and cream and top with seasonal fresh fruits.
Moroccan Chicken with Raisins, Almonds and Honey
Pat chicken dry with paper towel, and sprinkle both sides of meat with salt and pepper. Drizzle the olive oil into a large heavy-based pot over medium-high heat.
When oil is shimmering, add half the chicken pieces and cook 5 – 7 mins per side, until golden brown. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining chicken pieces.
Reduce heat to medium, and add onion, garlic, ras el hanout, cinnamon stick, and ginger to the hot oil. Stir well, then cook for 5 mins, until onions have started to soften.
Return chicken and any resting juices to the pot. Add stock, bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1.5 hrs, until the chicken is tender.
Remove cinnamon stick and add raisins and honey to the pot. Gently stir to combine and increase heat to medium. Simmer uncovered, for a further 30 – 45 min, until the sauce has reduced and the raisins are plump. Stir through lemon juice.
Garnish with almonds and parsley. Serve with crusty bread, rice, or couscous.
Banana & Walnut Muffins
Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line muffin tin with baking paper muffin wrappers.
Beat butter and sugar in a small bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until combined. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; using a wooden spoon, stir in sifted dry ingredients, banana, nuts and milk. Spread mixture evenly into the muffin pan.
Bake for 15 – 20 minutes. Check at 15 min with a skewer and cook until the skewer comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack.
Almond & Sultana Snowballs
Blitz ingredients in a small blender or kitchen wiz until sticky and evenly combined.
Roll into small balls (about 1 tablespoon (30g) each).
Coat in extra almonds & desiccated coconut.
Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to set.
Keeps for up to 1 week refrigerated.
Gifting tip:
Pack them into a kraft paper box or clear cellophane bag tied with twine and a “Handmade with Love” tag for the perfect holiday treat
Hot Cross Bun Choc Truffles
Combine hot cross buns, sultanas, mixed peel and mixed spice in a food processor and blend until a fine crumb.
Combine dark and milk chocolate and cream in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 2 mins (stopping every 30 seconds and stirring) until the chocolate is completely melted.
Add melted chocolate mixture to the food processor and blend until combined. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours until firm enough to spoon.
Spoon mixture into 2 tablespoon sized portions then roll into balls. Roll in cocoa powder, dusting off excess powder. Line a baking tray with baking paper, place balls onto the tray and refrigerate for 30 mins to harden.
Place white chocolate into a small, microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 min, stopping every 20 seconds to stir, or until completely melted. Allow to cool slightly before transferring to a piping bag fitted with a small, round nozzle.
Pipe a cross (to resemble a hot cross bun) onto the tops of each ball then return to fridge for a further 30 mins to set.
Frozen Cheescake Pudding
Place Mixed Fruits & dried cranberries and brandy in a bowl. Set aside for 20 minutes to soak.
Line an 8-cup-capacity metal pudding basin with plastic wrap.
Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese for 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add ice-cream. Beat until well combined. Fold in fruit mince, pistachios and cranberry sultana mixture. Pour mixture into prepared basin. Freeze for 30 minutes.
Place biscuits & Sunbeam almonds in a food processor. Process until fine crumbs form. Add butter. Process until combined. Spoon over top of ice-cream, pressing with the back of a spoon to level and compact (see notes). Cover with plastic wrap. Freeze overnight.
Turn pudding onto a serving plate. Carefully remove plastic wrap. Drizzle with chocolate topping.
Decorate with Raspberries, Strawberries and Mint. Serve immediately.
