Sunbeam Traditional Fruit Cake
Preparation 30 mins plus overnight soaking
Cook 3 hours
Serves 12
Method
You will need a 21cm round tin for this recipe (base measurement)
- Soak fruit overnight in brandy, if you warm the brandy it infuses faster and you can soak for a few hours instead of overnight.
- Place soaked fruit, water, butter, maple syrup and sugar in a saucepan. Slowly bring to the boil then remove from heat and add bicarbonate of soda mixed with one tablespoon boiling water. Cool for 15 minutes. Add lightly beaten eggs, mixing thoroughly. Fold in sifted flours, spices and vanilla essence.
- Preheat oven to 160ºC. We used a 21cm bundt tin. Spoon batter into the prepared tin, using a spatula to smooth the surface. Bake for up to 75 to 90 minutes or until the cake springs back when gently pressed in the centre. Allow cake to cool in the tin for an hour then invert onto a cooling rake to remove. Allow to cool completely.
TIP: Liquor can be substituted with flavoured syrup or orange juice.
Optional cinnamon burnt buttercream: Heat 500g butter in a large frypan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until a deep golden colour. Pour the butter and milk solids into a heatproof bowl and refrigerate until hard. Remove burnt butter from fridge for 1 hour to soften then add 250g of the butter to a stand mixer and beat for 4-5 mins until creamy. Add 320g sifted icing sugar mixture, ½ tsp ground cinnamon and 2 tbsp milk and beat for a further 6 mins or until light and fluffy.
Ingredients
500g Sunbeam Bake Fruit Blend for Cake
1 cup brandy
1 cup water
125g butter
2 tbsp S&W Maple syrup
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tbsp boiling water
2 x eggs
1 cup self raising flour
1 cup plain flour
½ tsp mixed spice
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla essence
Recipe Collection
Sunbeam White Christmas
Line a 30cm x 20cm (base) baking pan with baking paper.
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (don’t let bowl touch water).
Fold in the remaining ingredients.
Pour mixture into the prepared pan, pressing down with a large metal spoon.
Refrigerate for 4 hours or until set.
To Serve:
Turn slice onto a chopping board. Using a knife that has been dipped in hot water, cut into squares.
Christmas Cheesecake
Preaheat oven 160 degrees (140 degrees fan).
- Brush base and sides of 25cm springform pan with butter.
- Process biscuits, extra melted butter and almond meal in a food processor until fine crumb. Press into base and sides of pan.
- Combine ricotta, cream cheese, sugar, cornflour, butter, eggs and vanilla bean paste in food processor. Blend for 2 mins then fold through sour cream and fruit.
- Pour filling over base, cover with foil and bake for 1.5 hours. Remove cake from oven, allow to come to room temperature before refrigerating overnight.
To make Toffee
- Line a baking tray with baking paper. Spread nuts evenly over tray.
- Add sugar to a medium, heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until sugar completely dissolves then remove from heat immediately and pour over nuts.
- Sprinkle with sea salt flakes then allow to set. Serve cheesecake topped with shards of broken nut toffee.
Speedy Cinnamon & Choc Scones
1. Preheat oven to 220ºC (200ºC fan forced). Line a baking tray with non stick baking paper.
2. Sift flour and salt into a large bowl; add mixed fruit and mix to combine. Make a well in the centre and pour in cream and lemonade; mix using a blunt knife to form a dough; turn dough onto a lightly-floured surface and knead lightly. Divide dough into two equal portions; roll each into a ball then into a circle, about 2.5cm thick, using a rolling pin. Using a sharp knife, cut each circle into 8 wedges. Place scones onto prepared tray.
3. To make glaze, whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl; brush scones lightly with glaze. Cook for 14 minutes or until cooked through and golden.
4. Place chocolate into a zip lock bag and snip the corner. Drizzle over the scones. Enjoy!
Smoked Eggplant Dip
Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced).
- Prick eggplant all over with a fork. Place both eggplants over a low gas flame on your cooktop, turning often until skin is charred all over. Remove to a lined baking tray and continue cooking in the oven for 30 minutes or until completely tender and cooked through.
- When cool, peel skin away from eggplants, discarding stems and juices.
- Roughly chop the flesh and combine with yoghurt, lemon juice, tahini, garlic and seasonings.
- Combine currants with sherry vinegar and set aside for 10 minutes.
- For serving, toss together the drained currants, pine nuts, parsley and seasonings. Spoon eggplant dip into a serving dish and sprinkle with pine nut mixture. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and serve with warmed turkish bread.
Muesli Bar Slice
Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line a 28cm x 18cm x 3cm tin
- In a large bowl mix together the oats, oat bran, bran, sunflower kernels, flour, apricots and sultanas.
- Melt the butter, honey and brown sugar in the microwave for 1 minute and add to the dry ingredients. Stir in the egg and milk until well combined.
- Press into greased and lined tin and bake for 15 minutes. Cut into slices when cooled.
Chocolate Bark
Line a 25cm x 35cm with baking paper. Place chocolate into a medium heat proof bowl; stir over a medium saucepan of simmering water until smooth (don’t let water touch base of bowl). Stir in puffed rice and coconut.
Working quickly, spread chocolate mixture onto tray as thinly as possible; sprinkle with dried fruits, nuts, remaining coconut & rice puffs.
Refrigerate until set. Break bark into pieces to serve.