Easter Rocky Road

Preparation 20 Minutes

Cook SET: 3 HRS Minutes

Serves 8

Method

Place almonds in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 3-4 mins, stopping every 30 seconds to stir, until nuts are lightly toasted.
Grease a 20cm square cake pan and line the base and sides with baking paper.
In a large bowl combine almonds, raisins, marshmallows, cherries, coconut and 200g of the Easter eggs; toss to combine.
Place chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and microwave on medium for 2 mins. Stir every 30 seconds or until melted. Pour 1/4 of the chocolate into the base of the prepared pan; sprinkle the nut and marshmallow mixture over the top. Pour remaining chocolate evenly over the top. Tap pan gently to remove any air bubbles from the chocolate, then sprinkle the top with extra almonds, raisins, coconut flakes and remaining 100g Easter eggs. Refrigerate until set then cut the square into quarters and each square into half to form 8 rectangular pieces.

Ingredients

1 cup (140g) Slivered almonds, plus 2 tbsp extra to decorate

1 1/3 cups (240g) Sunbeam Raisins, plus 2 tbsp extra to decorate

2 cups (170g) marshmallows

1/3 cup (70g) glace cherries

Β½ cup (40g) coconut flakes toasted, plus 1 tbsp extra to decorate

300g solid small Easter eggs (remove any foil wrapping)

400g dark chocolate, roughly chopped

Recipe Collection

Fruit & Nut Hot Cross Truffles

  1. Combine mixed fruit, dates, seed mix,Β  hazelnuts, coconut, coconut oil and vanilla essence in a food processor and blend until a smooth, thick paste is formed.
  2. Divide into 25 equal portions and roll eachΒ  into a ball before flattening slightly.
  3. Pipe melted white chocolate crosses ontoΒ  truffles and refrigerate for at least 2 hoursΒ  before serving cold.

Chutney for Glazed Ham

Put the vinegar and sugar in a large pan and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.

Put the remaining ingredients in the pan and bubble on high for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

The chutney is ready when the mixture looks sticky and thick, and a wooden spoon leaves a brief trail on the bottom of the pan.

Leave to cool, then pour into sterilised jars

Custard-stuffed Hot Cross Doughnuts

Place the water, sultanas, currants, cinnamon, vanilla bean and honey in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer to cook for 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Liqueur 43 (if using). Set aside for 30 minutes to steep and cool. Discard the vanilla bean and cinnamon quill. Drain through a sieve set over a jug, reserving the steeping liquid. Set aside.
To make the custard, place custard powder in a saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons of the milk and mix until smooth and well combined. Stir in the remaining milk, then add the cream. Cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes or until the mixture boils and thickens. Add the chopped chocolate and mix until smooth. Set aside to cool. Spoon into a piping bag and place in the fridge until required.
Place the warmed milk in a jug. Add the yeast and 3 tablespoons of reserved steeping liquid to the warm milk. Set aside in a warm spot for 5-10 minutes until foaming. Place flour, mixed spice and butter into the bowl of a large food processor (your processor needs to be at least 12 cups). Process until butter is incorporated. With the motor running, pour the milk mixture and egg. Process for 1-2 minutes or until dough has formed a ball and is smooth and elastic. If the dough is a bit to sticky, add more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until it is the right consistency. Add drained sultanas and pulse to combine. Turn onto a floured surface and bring the dough together. Transfer to a lightly greased bowl. cover with a clean tea towel and set aside in a warm spot to rise for 1 hour or until mixture has doubled in size.
Line two trays with baking paper. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 2 minutes, knocking the air out. Cut the dough into 16 even portions. Roll each portion into a ball and place on the lined tray and flatten slightly, allowing a little room between each to expand. Cover with a tea towel and set aside for 30 minutes to prove.
Place 4 doughnuts in the wire basket of an air fryer and brush with melted butter. Air fry at 180Β°C for 8 minutes or until crisp and golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with the remaining doughnuts. (Alternatively, heat a saucepan of vegetable oil to 160Β°C and deep-fry doughnuts, turning halfway through, for 2-3 minutes or until golden and cooked through).
Brush the doughnuts with the remaining reserved steeping liquid and set aside for 5 minutes to set.
Place the melted white chocolate melts into a piping bag. Snip the corner and pipe a cross over each doughnut. Set aside for 5 minutes to set.

30 Minute Christmas Pudding

  1. Place fruit and brand in microwavable bowl and heat for 1 minute or until warmed through. Set aside to cool, stirring occasionally.
  2. Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Sift flour and mixed spice over butter mixture, then stir in breadcrumbs and fruit mixture. Mix well. Grease and flour a 1.5L microwavable bowl. Spoon mixture into bowl and smooth top. Cover with a pleated, double layer or baking paper secured with kitchen string.
  3. Cook in microwave on defrost setting (300W) for 30 minutes, rotating the bowl after 20 minutes. Test with a skewer inserted into pudding. If it doesn’t come out clean, microwave at 5 minute intervals until done. Leave pudding to stand for 10 minutes before turning onto a plate.

Optional meringue peak: In a heatproof bowl combine 90g egg whites with 150g caster sugar, place over a small saucepan of boiling water and whisk until the sugar dissolves. Use a stand mixer or handheld beater to whisk until very stiff peaks form (about 8-10 mins).Β  Dollop the meringue on top of the pudding and use a kitchen blowtorch to toast.

Chocolate Puddings with Sherry Raisins

  1. Pre-heat oven to 160Β°C (140Β°C fan-forced). Lightly grease 6 x ΒΎ cup capacity muffin pans. Place butter, sugar, raisins and sherry in a saucepan and heat, stirring occasionally until butter has melted. Allow to cool.

  2. Mix eggs through raisin mixture and then fold in the flour, almond meal, cocoa and spice. Pour between prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes in pan before removing.

  3. Use a small spatula to help remove puddings from pans and serve with custard and cream.


    Puddings can be made in advance and re-heated briefly in a microwave to warm through.

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.

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