Posts by The Pink Whisk:
Day 9 – Cappuccino Truffles
December 9th, 2014
A perfect after dinner treat, deliciously simple to make but dark, rich and packing a coffee punch. The white chocolate coating adds a lovely creamy touch just like a Cappuccino! Here are my tips for making, shaping and coating the best truffles around.
Ingredients:
300g dark chocolate, chopped
250ml double cream
1 shot of espresso (40ml strong coffee)
250g white chocolate to coat
Dusting of cocoa powder
Makes: Approx 50 truffles (that sounds a lot, but actually if you’re giving them as gifts they don’t go hugely far – certainly after allowing for quality control!
Start off by making the coffee ganache as the base for the truffles. Chop the dark chocolate and set to one side. Read the rest of this entry “
Bread Baking at Seasoned Courses
December 8th, 2014
Just a quick reminder to you all that I am teaching a bread baking class next year with Seasoned Courses at Catton Hall in Derbyshire on the 4th February 2015.
We’ll be covering all sorts of different bread making, shaping and recipes and not to mention all my tips and tricks for brilliant loaves. Read the rest of this entry “
Day 8 – Ecclefechan
December 8th, 2014
Have you ever tried these? They are really delicious and a nice alternative to Mince Pies too. I have added Christmas spices to mine and a zesty orange pastry which isn’t the traditional way so if you want them authentic simply leave those out.
Ingredients:
Pastry
225g plain flour
100g butter, cold diced
25g caster sugar
Zest of 1 orange
1 egg, large
A little water to combine
Filling
2 eggs, large
100g sultanas
100g raisins
50g cherries, whole
50g flaked almonds
2 tbsps treacle
150g dark muscovado sugar
1 tbsp vinegar
125g butter
1 ½ tsp ground mixed spice
A little icing sugar to dust
Makes: 18 Read the rest of this entry “
Day 7 – Gala Pork Pie
December 7th, 2014
Would you like one of these on your buffet table? They’ve gone down a storm here and I bet they will with you too!
Ingredients:
Hot water crust pastry
340g plain flour
1 tsp salt
150ml water
115g lard
Filling
500g minced pork (the best quality you can find)
125g streaky smoked bacon, diced
200g sausagemeat
1 tbsp fresh sage, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
Salt and pepper
1 tsp dried thyme
1 small onion, finely diced
1 egg
6 eggs, large (hard boiled)
1 egg beaten for egg wash
Jelly
250ml chicken stock
2 sheets of gelatine
Makes: 1 x 2lb loaf tin pie Read the rest of this entry “
Day 6 – Chocolate and Mulled Wine Tart
December 6th, 2014
An extremely rich mulled wine and chocolate tart – very decadent and something a little bit different to serve this Christmas. I know isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but it’s definitely mine!
Ingredients:
Pastry
100g butter, softened
75g caster sugar
1 egg, large
300g plain flour
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground cloves
Filling
6 eggs, large
225g caster sugar
350ml mulled wine
100ml double cream
3 tbsps cocoa powder
Makes: 1 x 9” tart Read the rest of this entry “
Day 5 – Mincemeat Baklava
December 5th, 2014
A new twist on a Mince Pie – Mincemeat Baklava! No sorry, I’m not making my own Filo, it’s Christmas time for goodness sake and I’m just a little bit busy. Ready made Filo is what it’s all about!
Ingredients:
2 x pkts Filo Pastry
1 x jar of Mincemeat
175g melted butter
200ml water
200g caster sugar
80ml honey
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
5 whole cloves
Makes: 1 x 8” square tray of Bakalava Read the rest of this entry “
Day 4 – Chocolate Christmas Cake
December 4th, 2014
A super rich dark Christmas cake. I’ve been making this for a few years now and I’m always asked for the recipe. The chocolate isn’t an obvious flavour but it is what makes this cake so rich and luxurious. It’s a great cake to make as the fruits only have an overnight soaking and it doesn’t need any feeding – bargain! Try it, I know you’ll love it!
Plus there’s a couple of bonus projects with this recipe too – have a look here for these individual cakes, perfect to give as gifts and these cute little mini ones too – Santa Please Stop Here!
Ingredients:
200g butter
200g light muscovado sugar
150ml brandy
150ml water
Juice and zest of 2 large oranges Read the rest of this entry “
Mini Cakes – Santa Stop Here!
December 4th, 2014
How about these miniature cakes – teeny tiny cakes made in mini baking cups from Iced Jems. Just like the cupcake sized Christmas cakes then one full batch of 8” Christmas cake mix is going to make a ton, 50+ of these teeny tiny ones so just make a part mixture or mix up your baking with a variety of sizes, unless of course you want to make 50?!
You will need:
Chocolate Christmas Cake Mixture – recipe here
Mini baking cups (Iced Jems)
Cake pop or plastic lolly sticks
Snowflake Straws (Iced Jems)
Flags printout – here
Snowflake and mini pearl sprinkles Read the rest of this entry “
Individual Christmas Cakes
December 4th, 2014
This is a lovely project to make for gifts – Individual Chocolate Christmas Cakes. Waitrose is heading a #BakeItForward campaign, something lots of us do for Christmas – creating something special for friends. I’m sending some of my individual cakes to Helen at Casa Costello and Jenny at Mummy Makes Cakes – lovely cakey friends with great blogs that I met up with recently.
Baked in baking cups from Iced Jems, decorated with retro Christmas decorations and packaged to perfection in boxes and bags from Elite Packaging Company.
The 8” cake recipe makes plenty – approx. 24 so only make a full batch if you need plenty or are gifting them to a Christmas Fair! You could also make a smaller 5 or 6” cake and using the remaining mixture for these cupcake sized cakes.
You will need:
1 x Chocolate Christmas Cake mixture – recipe here
Festive Baking Cups (Iced Jems) or silicone cupcake cases
Retro Christmas decorations
Marzipan
White sugarpaste Read the rest of this entry “
Day 3 – Marshmallow Snowflakes
December 3rd, 2014
These seem to be all over the place in the shops at Christmas time so I thought it was time I figured out how we do them at home – and it’s easier than I thought. You will need a sugar thermometer and a silicone snowflake mould (or any other kind of Christmassy silicone mould if you prefer)
They are easier to make in a stand mixer if you have one, it makes the hands juggling a lot easier but it can be done with an electric hand mixer too.
Ingredients:
2 large egg whites
450g caster sugar
1 tbsp liquid glucose
200ml water
1 tsp vanilla extract
8 leaves of gelatine
2 tbsps cornflour
2 tbsps icing sugar
