Quick and Easy Christmas Pudding

Preparation 20 Minutes

Cook 30 Minutes

Serves 8-10

Method

  1. Place fruit and brandy in microwaveable bowl and heat for 1 minute or until warmed through. Set aside to cool, stirring occasionally.

  2. Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Sift flour and mixed spice over butter mixture, then stir in breadcrumbs and fruit mixture. Mix well.

  3. Grease and flour a 1.5L microwaveable bowl. Spoon mixture into bowl and smooth top. Cover with a pleated, double-layer of baking paper secured with kitchen string.

  4. Cook in microwave on defrost setting (300W) for 30 minutes, rotating the bowl after 20 minutes. Test with a skewer inserted into pudding. If it doesn’t come out clean, microwave at 5 minute intervals until done. Leave pudding to stand for 10 minutes before turning onto a plate. Serve with custard.

Ingredients

375g Sunbeam Mixed Fruit

100g Sunbeam Australian Raisins

100g Angas Park Dates

1/2 cup brandy

150g butter, softened

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

2 free-range eggs

1/2 cup plain flour

2 tsp mixed spice

1 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs

custard, to serve

Recipe Collection

Chocolate, Christmas, Gifting, Recipes, Sweet Treats

In slow 160 degree oven roast almonds on small tray for approx 10 min. Leave to cool then dice.

Roughly chop dates & apricots fairly fine. Place in small saucepan add water and heat on a low temperature till starting to soften.

Take off heat and stir in bi-carb till it starts to foam. Then set aside to cool.

Place biscuits in food processor and blitz to form fine bread crumbs. Add all the ingredients (except chocolate) and mix together, saving 10g of diced almonds to garnish.

Place in refrigerator for 1/2hr to cool and firm.

Melt Chocolate in a narrow deep jug for 1 minute in microwave, then 10-20sec intervals until fully melted.

Roll small balls of mixture and dip into melted chocolate. Use a fork to remove out of chocolate and tap excess off.

Place on tray covered in baking paper, garnish with almonds and refrigerate until set.

Ricotta & Walnut Tagliatelle

  1. Place pasta into a large saucepan of boiling water and cook to pack directions, or until al dente. Drain.

  2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan. Add walnuts and sunflower seeds, tossing regularly until toasted. Add garlic, chilli and lemon rind cooking a further minute.

  3. Add cooked drained pasta to the fryingpan with the ricotta, rocket, vinegar, lemon juice and some additional oil. Season and toss well.

Date & Raisin Liquor Truffles

Place the dates, raisins and liqueur in a small food processor and process to combine.

Place the mixture in a bowl with the melted chocolate and mix to combine.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until just set.

Using a tablespoon, roll the mixture into balls.

Roll the truffles in the almonds to coat and place on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until set.

Makes 20. Store in refrigerator and bring to room temperature when you serve.

Hummingbird Christmas Cake

Preheat 170ΒΊC (150ΒΊC fan).Β  Grease and line 2 x 17cm round cake tins.

Combine flour, sugar, coconut, bicarbonate of soda and spices in a large bowl.Β  Make a well in the centre, add fruit and vegetables, lime zest, nuts, Angas Park Fruit Medley, oil, eggs and salt, stirring until combined.Β  Divide evenly among the two pans then bake for 35 mins.Β  Allow to cool completely in tins before turning out.

To make icing, in a stand mixer (or using a handheld mixer) beat together the cream cheese, butter, coconut essence and lime juice, then, with motor running, gradually add icing sugar 1 tbsp at a time until fully incorporated.

To assemble, spread icing onto the top of one cake, top with the second cake and spread icing on top.Β  Arrange flowers, Angas Park Fruit Salad and extra cashews on top, to decorate.

Caramel Walnut Brioche Pudding

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

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

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

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

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

7.Β Β Β Β Β Enjoy

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

Walnut Sultana Zucchini Carrot Cake

Preheat oven to 180ΒΊC (160ΒΊC fan).Β Β Grease and line base and sides of two x 22.5cm (9”) round baking tins.Β 

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with beater attachment, combine zucchini, carrot, flour, sugar, 50g of walnuts, sultanas and spices.Β Β Mix on low until just combined.

Whisk together oil and eggs then add to the zucchini mixture and beat on low until just combined.Β Β Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared tins, smoothing the surfaces.Β Β Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cakes comes out clean.Β Β Allow the cakes to cool in tins for an hour, then invert onto a baking rack to cool completely.

To make the icing, combine butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment.Β Β Whisk until smooth.Β Β Add sifted icing sugar and whisk until smooth and fluffy.

To decorate, spread half the icing on top of one cake.Β Β Arrange the second cake on top and spread with remaining icing.Β Β Sprinkle with chopped walnuts to decorate.

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