Ricotta & Apricot Loaf with Thyme

Preparation 15 Minutes

Cook 50 Minutes

Serves 8-10

Method

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line the base and sides of a 10 x 20cm loaf pan.
  2. Combine butter, eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Whisk well. Add flour and mix until just combined.
  3. Fold in the ricotta, apricots and thyme. Spoon into prepared pan and sprinkle the top with almonds and thyme. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly before removing from the pan.

Ingredients

125g butter, melted

2 extra large eggs

¾ cup raw sugar

1½ cups self-raising flour

250g fresh ricotta, roughly crumbled

½ cup ANGUS PARK Dried Apricot Halves, finely chopped

2 sprigs thyme, leaves removed

1 tbsp SUNBEAM Slivered Almonds

Extra thyme leaves, for sprinkling

Recipe Collection

White Christmas

  1. Grease and line base and sides of a 27cm x 17cm slice pan with baking paper, extending paper over sides.

  2. Place chocolate and coconut oil in large heatproof bowl over a saucepan one-third filled with simmering water. Stir until melted and remove from heat.

  3. Add sultanas, almonds, cherries, rice cakes and coconut. Stir to combine and spread into prepared pan. Press down firmly.

  4. Set aside to cool for 1 hour or until set. Refrigerate if weather is hot. Cut into 18 pieces to serve.

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.

Caramel Walnut Brioche Pudding

Butter both sides of sliced Brioche and layer in greased pan (mine is 8” x 11”).

2.     Sprinkle dried Mixed fruit and Walnuts evenly over bread.

3.     Mix eggs, sugar and vanilla paste until sugar is dissolved,then mix together with Cream and Milk.

4.     Pour egg mix over Brioche and let soak whilst you make your caramel.

5.     In heavy based pan add butter, golden syrup and condensed milk, stir until all melted on low heat. This can then be spooned over Brioche into all gaps, finish by sprinkling more Walnuts and Cinnamon.

6.     Place in oven 165’c fan forced for 35-45 minutes, or until centre is set.

7.     Enjoy

# You may like to soak Mixed Fruit in a little Brandy!

Pumpkin Feta Scones

Pre-heat oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced).

  1.  Place flour, allspice and butter in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until it resembles fresh breadcrumbs. Remove to a bowl and fold in feta and currants.
  2. Fork whisk together the pumpkin and milk. Add to flour mixture and combine until mixture just comes together. Tip onto a lightly floured surface and bring together, knead lightly and press out to a 2cm thickness.
  3. Using a floured 6cm scone cutter cut out scones, placing them onto a lightly floured oven tray. Brush lightly with milk and sprinkle with almonds. Bake for approx. 15 minutes until golden on the base. Allow to cool on a wire rack. Serve with a spread of butter.

Salted Caramel Easter Scrolls

  1. Whisk together milk, 1 tsp caster sugar and 2 tsp yeast and set aside for 10 mins until frothy. Whisk in 2 of the eggs.
  2. Combine remaining sugar and flour in a large bowl, using a whisk to beat. Add yeast/eggs mixture and use a wooden spoon to stir until the mixture just comes together, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface and slowly incorporate the butter while kneading the dough. Once all the butter has been incorporated, add the sultanas and currants and continue to knead for a further 3-4 mins or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
  3. Grease a large bowl with extra butter, then place dough inside, brush with a little extra melted butter then cover with a clean tea towel and place somewhere warm to prove for 1 hour (or until doubled in size).
  4. Meanwhile, to make salted caramel, add sugar to a medium, heavy-based saucepan. Stir constantly until sugar has completely dissolved then remove from heat, whisk in butter (be careful as it will spit) then pour in thickened cream in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly. Whisk in salt then set aside and allow to cool.
  5. Preheat oven to 180ºC (160ºC fan).
  6. Once dough has risen, lightly dust a work surface with flour and roll dough out to a 30x40cm rectangle shape with the long side facing you. Spread half the salted caramel over the top (leave a 2cm border around each edge), then roll the long side up into a tight scroll.
  7. Cut the scroll into 12 even, smaller rolls then arrange closely in a greased 18x22cm rectangular tin. Whisk remaining egg with a splash of water and brush over the rolls, then bake for 20-25 mins (you may need to cover with foil after 10 mins if your rolls are browning too quickly) until golden and the rolls sound hollow when tapped. Serve warm from the oven with extra salted caramel.

Chocolate Raisin Pudding

Pre-heat oven to 190°C (170°C fan-forced).

  1. Roughly chop raisins and place in a small saucepan with port. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  2. Place chocolate and butter in a bowl over simmering water, stirring often until melted and smooth. Cool slightly.
  3. Beat together the eggs, yolks and sugar until pale and increased in volume. Add chocolate mixture, mixing until well combined. Fold in flour with the raisins and mix well.
  4. Spoon mixture between 6 x 250 ml capacity oven proof serving dishes. Place onto an oven tray and bake for 10-12 minutes until just cooked. Allow to sit for 3-4 minutes before serving with cream or ice-cream.

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