Decadent Christmas Cake
Preparation 20 Minutes
Cook 2 HRS 30 MINS Minutes
Serves 20
Method
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Pre-heat oven to 150°C (130°C fan-forced). Lightly grease and line a deep 20cm cake pan with three layers of baking paper. Combine mixed fruit, raisins, and sultanas in a large saucepan. Add water and port, mix through. Place over a low heat for 5 minutes until liquid is absorbed and fruit softened. Set aside to cool.
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Using electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until creamy. Add eggs one at a time until all incorporated. Fold in flours and spices.
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Remove from mixing stand and fold in the fruit mixture with a large spoon. Mixing until well combined. Spoon batter into prepared cake tin and smooth the top. Decorate with almonds bake for 2 hours 30 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely. Brush the top with jam whilst the cake is still warm.
Ingredients
500g pkt SUNBEAM Gourmet Selection Mixed Fruit
375g pkt SUNBEAM Raisins
1 cup SUNBEAM Sultanas
¾ cup water
½ cup port
250g butter, diced and softened
1 cup brown sugar
4 eggs
2 cups plain flour
½ cup self raising flour
2 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp apricot jam, warmed
SUNBEAM Blanched Almonds, to decorate
Recipe Collection
Crispy Chocolate Puddings
- Lightly oil 12 x ⅓ cup capacity muffin pans. Combine chocolate and butter in a microwave proof bowl and heat on medium setting for 1 minute, stir well. Return to microwave in 10 second bursts if required to continue melting.
- In a large bowl, combine the rice bubbles, sultanas, walnuts and coconut. Mix well. Add melted chocolate and stir until all ingredients are well coated in chocolate. Spoon between prepared muffin pans, pressing mixture in firmly. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Slide a small spatula down the side of each muffin cup to remove the chocolate pudding. Turn upside down and spoon on some melted chocolate to resemble custard. Decorate with sprinkles.
Almond & Sultana Snowballs
Blitz ingredients in a small blender or kitchen wiz until sticky and evenly combined.
Roll into small balls (about 1 tablespoon (30g) each).
Coat in extra almonds & desiccated coconut.
Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to set.
Keeps for up to 1 week refrigerated.
Gifting tip:
Pack them into a kraft paper box or clear cellophane bag tied with twine and a “Handmade with Love” tag for the perfect holiday treat
Christmas 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, biscuit and nuts.
Refrigerate until set. Break bark into pieces to serve.
Gingerbread Bundt Cake with Maple Fruit Glaze
Preheat oven to 180℃.
Add the Sunbeam Mixed Fruit and cover with maple syrup. Allow to sit to soak while making the cake.
Prep your bundt tin by rubbing all over with coconut oil and dusting with a little caster sugar to get into all the crevices.
In a large bowl, add the flour, baking powder, soda, salt and spices. Mix together to combine.
In a stand mixer, add the butter and coconut sugar. Cream together. Add in the eggs and coconut treacle, then mix until smooth. Add in the milk and mix again until combined.
Add in the dry mix ¼ cup at a time, until you form a smooth batter.
Pour the cake batter into the prepared bundt tin, then bake for 40-45 minutes until cooked through (piece the middle with a skewer, and if it comes out clean it’s done!). Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin for 15 minutes and carefully flip and allow the cake to pop out.
To make the icing: beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and milk and beat until desired consistency is reached. The icing should be thin enough that it can run down the cake. Add a little more milk as needed to reach this consistency. Add the salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Blend until well combined.
Frost the Gingerbread Bundt Cake and spoon over the Fruit Glaze and toasted walnuts.
Rocky Road
Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm square baking tin.
Mix together raisins, cherries, marshmallows and pistachios. Pour 1 cup of the mixture into the base of the prepared tin.
Combine chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl, microwave for 30 seconds, stir then microwave in 10 second bursts until melted. Allow to cool for about 5 mins before adding the remaining fruit and nut mixture. Toss to coat then pour into the prepared tin, gently flattening the surface. Refrigerate until firm (about 2 hours).
Remove from tin and slice into 4 long rows. Wrap in cellophane for Christmas gifting.
Lamb Mince, Sultana & Pistachio Sweet Potato Boats
Preheat oven to 200°C. Prick sweet potatoes with a fork, arrange on a rimmed oven tray, and cover pan tightly with foil. Bake 1 hour. Remove foil, brush potatoes with 2 tsp oil, and bake a further 15 – 20 minutes – or until potatoes are very soft when pierced with a sharp knife.
While the sweet potatoes roast, place a heavy-based skillet over medium heat. Add remaining 1 1/2 Tbsp oil, diced onion, and 1/2 tsp salt. Cook 5 – 7 minutes, until onions have started to soften.
Add garlic, cumin, paprika, and harissa or tomato paste, to the onion. Stir for 1 minute, then add lamb mince and break up with a spatula.
Cook a further 3 – 5 minutes, until lamb mince is golden and cooked through. Remove from heat and stir through sultanas.
Remove sweet potatoes from the oven and cool slightly. Slice in half lengthwise, and scoop out flesh, leaving a 1 cm border of potato in the skins. Return potato halves to the tray, and add sweet potato flesh to the lamb mince. Roughly mash larger pieces of potato and stir to combine with mince. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Transfer lamb mixture to the hollowed sweet potato halves, and bake a further 10 – 15 mins, until crisp on top and warmed through.
Top stuffed sweet potatoes with a dollop of yoghurt, toasted pistachios and fresh herbs. Serve with a simple rocket salad or steamed green veg.
Tips
• Sweet potatoes can be microwaved until tender, then brushed with oil, transferred to a baking tray and roasted in a 200°C oven for a further 5 – 7 minutes to crisp skin. Continue from Step 5 above.
