Sunbeam Christmas Pudding

Preparation 15 MINS + overnight cooling

Cook 6 hours

Serves 12

Method

In a large saucepan combine all dried fruits with 300ml water, butter and caster sugar.  Stir well to combine, then bring to the boil, reduce heat to low and stir over a simmer for 8 mins.  Turn off the heat and stir in bicarbonate of soda.  Cover and allow mixture to cool completely overnight.

Soak breadcrumbs in milk until just absorbed.  Add to the mixture with lemon zest, almonds, carrot, flour and spices.  Mix well then stir in eggs, brandy and orange juice. 

Grease the base and sides of a 2L lidded pudding basin.  Spoon the mixture into the basin then smooth the surface and cover with a round of baking paper before closing the lid.

Place a trivet into the bottom of a large saucepan and rest the pudding basin on top.  Fill the saucepan with enough boiling water to come half way up the basin.  Cover the saucepan with lid, bring the water to a boil then reduce to very low simmer and leave the pudding to steam for 6 hours. 

Check that the pudding is done by gently pressing gently the centre.  If it springs back it’s ready (f not, re-cover and steam for a further 30 mins, repeating if necessary).

Allow pudding to cool in the tin for an hour then invert onto a baking rack to cool completely.

Ingredients

250g Sunbeam Raisins

250g Sunbeam Sultanas

165g Sunbeam Currants

125g Angas Park Prunes, roughly chopped

125g Angas Park Mixed Peel

165g butter

165g caster sugar

1 ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

165g fresh, white breadcrumbs

125ml milk

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

60g blanched almonds

1 medium carrot, grated

85g plain flour

¼ tsp sea salt

2 tsp mixed spice

2 eggs, lightly whisked

60ml brandy

165ml orange juice

Recipe Collection

Raisin Fudge cake with Flaked Almond

  1. Beat the butter to a cream and gradually work in the first mixture of sugar.
  2. Beat yolks of eggs, beat in second measure of sugar, raisins and melted chocolate.
  3. Sift together flour and spice, add to first mixture alternately with water and butter milk, lastly fold in egg whites, beaten very lightly.
  4. Turn into cake tin. Sprinkle the top of cake with slivered almonds and some raisins.
  5. Sift sugar over the almonds and top of cake. Bake 50 minutes in a moderate oven.

Handmade Chocolate Bars

  1. Line the base and sides of 2, 10 x 20cm loaf pans, or 4, 6 x 12cm mini loaf pans.
  2. For topping choice Rum ‘n Raisin, combine raisins, rum and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside until required.
  3. Place chocolate in a glass bowl and heat in the microwave in 30 second increments until half chocolate is melted. Stir chocolate constantly until all the chocolate is melted.
  4. Pour chocolate evenly between pans and whilst still in melted form, working quickly, decorate with preferred toppings. Allow to set at room temperature and store in an airtight container when set. Wrap and give away as gifts.

Fruit & Nut Log Salami

In a dry pan on medium heat gently toast the slithered almonds till slightly brown, then set aside to cool.

Place the finely chopped dates and apricots pistachios, ginger & biscuits in a bowl.

Add the almonds, currants, cranberries Blend until well mixed, add melted chocolate & condensed milk and stir till combined.

Turn out onto cling film. Roll and shape into a log. Chill for at least 4 hours.

To decorate tie with bakers string roll in powdered sugar and wrap in baking paper.

Gluten Free Cake

Preheat oven to 160°C

  1. Grease and line a deep 23cm round cake tin with two layers of greased baking paper extending paper 5cm above rim
  2. Place the mixed fruit, butter, whisky and sugar in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and cool until lukewarm. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition. Sift flour with the baking powder, spice and soda and stir into mixture with Sunbeam Almond Meal and stir until thoroughly combined.
  3. Spoon into the prepared tin and bake at 160°C for 1 ½ – 2 hours or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. Cool cake in tin for 30 minutes before transferring to a wire rack and cool before removing paper.

Christmas Cheesecake

Preaheat oven 160 degrees (140 degrees fan).

  1. Brush base and sides of 25cm springform pan with butter.
  2. Process biscuits, extra melted butter and almond meal in a food processor until fine crumb. Press into base and sides of pan.
  3. Combine ricotta, cream cheese, sugar, cornflour, butter, eggs and vanilla bean paste in food processor. Blend for 2 mins then fold through sour cream and fruit.
  4. Pour filling over base, cover with foil and bake for 1.5 hours. Remove cake from oven, allow to come to room temperature before refrigerating overnight.

To make Toffee

  1. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Spread nuts evenly over tray.
  2. Add sugar to a medium, heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until sugar completely dissolves then remove from heat immediately and pour over nuts.
  3. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes then allow to set. Serve cheesecake topped with shards of broken nut toffee.

Twisted Christmas Bread Wreath

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