Sunbeam Traditional Fruit Cake
Preparation 30 mins plus overnight soaking
Cook 3 hours
Serves 12
Method
You will need a 21cm round tin for this recipe (base measurement)
- Soak fruit overnight in brandy, if you warm the brandy it infuses faster and you can soak for a few hours instead of overnight.
- Place soaked fruit, water, butter, maple syrup and sugar in a saucepan. Slowly bring to the boil then remove from heat and add bicarbonate of soda mixed with one tablespoon boiling water. Cool for 15 minutes. Add lightly beaten eggs, mixing thoroughly. Fold in sifted flours, spices and vanilla essence.
- Preheat oven to 160ºC. We used a 21cm bundt tin. Spoon batter into the prepared tin, using a spatula to smooth the surface. Bake for up to 75 to 90 minutes or until the cake springs back when gently pressed in the centre. Allow cake to cool in the tin for an hour then invert onto a cooling rake to remove. Allow to cool completely.
TIP: Liquor can be substituted with flavoured syrup or orange juice.
Optional cinnamon burnt buttercream: Heat 500g butter in a large frypan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until a deep golden colour. Pour the butter and milk solids into a heatproof bowl and refrigerate until hard. Remove burnt butter from fridge for 1 hour to soften then add 250g of the butter to a stand mixer and beat for 4-5 mins until creamy. Add 320g sifted icing sugar mixture, ½ tsp ground cinnamon and 2 tbsp milk and beat for a further 6 mins or until light and fluffy.
Ingredients
500g Sunbeam Bake Fruit Blend for Cake
1 cup brandy
1 cup water
125g butter
2 tbsp S&W Maple syrup
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tbsp boiling water
2 x eggs
1 cup self raising flour
1 cup plain flour
½ tsp mixed spice
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla essence
Recipe Collection
Simnel Cake
Preheat the oven to 180degress.
Butter the walls of your Bundt tin well.
Chop your glace cherries into quarters and mix into your mixed fruit.
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy and add the lemon zest.
Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and ground almonds into a bowl and stir to combine.
Into the whipped butter and sugar mix, add 1 of the eggs with a quarter of the dry ingredients.
Add in the other 2 eggs in the same way, followed by the rest of the dry mix remaining.
Mix in the mix, then the fold in the fruit.
Spoon the mixture evenly around the Bundt tin and smooth out the mix.
Bake on 180degrees for 30 minutes and then turn down the oven to 150 degrees for 1.5 hours or until the cake has risen and a skewer comes out clean.
Let the cake rest for 15 minutes before turning it out to cool further.
For the icing, mix the icing sugar, milk and orange juice together and pour over and enjoy!
Apricot Balls
- Place apricots, sultanas and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Place cooled fruit in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add oats and coconut. Remove to a bowl and roll teaspoonsful into balls and then roll in sesame seeds to coat. Refrigerate until required.
Notes:
Balls can also be rolled in coconut, chopped pepitas or chopped nuts.
Christmas Slice
Preheat oven 150°C (fan-forced).
- Line a loaf tin (20cm x 10cm) with baking paper.
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined.
- Spoon mixture into prepared tin and bake for 40mins. Allow to cool. Dust with icing sugar and slice thinly.
Christmas Cake
I. Start by preheating your oven to 16O°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 doesn’t 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
Spice Roasted Cauliflower & Sunmuscat Sultana Dressing
Preheat oven to 220°C. In a large bowl, combine 2 Tbsp olive oil, salt, pepper, sweet paprika, and smoked paprika. Stir well, add cauliflower, and toss to evenly coat.
Transfer cauliflower onto a baking paper lined oven tray. Bake 25 – 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden.
While the cauliflower is roasting, drizzle remaining 2 Tbsp oil into a skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced shallot and cook for 5 – 7 minutes, stirring regularly, until shallots have started to turn golden.
Remove pan from heat, add capers, vinegar, honey, water, and Sunmuscat sultanas. Stir well, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Toss parsley through cooked cauliflower and transfer to a serving plate. Spoon dressing over top, sprinkle with walnuts or pine nuts to serve.
Muesli Bar Slice
Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line a 28cm x 18cm x 3cm tin
- In a large bowl mix together the oats, oat bran, bran, sunflower kernels, flour, apricots and sultanas.
- Melt the butter, honey and brown sugar in the microwave for 1 minute and add to the dry ingredients. Stir in the egg and milk until well combined.
- Press into greased and lined tin and bake for 15 minutes. Cut into slices when cooled.
