Sticky Date Christmas Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce

Preparation Minutes

Cook Minutes

Serves 12

Method

TO MAKE THE PUDDING

1. Combine dates, mixed fruit, 280ml water, sugars, salt and butter in large saucepan. Bring to the boil then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 8 mins.

2. Add bicarbonate of soda, stir well and allow to cool completely (preferably overnight).

3. Once completely cool, add eggs, flours, spices and rum. Mix well.

4. Generously grease inside the pudding bowl. Pour the mixture into tin then cover with a layer of baking paper and a layer of foil and secure tightly with kitchen string.

5. Place a small cooling rack or an upturned oven-safe dish into the base of a large saucepan. Place pudding bowl on top so that it is not directly touching the bottom of the pan. Fill saucepan with boiling water to come half way up the sides of the pudding bowl. Bring water to the boil then reduce heat to low, cover and allow to simmer for 3 hours.  Remove pudding from water, allow to cool completely before removing pudding from tin.

TO MAKE SAUCE

1. Combine cream, butter and sugar in a saucepan. Stir over a low heat until all ingredients combined.
2. Stir in salt.

Ingredients

You will need an 8 cup capacity pudding bowl for this recipe

450g Pitted Dates

375g SUNBEAM, Mixed Fruit

¾ cup caster sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

Pinch of sea salt

130g butter, plus extra to grease tin

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 large eggs

1 ½ cup self raising flour

1 ½ cup plain flour

1 tsp mixed spice

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp rum

SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

300ml thickened cream

80g butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp sea salt

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.

Spinach & Ricotta Tart

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line an oven tray with baking paper.
  2. Steam or microwave spinach leaves until just wilted. Squeeze any excess liquid when cool enough to handle and then finely chop.
  3. Heat oil in a large frying pan over low heat, add spring onions and garlic, cooking for several minutes until just tender. Add spinach and cook a further minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Meanwhile, lightly whisk the egg white with a splash of water, set aside.
  4. Combine spinach mixture in a large mixing bowl with the ricotta, egg yolk, parmesan, pinenuts, mint and lemon rind. Mix until well combined and season well.
  5. Lay one pastry sheet onto oven tray and spoon spinach mixture over the top, leaving a 2cm border around each edge. Lightly brush the edges with some of the egg white mixture.
  6. Using the tip of a knife, lightly score the other sheet of pastry without cutting all the way through. Place on top of spinach mixture and seal the edges with a fork. Brush top sheet with some more of the egg white mixture and sprinkle with the seeds. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden.

Fruit & Nut Slice

  1. Preheat oven 150°C (fan-forced).
  2. Line a loaf tin (20cm x 10cm) with
    baking paper.
  3. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and
    stir until well combined.
  4. Spoon mixture into prepared tin and
    bake for 40mins. Allow to cool. Dust with icing sugar and slice thinly.

Choc Sultana Hot Cross Bun

Preheat oven to 200°C

  1. Sieve plain flour and mixed spice. Rub butter into the flour until well incorporated and add dry yeast, castor sugar, sultanas, currants and chocolate dots. Add the milk and eggs and mix well. Place on a floured surface and gently knead dough for ten minutes until smooth and velvety. Cover and leave to rise for one hour or until mixture has doubled in size.
  2. Gently knead for 2 minutes then divide into 12. Gently knead into balls and shape into buns. Arrange in a greased baking tin and leave to rise again for 15 minutes.
  3. Combine ingredients for flour paste crosses and place in a piping bag. Pipe crosses onto buns.
  4. Bake for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 170°C and bake for a further 20 minutes.
  5. Turn onto a wire rack, serve hot with butter, if desired

Christmas Cake Friands (GF)

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Lightly grease 12 x ⅓ cup capacity muffin pans.
  2. Place fruit and brandy in a microwave proof dish and cook on medium heat for 30 seconds. Set aside to cool.
  3. Sift icing sugar into a large mixing bowl and stir in the almond meal and flour.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until frothy. Mix in the butter and add to the icing sugar mixture. Stirring until well combined.
  5. Pour mixture between prepared moulds and bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans and cool completely on a cooling rack.
  6. For icing, combine icing sugar and water mixing until smooth. Allow to sit until desired consistency is achieved. Spoon over each cake and finish with lemon rind and raspberries.

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.   

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