Rum & Raisin Profiterole Wreath
Preparation 40 Minutes
Cook 40 Minutes
Serves 24
Method
To make the custard, combine raisins and rum in a small bowl and allow to soak for 10 mins. Drain and roughly chop the raisins.
Combine milk, cream and vanilla in a medium sized, heavy based saucepan over medium heat. Not letting the milk come to a boil, stir until warmed.
In a separate bowl combine egg yolks and sugar, whisk until mixed then add flour and whisk to incorporate.
Gradually add the egg mixture to the milk, whisking over a medium heat, until it is all added and incorporated. The custard will thicken, continue to whisk until smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before stirring through the soaked raisins.
To make the choux pastry, preheat oven to 190ºC (170ºC fan). Line 2 large baking trays with baking paper.
In a medium saucepan, combine butter and sugar with 250ml water. Stir over a medium-high heat until the water begins to boil and the butter has melted. Remove pan from the heat, add the flour and use a wooden spoon to vigorously mix to combine. The mixture will begin to resemble a dough – 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. 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. Add vanilla bean paste and 1 egg and whisk until just combined. Repeat with remaining eggs until your dough is glossy.
Transfer the mixture to a large piping bag fitted with large, round, open tip. Spray the surface of the baking paper with a fine mist of water.
Pipe 12 rounds, evenly spaced, onto each prepared tray. Bake for 30-40 mins, ensuring the oven door stays closed for the first 25 mins, until the pastries are puffed and golden. 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. Arrange in a wreath shape on a large, round serving platter. Decorate with cherries, raspberries and mint leaves. Generously drizzle with chocolate sauce to serve.
Ingredients
125g butter, cubed, softened to room temperature
3 tsp white sugar
145g plain flour, sifted
½ tsp vanilla bean paste
4 extra large eggs
220g white chocolate melts
100g dark chocolate melts
Good quality store-bought chocolate sauce, to serve
Cherries, raspberries and mint leaves, to serve
RUM AND RAISIN CUSTARD
80g Sunbeam Raisins
2 tbsp rum
250ml milk
175ml thickened cream
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
3 egg yolks
75g caster sugar
50g plain flour, sifted
Recipe Collection
Almond Joy 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 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!
Christmas Chocolate Fruit Truffles
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Heat cream in small saucepan until just below boiling. Remove from heat and add chocolate. Set aside for 1 minute, then stir until melted.
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Combine 1/2 cup of the currants and half of the hazelnuts in a bowl and set aside for decorating. Place remaining currants and salt in a bowl, pour over the chocolate mixture and stir to combine. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm enough to roll.
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Scoop tablespoons of the chocolate mixture and use clean hands to roll into balls. To decorate, roll balls in the reserved currant and hazelnut mixture, remaining hazelnuts or coconut. Store in the refrigerator and allow to soften slightly before serving.
Speedy Cinnamon & Choc Scones
1. Preheat oven to 220ºC (200ºC fan forced). Line a baking tray with non stick baking paper.
2. Sift flour and salt into a large bowl; add mixed fruit and mix to combine. Make a well in the centre and pour in cream and lemonade; mix using a blunt knife to form a dough; turn dough onto a lightly-floured surface and knead lightly. Divide dough into two equal portions; roll each into a ball then into a circle, about 2.5cm thick, using a rolling pin. Using a sharp knife, cut each circle into 8 wedges. Place scones onto prepared tray.
3. To make glaze, whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl; brush scones lightly with glaze. Cook for 14 minutes or until cooked through and golden.
4. Place chocolate into a zip lock bag and snip the corner. Drizzle over the scones. Enjoy!
Chocolate Ripple Christmas Wreath
You will need to begin this recipe the night before
Whip the cream to soft peaks.
Spread a few tablespoons of whipped cream onto the base of a 26-28cm round serving plate. This will stop your wreath from sliding around.
Dollop 1 flat tbsp of whipped cream onto a biscuit and top with another biscuit. 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. Spread the entire biscuit wreath with just enough whipped cream to ensure the biscuits are covered on top and around the sides. Refrigerate overnight, reserving remaining whipped cream.
When ready to serve, spread remaining whipped cream around the wreath. Decorate with dried fruit and nuts.
Sultana & Orange Friands
In a small saucepan heat the sultanas in orange juice, when the juice starts to bubble turn heat off and set aside to infuse.
Preheat oven to 180°C & Lightly grease a friand tin
Place egg whites in a medium bowl; whisk lightly with fork until combined. Add butter, milk, extract, ground almonds, orange rind, sifted icing sugar and flour; stir until combined.
Drain any excess liquid from sultanas and add to the mix & combine.
Pour mixture into pan; Bake friands 20 minutes; or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Stand friands 10 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool.
For the icing | In a bowl using an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth, light and fluffy. Use a piping bag to swirl icing across cooled friands, sprinkle with diced pistachios.
Dust the friands with sifted extra icing sugar & optional rose petals before serving.
Sticky Currant, Walnut & Ginger Puddings
Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly grease 6 x 1 cup ramekins.
In a large bowl, whisk flour, ginger, salt, and brown sugar. Add currants, walnuts and ginger and toss to coat in the flour mixture. Add the milk and butter, and stir until just combined.
Divide mixture into prepared ramekins and bake for 25 – 30 minutes, until golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
To make the caramel sauce, combine brown sugar and milk in a saucepan and stir well.
Place over medium heat. When bubbles form around the edge of the pan, reduce heat to medium-low and cook 2 – 3 mins, gently swirling the pan but not stirring, until caramel is thickened and is just starting to smell toasty. Remove from heat, and immediately stir in butter and vanilla.
Serve puddings in ramekins, or turn out onto plates. Spoon over the caramel sauce and serve warm – with cream or ice cream if desired.
Tips
Divide batter into 12-hole muffin tin, greased or lined with cupcake papers. Check for doneness from 20 min.
If caramel is made in advance, re-warm over low heat or in the microwave, until smooth and pourable.
