Mini Christmas No Bake Puddings

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These are perfect for a little bite size treat at Christmas and they look the part too. I first saw this recipe from Madaboutmacarons and just had to try.

I added a little orange liquor for a different flavour and they were delicious. (optional)

 

Makes about 12

50g raisins
40g dried apricots, finely chopped
40g dates, finely chopped
5 tbsps orange juice (or 2 tbsp orange liquor and 3 tbsp orange juice)
60g desiccated/shredded coconut
60g caster sugar
40g Scottish oats
40g candied orange peel, finely chopped
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

50g coconut oil – melted if solid

2 tsp Christmas Spice – See below for recipe mix.

(Spice Mix:- 2tbsp ground cinnamon, 2 tbsp ground ginger, 2 tbsp ground all spice, 1 tbsp nutmeg, 1/2 tbsp ground cloves, pinch black pepper) This can be stored in an airtight container.

50g White Chocolate – melted.

 

  1. Put all dried ingredients into a large mixing bowl, then add in the coconut oil and orange juice and mix to combine.
  2. Taking small amounts roll into a ball and place on greaseproof paper on a baking tray and refrigerate.
  3. Melt 50g of white chocolate in a microwave for about 1.5 mins and drizzle over the puddings. To decorate add a cranberry and edible holly decorations. (or you can cut some icing or marzipan for this)

Yummy!

Chocolate & Orange Biscuits

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Keen to get a good biscuit, you can’t go wrong with these flavours. So yummy!

 

Makes about 15 biscuits

125g Butter – unsalted

175g Golden Caster Sugar

225g Plain Flour

2 tsp baking powder

75g Chocolate 70% – chopped small

Zest of 2 oranges

1-2 tbsp orange juice

 

  1. Start by beating the butter and sugar together in mixer until they’re combined.
  2. Then sift the flour and baking powder straight into the mixture. Add the rest of the ingredients, and work the mixture together until you get a fairly stiff paste.
  3. Now flour a working surface and a rolling pin and roll the paste out to about 1cm thick. Then, using a cutter (5cm), cut out the biscuits and place them on the baking sheets and bake one sheet at a time near the centre of the oven. Bake them for about 20 minutes, or until the biscuits are a nice golden colour.
  4. Take them out of the oven and leave them to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling tray, and finally sprinkle with a dusting of golden caster sugar or icing sugar or decorate – whichever.

Braised Red Cabbage

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I was inspired to give this a try after seeing and tasting it at a Kitchen Aid event I attended recently. Beautiful flavour, and perfect for my New Years Day steak pie. So I gave it a trial run…..delicious!    I even went all out and made proper Goose fat roasties. Mmmmm.

 

Makes enough for 10-12 people

500g red cabbage – sliced

250g onions – chopped

250g cooking apples – peeled, cored and chopped

1/2 garlic clove

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1 heaped tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

15g butter

 

  1. Preheat your oven to 150 deg
  2. Shred the cabbage then start to layer your dish, cabbage, seasoning, onions, apple, spices and sugar. Continue to layer up.
  3. Now pour in the red wine vinegar and top with the butter.
  4. Put a lid onto the casserole dish and cook for about 2.5 hours.

This is great as any leftovers you can pop in freezer for a later date or even use through a pie.

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