Ricotta & Apricot Loaf with Thyme

Preparation 15 Minutes

Cook 50 Minutes

Serves 8-10

Method

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line the base and sides of a 10 x 20cm loaf pan.
  2. Combine butter, eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Whisk well. Add flour and mix until just combined.
  3. Fold in the ricotta, apricots and thyme. Spoon into prepared pan and sprinkle the top with almonds and thyme. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly before removing from the pan.

Ingredients

125g butter, melted

2 extra large eggs

¾ cup raw sugar

1½ cups self-raising flour

250g fresh ricotta, roughly crumbled

½ cup ANGUS PARK Dried Apricot Halves, finely chopped

2 sprigs thyme, leaves removed

1 tbsp SUNBEAM Slivered Almonds

Extra thyme leaves, for sprinkling

Recipe Collection

Lemon Date Slice with Cream Cheese Frosting

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

Mini Fruit Mince Tarts

To make the fruit mince filling, add all ingredients to a large bowl, mix well, cover and allow to soak for at least 1 hour.  

To make the pastry, add the flour, ginger, cinnamon, butter and sugar into a food processor and blitz until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Whisk the egg and chilled water together in a small bowl, then slowly add to the food processor while it’s running until the mixture comes together into a dough. Remove from the food processor and shape into a disc. Wrap in cling wrap and place into the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours, or overnight.  

Preheat oven to 160℃. 

Remove from the pastry from the fridge and roll out to a thin 0.3mm dough. Cut into 7cm circles using a cookie cutter or other round object, then place into lightly greased mini muffin tins (30ml capacity). Scoop the fruit mince between the pastry cases. Cut stars from the remaining pastry and place on top of each fruit pie. Brush with milk. 

Place into the oven and bake for 25 minutes until golden brown. Remove and place onto wire racks to cool.  

Christmas Bomb Alaska

Make a small approx 13cm base from Sunbeam fruit cake and set aside. (Match the base diameter to your mould base size)

Remove Ice-cream from the freezer & stand in the fridge for 20 min to soften; do not melt completely.

Line a tall dariole mould or similar with plastic wrap

Put the fruit mince in a large mixing bowl, add the softened ice-cream & gently stir to combine.

Return mould to the freezer & freeze for 5 hours or till firm.

Beat egg whites and sugar until stiff peaks form.

Remove ice cream from mould, add ice cream to cake base and coat with meringue mix. Use a blow torch to toast. Serve Immediately.

White Christmas Tree Bites

  1. Line the inside of 12 ice-cream cones with baking paper, using a stapler or sticky tape to secure paper.
  2. Place white chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (ensuring bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water) and stir until the chocolate has melted and is smooth. Remove from heat.
  3. Allow to cool then add all the other ingredients and stir to coat. Spoon into the prepared lined cones Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set before serving.

Self-Saucing Chocolate Pudding

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Lightly grease a 4 cup capacity baking dish.
  2. Combine flour, almond meal, sugar and cocoa in a large mixing bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the butter, eggs and milk. Add to the dry ingredients with the raisins and mix well. Spoon into baking dish.
  4. For the sauce, combine the water, sugar and cocoa. Pour over the batter in the baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes until cake is cooked. Serve warm with ice-cream, cream or custard.

Fruit & Nut Clusters

  1. Pre-heat oven to 170°C (150°C fan-forced). Combine nuts and seeds with coconut and sultanas.
  2. Heat honey and pour over nut mix, combine well.
  3. Drop spoonfuls onto oven tray and bake for 15 mins until golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool before removing from tray.

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