Christmas Bark
Preparation 30 Minutes
Cook 30 Minutes
Serves 12
Method
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 (donβt 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, biscuit and nuts.
Refrigerate until set. Break bark into pieces to serve.
Ingredients
375 gram white chocolate melts
1/3 cup (25g) shredded coconut
1/3 cup Angas Park dried apricots, chopped
1/3 cup Pretzels, crushed
1/3 cup SUNBEAM Sultanas
1/3 cup Angas Park dried figs, chopped
Jubes (red/orange/yellow), chopped
1 1/4 cup Corn flakes
1 cup digestive biscuit, roughly broken
Recipe Collection
Lemon Date Slice with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Line a 20 x 20cm slice tray. Place dates and 100g of the cream cheese in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until a paste has formed. Add oats, coconut and lemon rind. Pulse until smooth. Remove to a bowl and fold in blueberries. Press into prepared tray and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm.
- For frosting, whisk together the remaining cream cheese, icing sugar, juice and lemon rind. Spread over slice and sprinkle with pepitas, refrigerate until required and cut into squares.
Spiced Lamb Meatballs with Currants
- Pre-heat oven to 180Β°C (160Β°C fan-forced). Roughly chop one half of the onion and add to the bowl of a food processor. Add the lamb, torn apart bread, spices and coriander. Pulse until well combined. Remove to a mixing bowl and add pinenuts and seasonings. Mix well and form into large balls using approx. 1Β½ tablespoons mixture for each.
- Heat half of the oil in a large pan and sear the meatballs until well browned, set aside to drain on paper towel.
- Finely dice the remaining onion half and add to the pan with the remaining oil and garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes over a low heat until tender. Add the passata, stock and currants, mixing well. Return meatballs to pot and cover with a lid. Place into oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove lid and cook a further 5 minutes.Alternatively this can be cooked on the stove top, partially covered until meatballs are cooked through. Remove lid to reduce liquid if desired.
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.
Christmas Cake
I. Start by preheating your oven to 16OΒ°C on the fan-bake setting
2. Then in a large saucepan, add 500g Sunbeam Mixed Fruit, 1 teaspoon of mixed spice, 100g of Sunbeam walnuts, 150g of sugar, 150mL of brandy, 150mL of orange juice and 125g of unsalted butter (note: you can sub the brandy for more orange juice if you like!)
3. Next bring the saucepan to a simmer over a low heat for approx. 20 minutes, then pop the fruit mixture into the fridge to cool down.
4. Now in a large mixing bowl, add 2 eggs, 2 cups/270g of flour, 1 teaspoon of bicarb and 1 teaspoon of baking powder
5. Next pour the chilled fruit mixture into the bowl and give it a good mix using a wooden spoon.
6. Now line a 19cm x 6.5cm round baking tin with baking paper as demonstrated in the IGTV, then pour the mixture into the tin (be careful not to collapse the sides of the baking paper.
7. Give the tin a few taps and a good shake around to ensure the mixture is nice and even, before popping it into the oven at l60C (be sure to keep an eye on the top of the cake to ensure it doesnβt burn!)
8. After approx. l hour 10 minutes insert a skewer into the cake: if it comes out clean, the cake is done and you can remove it from the oven.
9. Set the cake aside to cool for a few hours, then remove it from the tin. Peel off the baking paper and serve!
Recipe Credit: @recipearce
Almond Star Bread
Preheat the oven to 180β.Β Β
Β To make the Spiced Almond Cream: place butter and sugar into a stand mixer bowl. Mix for 2 minutes, until smooth. Slowly add the whisked eggs, salt and vanilla and mix again to incorporate. Fold in the almond meal and cinnamon and fold through with a wooden spoon to incorporate.Β Β
Slice each piece of puff pastry into 4 x 25cm circles.Β Β
Place one dough circle onto a piece of baking paper and spread 1 tablespoon of the Spiced Almond Cream evenly over the top. Stack the next dough circle on top and repeat with more Spiced Almond Cream. Repeat again with the final two dough circles.Β Β
Place a round object, about 7-8cm wide into the centre of the circle and make an indent, which becomes the centre of the star.Β Β Β
Cut the dough into 16 evenly spaced strips, starting from the indent to the edge of the dough. Take two strips next to each other and roll them away from each other. Press the two ends together to join. Repeat with the remaining 14 strips until each are twisted and paired up.Β Β
Transfer the star on the baking paper to a large baking tray. Brush with egg water wash and sprinkle over the flaked almonds. Place into the oven and bake for 25 minutes until puffed up and golden brown.Β Β Β
Remove from the oven, allow to cool and then dust with icing sugar, to serve.Β Β
Easter Blondies
Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius and butter or line with parchment paper a 20cm x 20cm baking tin.
Melt the butter and white chocolate in a bowl over a pot of water and take off to cool once combined and fully melted.
In another bowl, mix the muscovado sugar, caster sugar and eggs together until thick and glossy. Approximately 2 minutes.
Once the butter and white chocolate mixture is cooled, mix in 1/3 to the sugar and eggs, and then fold in the rest.
Add in your flour, baking powder, vanilla, almonds and macadamias and mix until just combined.
Pour batter into your lines baking tin and for 35-45 minutes. The centre should still have a little wobble and a tooth pick should come out a little fudgy.
Straight from the oven, press your speckled eggs into the top of your blondie and let cool on a wire rack.
