Custard-stuffed Hot Cross Doughnuts
Preparation 1HR 55M
Cook 45
Serves 16
Method
Ingredients
80ml (1/3 cup) water
90g (1 cup) Sunbeam Sultanas
45g (1/4 cup) Sunbeam Currants
1 cinnamon stick
1 vanilla bean, split lengthways
125ml (1/2 cup) honey
1 tbsp Liqueur 43 or your favourite liquor (optional)
7g sachet dried yeast
300ml milk, warmed
600g (4 cups) plain flour, plus extra for dusting
1/2 tsp mixed spice
100g unsalted butter, at room temperature, chopped
1 egg
Melted butter, to brush
White chocolate melts, melted, cooled
Custard
2 tbsp custard powder
200ml milk
125ml (1/2 cup) thickened cream
80g white chocolate coarsely chopped
Recipe Collection
Easter Chickens
- 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.
- Place chocolate into a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Mix until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
- Combine coconut and food colouring, tossing until well distributed.
- 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.
Plum Clafoutis
- Pre-heat oven to 190Β°C (170Β°C fan-forced). Cut plums in half and remove stone. Cut each half into thirds and toss with the sugar and juice. Arrange in the base of a shallow baking dish.
- Combine icing sugar and almond meal in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites until frothy. Add to the almond mix with the butter and vanilla, Mix until well combined and pour over the plums. Bake for 35 minutes, until mixture is golden and cooked.
Couscous Dried Fruit Salad
Rinse the couscous under cold, running water.Β Β Add to a saucepan with 750ml water, bring to a boil then reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 15 mins or until soft.Β Β Drain and rinse under running water and set aside to cool completely.
Whisk together olive oil and lemon juice, season and pour over the cooled couscous.Β Β Toss to coat.Β
Add remaining ingredients and mix well.Β Β Spoon into a presentation bowl to serve.
This salad can be served cold or at room temperature.
Moghrabieh can be substituted for Israeli (pearl) couscous.Β Β Simply follow the cooking instructions on the packet as they can vary.

Last Minute Christmas Cake
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.Β Β Add the sugar and stir over the heat for 3-4 mins until combined.
Add dried fruit, bicarbonate of soda, rum, cognac and 125ml water and stir well to combine.Β Β Increase heat to high and continue to stir until the sugar dissolves.Β Β Reduce heat to medium then cook for a further 4 mins without stirring.Β Β Remove from heat, cover and allow mixture to cool overnight.
Preheat oven to 150ΒΊC (130ΒΊC fan).Β Β Grease and line a 23cm square baking tin.Β
Add eggs to the cooled mixture and stir.Β Β Add flour and spices and stir well to combine.Β Β Allow the mixture to sit for 10 mins before spooning into the prepared tin and smoothing the surface.
Decorate the top of the cake with blanched almonds then bake for 2 to 2 Β½ hours or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.Β Β Check your cake every hour to ensure it is not browning too quickly on top.Β Β If it is, cover with foil for the remainder of the cooking time.
Allow the cake to cool completely in the tin before inverting to remove.Β Β To serve, brush with a little apricot jam that has been warmed in the microwave.
This cake can be stored for up to 3 months in the fridge β cover the cooled cake in 2 layers of plastic wrap and foil.
Jewelled Rice
To prep: place the Sunmuscat sultanas and cranberries into a bowl and cover with water. Let sit and rehydrate for 10-15 minutes. Then drain.Β Β
Place the saffron threads into a bowl with 2 tablespoons of hot water and allow to sit and steep.Β Β
Melt 1 Β½ tablespoons of the ghee into a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the onion and cook, stirring for 10 minutes, until the onion is well caramelised. Remove half of the onion and set aside β this will be used for garnishing. Add half of the soaked sunmuscats and cranberries, the rice, cinnamon, cardamom and cumin. Continue cooking and stirring, until the rice is well coated in the oil and spices, about 1 minute. Add in 3 cups of boiling water and the salt. Stir everything together, then bring to the boil. Cover and turn heat down to low and cook, without disturbing for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow it to sit, untouched, for 15 minutes.Β Β Β
Meanwhile, heat another medium frying pan over medium heat. Add in the remaining 1 Β½ tablespoons of ghee, the almonds and cashews. Cook, stirring, for 4-5 minutes until the nuts are golden brown. Be careful not to burn! Set aside for serving.Β Β
Uncover the rice, drizzle over the saffron water and toss the rice just a little so half of the rice turns golden. Transfer to a large serving plate, then garnish with the ghee-toasted nuts, the remaining sunmuscats and currants and caramelised onion. Sprinkle over the coriander and dill, to finish.Β Β
Rum and Raisin Fudge
Lightly grease and line base and sides of a 20cm square baking tin.
Combine raisins and rum in a small bowl and allow to soak for 10 mins.
In a medium saucepan combine sweetened condensed milk, butter, sugar and golden syrup and constantly stir over a low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil.Β Β Reduce heat to low, stir constantly for about 8-10 mins until the temperature reaches between 113-115ΒΊC.*
Remove pan from heat, add chocolate melts and soaked raisins and stir to combine.Β Β Transfer to prepared tin using a spatula to smooth the surface then allow to cool at room temperature for 5-6 hours until firm.
Cut into 5cm long slices then cut each slice into 8 rectangles.
If you donβt own a candy thermometer, you can also check if the fudge is ready by taking a small amount and dropping it into a glass of cold water.Β Β When the mixture sets into a soft ball that doesnβt stick to your fingers when gently pinched, the fudge is ready.Β Β This is referred to as βsoft ballβ stage.