Category Archives: Comfort food

Pumpkin Sticky Toffee Puddings

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Makes 6

Ingredients

Pumpkin Puddings

  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup pitted prunes, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cups light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 cup natural pumpkin puree

Toffee Sauce

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1/2 medium Tonka bean, finely grated (can be substituted with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
  • 2 teaspoons Rum (or omit for a kiddy-friendly version)

Method

Pumpkin Puddings

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease, or spray with baking spray, 6 mini-savarin or mini-Bundt tins
  2. In a small heatproof bowl, pour orange juice followed by the boiling water over the chopped prunes; stir in the baking soda. Stir together to combine and set aside to soak for about 15-20 minutes until softened
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, pumpkin spice and salt. Set aside until needed
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the butter with the brown sugar at medium speed until fluffy and combined
  5. Beat in the eggs, one at a time until combined, followed by the maple syrup
  6. Reduce speed to low, beat in the flour mixture in stages until just combined, scraping down bowl between additions
  7. Add the date mixture (including liquid) followed by pumpkin purée, and beat at low speed until just combined
  8. Divide the batter into the prepared mini-pans, and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes*
  9. Remove from oven, and continue to Finishing Steps

Toffee Sauce*

  1. With about 5 minutes left on the pumpkin pudding baking time, in a small saucepan, combine the heavy cream, butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, finely grated tonka bean and the rum (if using)
  2. Bring to a gentle boil over moderate heat, stirring to melt the butter and sugar, cooking until slightly thickened and deep golden, about 3 minutes.
  3. Keep warm on a low heat until serving

To Finish

  1. Once you remove the puddings from the oven, using a skewer or toothpick, poke holes all over the exposed surface
  2. Spoon 4-5 teaspoons of the warm toffee sauce over the puddings, and let stand until absorbed, about 10 minutes
  3. Serve warm, turned out onto plates (they may take some gentle persuasion!) with some of the remaining sauce spooned over. Perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Skillet Caramel Apple Crisp

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Yields: 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

Caramel Sauce

  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, cubed, room temperature
  • 1 cup whipping, heavy cream, room temperature
  • Sea salt flakes, to taste

Filling

  • 1 ¼ kg tart, firm apples, such as Ganny Smith, Jonathan or Honeycrisp (about 6 medium apples)
  • Grated zest of 1 orange
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 Tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoons good quality vanilla paste or extract
  • 1teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ⅛teaspoon ground cloves
  • Pinch of kosher salt

Crisp Topping

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • ⅓ cup chopped pecans
  • ⅓ cup light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

Method

Caramel Sauce

  1. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar and water in a large saucepan set over a medium–low heat. Bring to the boil and cook for 10–12minutes until it becomes a deep gold colour, but not dark brown. DO NOT STIR at any point. If you need to you can gently swirl the pan to make sure the mixture is melting evenly. When the caramel begins to colour, it will darken quickly so keep a close eye on it
  2. Once it reaches the correct color, quickly, but carefully, remove the pan from the heat. Add the butter cubes and using a wooden spoon gently stir until the butter has melted and is well combined. It will bubble a little and release steam so take care not to burn yourself!
  3. Next, add the cream and again slowly stir, again taking care not to burn yourself from the rising steam
  4. Once well combined, add sea salt flakes to taste (carefully tasting as you go!) and whisk to combine. Set aside to cool completely in a hat-proof container while you prepare the rest of the crisp*

Filling

  1. Heat your oven to 350F degrees and lightly butter/ oil a 9- or 10-inch oven-safe skillet
  2. Peel, core and slice the apples into ½-inch slices
  3. Combine the sliced apples, both zests, both juices, vanilla extract, spices and salt in a large bowl, and stir to combine. Drizzle ½ cup cooled caramel sauce over the top and stir again. Scrape the apples and all their juices into your prepared skillet

Topping

  1. In the same bowl, combine the flour, oats, pecans, sugar and salt. Stir until well combined, then add the butter and mash it into the dry ingredients with your fingers until crumbs form. Pour the crumb topping evenly over the apples
  2. Bake the crisp until the topping is golden and the juices are bubbling, 40 to 50 minutes
  3. Serve warm with more warm caramel sauce and ice cream

*Store any remaining sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a week. It can be rewarmed for later use in a saucepan over low heat.

