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 ½ cups plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarb soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp salt
4 large eggs
1 ¼ cup brown sugar
¾ cup caster sugar
1 ¼ cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups shredded carrot
¾ 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
Hot Cross Buns
In a small saucepan, heat the milk until just boiling. Pour ¼ cup of the hot milk into a small bowl. Set aside remaining milk.
Add 1 tsp of the caster sugar to the ¼ cup of milk. Sprinkle the yeast of the top and stir. Sit at room temperature until bubbly and doubled in size, approx. 10 min.
Meanwhile, add the butter to remaining reserved hot milk and stir to combine. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
In a large bowl, place flour, bicarb, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Make a well in the centre. Pour in the milk and butter mix. Stir. Then add the yeast mix. Stir to combine. Add the egg. Continue to stir until a sticky dough forms.
Tip onto a lightly floured clean surface, and knead until it becomes a smooth dough, about 5 mins.
Place the dough into a large oiled bowl. Cover with cling film, sprayed with oil and leave to rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size. Add the sultanas, mix again, and recover. Rest again in a warm place for another hour.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200C. Grease and line a baking tray with baking paper.
Divide the dough into 12 pieces and roll into balls on a lightly floured surface.
Arrange onto prepared tray, leaving a 2cm space between each ball. Spray with oil, cover and rest for 30-60 mins, or until dough has risen again.
For the paste:
In a small bowl, combine flour and icing sugar. Gradually add water, 1 tbspn at a time, until a paste forms.
Using a piping bag with a small nozzle (or a small snap lock bag with the corner snipped) fill with the paste and pipe along the centre of each row of rolls. Turn the tray and repeat this across the centre of the rolls to form a cross.
Bake on the middle rack in the oven for 20 mins or until golden.
Gently heat the jam to melt to a syrupy consistency. Brush the tops of the warm buns to glaze.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Dark Chocolate Rocky Road
- Grease and line base and sides of a 27cm x17cm slice pan with baking paper, extending the paper over sides.
- Place chocolate and coconut oil in a large heatproof bowl over saucepan one-third filled with simmering water. Stir until melted and remove from heat.
- Add raisins, marshmallows, macadamias, coconut and three-quarters of the seed mix (saving some for the top). Stir to combine and spread into prepared pan. Scatter with reserved seed mix.
- Set aside to cool for 1 hour or until set. Refrigerate if weather is hot. Cut into 24 pieces to serve.
Toasted Almond & Blueberry Salad
- Toast almonds in a pan on medium heat then set aside.
- Wash berries and slice strawberries into halves.
- Crumble blue cheese and combine salad ingredients together.
- Combine dressing ingredients and blend until smooth, pour over salad when serving.
Self-Saucing Chocolate Pudding
- Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Lightly grease a 4 cup capacity baking dish.
- Combine flour, almond meal, sugar and cocoa in a large mixing bowl.
- 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.
- 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.
Chocolate Easter Nests
Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C). Place almonds on a baking tray and cook for 8 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool.
Line a tray with baking paper which will fit into the refrigerator. Combine the almonds and sultanas in a bowl.
Place the different chocolates into 3 separate heat proof bowls. Place over a saucepan of gently simmering water and mix until melted. Add ⅓ of the almond mixture to each bowl of chocolate and mix well.
Place spoonfuls of mixture onto lined trays and shape into a nest, using the back of the spoon to make an indent in the centre. Refrigerate for approx. 1 hour until set. Decorate with small easter eggs.
Spice Roasted Cauliflower & Sunmuscat Sultana Dressing
Preheat oven to 220°C. In a large bowl, combine 2 Tbsp olive oil, salt, pepper, sweet paprika, and smoked paprika. Stir well, add cauliflower, and toss to evenly coat.
Transfer cauliflower onto a baking paper lined oven tray. Bake 25 – 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden.
While the cauliflower is roasting, drizzle remaining 2 Tbsp oil into a skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced shallot and cook for 5 – 7 minutes, stirring regularly, until shallots have started to turn golden.
Remove pan from heat, add capers, vinegar, honey, water, and Sunmuscat sultanas. Stir well, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Toss parsley through cooked cauliflower and transfer to a serving plate. Spoon dressing over top, sprinkle with walnuts or pine nuts to serve.
