12 Days of Christmas – Rosemary Spiked Apricot Melba

Rosemary Spiked Apricot Melba Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 2½ hours Serves: 4 2 punnets of raspberries 2 ½ cups castor sugar 1 kaffir lime leaf, torn 4 ripe apricots leaves of 2 sprigs rosemary 4 egg whites ¼ tsp cream of tartar ½ tsp bitter almond essence 250g best quality vanilla gelato METHOD…

Roasted Beetroot and Bitter Almond Ice Cream Sandwiches

Roasted Beetroot and Bitter Almond Ice Cream Sandwiches 500g beetroot 500ml cream 250ml milk 12 egg yolks 200g caster sugar finely-grated zest of 2 oranges 2 tsp orgeat 1 tsp vanilla paste 12 choc chip cookies METHOD 1 Preheat oven to 200°C. Wrap the beetroot in a double layer of foil, then bake for 1…

Wild Pears in Raspberry and Chinchona

Wild Pears in Raspberry Chinchona 1 cup muscat liqueur 2 cups raspberries 2 cups caster sugar 1 piece chinchona bark 6 ripe wild pears 600ml thickened cream 125g icing sugar seeds of 1 vanilla bean 2 Tbsp nigella seeds 1 tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground nutmeg 1 Tbsp Demerara sugar METHOD 1 Combine the…

Passionfruit and Hibiscus Crema Catalana

Passionfruit and Hibiscus Crema Catalana pulp of 6 passionfruit 1½ cups caster sugar 1½ cups milk 1 cup cream 1 cinnamon stick thickly sliced zest of 1 lemon 2 Tbsp cornflour preserved hibiscus flowers, to serve METHOD 1 Combine the passionfruit pulp ad ½ cup caster sugar in a small saucepan and simmer gently for…

Amarena Cherry and Blueberry Torte

Amarena Cherry and Blueberry Torte ¾ cup Greek yoghurt 3 cups caster sugar 4 eggs 1½ cups plain flour ¾ cup almond meal 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp almond essence 1 tsp vanilla extract ¾ cup canola oil ½ cup Amarena cherries, chopped 1 cup sherry 4 punnets blueberries 6 figs METHOD 1 Preheat…

Peanut Butter and Malt Cake

Peanut Butter and Malt Cake Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes Serves: 12 275g crunchy peanut butter 200g unsalted butter, at room temperature 225g dark brown sugar 2 tsp vanilla paste 4 eggs 2 cups self-raising flour ½ cup malted milk powder 150g sour cream 1 cup peanut butter chips METHOD 1 Preheat…

Apple and Rye Loaf

Apple and Rye Loaf Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes Serves: 12 4 eggs, separated 1 cup vegetable oil 2 tsp vanilla extract 300g caster sugar 350g rye flour 2½ tsp baking powder 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground nutmeg ½ tsp ground cloves 3 Granny Smith apples, grated METHOD 1 Preheat…

Chocolate Pumpkin-Spice Loaf

Chocolate Pumpkin-Spice Loaf Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes Serves: 12 150g unsalted butter, at room temperature 300g dark brown sugar 3 eggs 200g self-raising flour 3½ Tbsp cocoa powder 1 cup almond meal 2 tsp mixed spice 2 tsp ground cinnamon ½ cup sour cream 2 tsp vanilla paste 150 dark chocolate,…