Self-saucing Chocolate Pudding

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Ingredients

Topping

  • 1 cup brown sugar , loosely packed
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 ¼ cups boiling water

Pudding

  • 1 cup All Purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/3 cup fine (caster) sugar
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • ½ cup milk, room temperature
  • 4 Tablespoons butte , melted
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 335°F
  2. Grease 8x 8x 2.5” baking dish
  3. Whisk brown sugar and cocoa in a bowl to make the topping mix. Set aside
  4. Whisk flour, baking powder, fine sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a bowl
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the butter and milk, then whisk in the egg and vanilla. Don’t worry if some lumps form from the butter- carry on whisking together
  6. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture. Mix until combined – it will be a thick batter
  7. Spread into baking dish. Sprinkle with topping mixture. Shake gently to spread out thinly
  8. Carefully pour the hot water all over the top of the pudding, trying to avoid any pooling
  9. Transfer to oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the top of the cake springs back when poked lightly. The top will be a bit crusty, like the top of brownies
  10. Remove from oven, stand for just a few minute, then serve immediately

Apple Cider Bundt Cake

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Makes 1

Ingredients

Cake

  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup Red Fife flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons apple pie spice mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2/3 cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature

Coating

  • 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon Baobab fruit powder (optional)

Method

  1. Add the apple cider to a medium pan, and over a medium heat boil to reduce to 1/3 cup quantity. Remove from heat and allow to cool
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  3. Prepare a 12-cup bundt pan by liberally spraying with baking spray, or generously grease with butter and flour. Pay special attention to all those crevices and folds
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together both flours, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt
  5. In separate bowl, whisk together sugar, cooled cider concentrate , oil, applesauce, vanilla, and eggs
  6. Add egg mixture to flour mixture; whisk until combined, making sure there are no flour pockets
  7. Transfer batter to prepared pan, and bake for 45- 50 minutes, until a tester inserted in center comes out clean
  8. Transfer pan to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet; let cool 15 minutes
  9. While the cake cools make the coating. Mix together remaining sugar, cinnamon and Baobab fruit powder
  10. After 15 minutes, turn the cake out onto a cooling rack set over some baking parchment
  11. Brush with melted butter, then sprinkle liberally with the sugar coating. Let cool completely before serving

Apple Fritters

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Makes 8

Ingredients

Apple Fritters

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 tablespoons applesauce
  • 2 large Granny Smith apples or Honey Crisp apples peeled, cored and diced

Glaze

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Baobab Fruit Powder (optional)
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

  1. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in medium bowl. Make a well in the center and add 1/3 cup milk, eggs and applesauce. Stir just to combine. Fold in apples
  2. Heat 1 1/2 inches of oil in heavy skillet, Dutch oven or deep fryer to 375F degrees
  3. Drop about 1/4 cup of batter per fritter into hot oil; spreading it out as you drop
  4. Cook each side until golden brown; approximately 2-3 minutes per side
  5. Use a slotted spoon to remove to a cooling rack set over some paper towels to drain
  6. While the fritters cool, whisk together 1/4 cup milk, Baobab fruit powder, powdered sugar and vanilla. Dunk each fritters in the glaze to coat.  Place on wire racks to drip and air dry

Freezing & Reheating

If you’re making your fritters for later, they keep really well in the freezer compartment. Freeze for up to 2 month for best taste. You’ll need to remember not to glaze them though! Allow your unglazed fritters to cool completely before wrapping individually in cling wrap, popping in freezer bags and storing in your freezer.

The best way to thaw frozen apple fritters is to remove them from the freezer, unwrap them and place them into the fridge. It is best to leave them overnight to ensure they thaw all the way through.

If they have not thawed all the way through by the time you want to eat them, you could leave them out on the counter for up to an hour to speed up that process. 

To reheat, and to ensure you get a nice crisp apple fritter, you can either use a toaster oven or a conventional oven. Place the thawed fritters on a baking tray and reheat them at 375F for 5 minutes.

Once they’re reheated you can glaze them as Step 2 above.