Carrot & Sultana Cake

Preparation 10 Minutes

Cook 40 Minutes

Serves 8

Method

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.

Ingredients

2 Β½ cups plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp bicarb soda

2 tsp ground cinnamon

Β½ tsp nutmeg

Β½ tsp ground ginger

Β½ tsp salt

4 large eggs

1 ΒΌ cup brown sugar

ΒΎ cup caster sugar

1 ΒΌ cup vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups shredded carrot

ΒΎ cup tinned pineapple chunks, drained

1 cup Sunbeam sultanas

Icing

250g unsalted butter, softened

5 cups icing sugar, sifted

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 tablespoons milk

Recipe Collection

Easter Chickens

  1. Combine mixed fruit, dates, seeds mix, hazelnuts, coconut, coconut oil and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor. Blend well until a thick paste is formed. Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls and refrigerate.
  2. Place chocolate into a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Mix until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
  3. Combine coconut and food colouring, tossing until well distributed.
  4. Using a fork, pierce balls and dip into melted chocolate. Sprinkle with coloured coconut and set aside on a tray. Decorate with almonds, eyes and beaks. Refrigerate until required.

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.

Gingerbread Granola

Preheat the oven to 180℃.Β Β 

In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients and mix well with a wooden spoon until all well combined.Β Β 

Spread the mixture across 2 large baking trays lined with baking paper. Place into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, tossing the granola after 10 minutes.Β Β 

Remove from the oven and allow granola to cool completely before storing in airtight containers, or jars.Β Β 

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NotesΒ 

Granola will store in an airtight container or jar for up to 2 weeks.Β Β 

Sunbeam Christmas Pudding

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

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

Grease the base and sides of a 2L lidded pudding basin.Β Β 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.Β Β Fill the saucepan with enough boiling water to come half way up the basin.Β Β 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.Β 

Check that the pudding is done by gently pressing gently the centre.Β Β 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.

Crispy Chocolate Slice

  1. Combine rice puffs, coconut, cacao, raisins and seeds in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Place coconut oil, honey and vanilla in a small saucepan and gently heat until melted. Pour onto the dry ingredients and mix well. Press into a 20 x 20cm slice pan. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting into pieces.

Notes:
If you’d like crispier rice puffs, place them in a slow oven for 10 minutes to crisp up slightly. If you don’t have rice puffs, replace with rice bubbles.

Self-Saucing Chocolate Pudding

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180Β°C (160Β°C fan-forced). Lightly grease a 4 cup capacity baking dish.
  2. Combine flour, almond meal, sugar and cocoa in a large mixing bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the butter, eggs and milk. Add to the dry ingredients with the raisins and mix well. Spoon into baking dish.
  4. For the sauce, combine the water, sugar and cocoa. Pour over the batter in the baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes until cake is cooked. Serve warm with ice-cream, cream or custard.

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