White Chocolate & Almond Tarte with Sherry Soaked Currants

Preparation 30 Minutes

Cook 18-20 MINS Minutes

Serves 12

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Method

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180ºC (160°C fan-forced). Lightly grease a 34 x 12cm rectangular flan tin and place onto a flat baking tray.

  2. Combine currants, sherry and orange rind. Set aside.

  3. For the crust, combine almond meal, sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Add melted butter and mix until well combined. Press firmly into prepared tin and bake for 18-20 minutes until just golden. Set aside to cool.

  4. For the white chocolate cream, combine chocolate and ¼ cup of the cream in a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Mixing until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

  5. Beat cream cheese, remaining cream and sugar until smooth. Add the cooled chocolate mixture, mixing until smooth.
  6. Remove crust from tin and place onto a serving platter. Sprinkle currants over the almond crust and spread with the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with almonds, pomegranate and mint. Serve immediately or chill for later use.

Ingredients

Currants

¼ cup SUNBEAM Currants

1 tbsp sweet sherry

½ tsp finely grated orange rind

Almond Crust:

2 cups SUNBEAM Almond Meal

2 tbsp caster sugar

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

100g butter, melted

White Chocolate Cream:

100g white chocolate buttons

½ cup thickened cream

250g cream cheese, diced and softened

¼ cup caster sugar

Toasted almonds, pomegranate seeds and mint leaves, for decoration

Recipe Collection

Classic Christmas Pudding

  1. Combine fruit, brandy, rinds and apple. Cover and set aside overnight or for at least 2 hours.
  2. Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, beat in golden syrup. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition.
  3. Combine breadcrumbs, flour, spices and almonds. Add creamed butter mixture and soaked fruit, mixing well to combine.
  4. Grease a 2 litre capacity pudding basin, line the base with a double layer of baking paper.
  5. Spoon mixture into the basin and smooth top. Double line the top with baking paper rounds.
  6. Take a 60cm long piece of baking paper and 60cm piece of foil, layer and fold in half, make a 3cm pleat in the middle (this allows for any expansionof the pudding). Place sheets over pudding and secure tightly with string. Place a wire rack onto the base of a large saucepan, fill one third with water and bring to boil. Carefully place pudding onto wire rack making sure the water level comes about halfway up pudding basin. Cover and simmer for 6 hours, replenish water when needed.
  7. Remove from water, stand for 10 minutes before turning out. Serve cut into slices with cream and maple syrup.

Christmas Cake Friands (GF)

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Lightly grease 12 x ⅓ cup capacity muffin pans.
  2. Place fruit and brandy in a microwave proof dish and cook on medium heat for 30 seconds. Set aside to cool.
  3. Sift icing sugar into a large mixing bowl and stir in the almond meal and flour.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until frothy. Mix in the butter and add to the icing sugar mixture. Stirring until well combined.
  5. Pour mixture between prepared moulds and bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans and cool completely on a cooling rack.
  6. For icing, combine icing sugar and water mixing until smooth. Allow to sit until desired consistency is achieved. Spoon over each cake and finish with lemon rind and raspberries.

Traditional Christmas Pudding

  1. Combine the fruit, brandy, rind and apple in a microwave safe bowl and mix well. Cover then microwave on 100% power for 2-3 minutes or until plumped. Allow to cool.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add the egg, beating well between each addition. Fold in the sifted flour and spices, fruit mixture, breadcrumbs and almonds, mix well.
  3. Spoon the mixture into a greased and base paper lined 2 litre capacity pudding basin. Cover with a tight-fitting lid. Place on an upturned saucer in the base of a large saucepan or boiler. Pour boiling water into the saucepan so that is comes halfway up the sides of the basin. Cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid and steam for 4 hours, topping up water every 20-30 minutes or as required.
  4. Remove from the basin onto a serving plate, flambé with a little brandy if desired then slice and serve with custard or ice-cream.

NB: If you do not have a lid for your basin: Cover with a greased double layer of foil and baking paper, create a deep pleat in the centre for expansion. Place over the basin and secure tightly with string. Trim the cover if necessary.

If you do not intend on using the pudding immediately, keep the cover intact and store in the fridge until required. Re- steam for 1 1/2 hours when required.

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.

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.

Lemon Friands

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Grease with some butter and dust with additional almond meal 12 x ⅓ cup capacity friand moulds.
  2. Combine icing sugar, almond meal and flour in a large mixing bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until frothy. Stir in the butter and juice. Add to the icing sugar mixture and mix until well combined.
  4. Pour between prepared moulds and bake for 20 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan and cool completely on a cooling rack. Serve dusted with additional icing sugar.
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