topic Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes in Off-Topic

Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

TallTrees — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 10:11:40 GMT

Christmas Cake

It is still a tradition that I keep going at home. A Christmas fruit cake with marzipan

and icing for the top. On to that, adding sparkle ~ and there ~ for the Christmas table

a fine looking cake.

I made this fruit cake last year and kept it wrapped up.

It was made with fruit that had been soaked in brandy

for a long time so the fruit is delicious and moist.

I took it out of it's wrapping and brushed more brandy over it. 😃

Rolled out the brandy marzipan, placed

it all over.

Then rolled out the icing two colours this year Yellow and Red

The fun part of course is the decoration.

lots of little holly leaves and berries with funny snowman face and snowflakes.

My different mince pie ~ very easy

I decided on a different way of making the mince pie.

I bought a roll of puff pastry opened it out

cut it into lengths, then put in some home made mince pie mix

sealed the edges and baked in oven for about 20mins.

These are lovely crispy ~ great with a cup of coffee.

Coconut Madeleines

For a change this year I am also cooking Coconut Madeleines

These are so easy light and delicious.

Recipe goes like this

100g Self Raising flour

100g Butter

50g Sugar

2 Large Eggs

1 teaspoon of Baking Powder

1 teaspoon of Vanilla essence

100g of Raspberry Jam (or any red Jam)

100g of Desiccated Coconut

Spoon the mix into the little tin moulds (half way up) makes about 8

160C fan oven 20 mins. Heat oven to 160c. then add the tray.

Heat Jam, spread over little cakes roll in coconut. Pop a raspberry or Strawberry on top.

Method of mixing is : mix butter and sugar to cream, beat eggs add vanilla to them and add

slowly to mix. Add Flour and Baking powder until blended well but don't over mix. Spoon into each of the little moulds in the tray.

Love to hear your favorite cakes or any treat

for Christmas tea time.

Merry Christmas to everyone have a happy day 🎉🎅

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

lewys-gp — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 10:30:37 GMT

Brandy soaked fruit 😍. Can't go wrong with marzipan either! My favourite around Christmas time.

Love the puff pastry suggestion. May have to make these this weekend, especially because it's so easy. And will be sharing the coconut madeleines recipe with my mother.

Thank you so much for sharing, @TallTrees. Merry Christmas too 😄.

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

TallTrees — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 10:40:58 GMT

Happy you liked it @lewys-gp

I like it easy too.

Just Roll puff pastry SHEET is the one excellent quality.

and it makes so much more.

enjoy baking lewys

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

RafaC — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 11:03:48 GMT

Loved you recipes tips and suggestions @TallTrees!
The decoration on the cake is lovely, very fun and creative!

Thanks for sharing those, great topic and now I'm staring at my computer screen like this 🤤

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

Mi-Amigo — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 11:05:03 GMT

Christmas cake, mince pies and coconut madeleines look lovely @TallTrees

Although I don`t bake, would love all of these. You certainly have a talent for creating these.

Thanks for sharing and I`m sure many will give these a try.

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

pgn — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 11:08:04 GMT

I love the sound of the mince rolls, given only I and D#1 have a liking of sweet mince pies in this house, @TallTrees.

I do like the German Stollen, with marzipan and fruit - never made it, but love to have some at Christmas with a glass of Glühwein or the home-made hot fruit punch I make:

Another favourite is the Italian Pandoro, plain white sweet cake, sold in a huge box - not seen any here for two or three years now:

Never tried baking that either!

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

Cleoriff — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 11:10:15 GMT

All looks absolutely gorgeous @TallTrees

It's been a long time since I cooked a Christmas cake as none of my family like it much. I do but wasn't cooking for one. 😂 So our usual fare is Yule log

The mince pies I love. Much better way of cooking them I think. One normal shaped mince pie is never enough.

Thanks for posting. All looks delicious. xx

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

TallTrees — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 11:57:30 GMT

Hi @Cleoriff

Yule log is very acceptable I must say. I tried that Jus-Rol sheet puff pastry for making my own sausage rolls. Then I put in some of my fruit apple mix for mince pies, but in the sausage roll form, complements all round! It is very crumbly but that the the best part.

Thanks for sharing.

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

TallTrees — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 12:06:13 GMT

Hi there @pgn

Love Stollen not made it either, the Germans do it best.

The marzipan is in the middle I think.

Not tried Pandoro looks very nice indeed.

I tried the way of cooking a kind of mince pie, as I am not keen on too much sugar I make my own fruit mix. I was making my own sausage rolls then had the idea of putting my fruit mix in a roll to try it out. Gosh everyone loved it, very crumbly of course but yummy.

What I like about the Puff roll it is very light. After lots of Christmas fare these are just right. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing.

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

TallTrees — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 12:08:48 GMT

Thank you @Mi-Amigo

I like to bake also I don't like too much sugar so most fancy cakes I bake.

Enjoy your Christmas.

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

RafaC — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 12:55:51 GMT

@pgn I am huge fan of the Pandoro as well. It's indeed getting harder and harder to find it in shops, but for the last couple of years I managed to buy one from some Italian delis near my place - although they came with a higher price tag than when I bought them from regular supermarkets in previous years. Nonetheless, as it's a once in a year kind of treat, I let myself spend a little more for this delicacy.

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

TallTrees — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 13:17:22 GMT

Good and thanks @RafaC

Glad you enjoyed the 🎂

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

pgn — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 17:26:19 GMT

@RafaC wrote:
@pgn I am huge fan of the Pandoro as well. It's indeed getting harder and harder to find it in shops, but for the last couple of years I managed to buy one from some Italian delis near my place - although they came with a higher price tag than when I bought them from regular supermarkets in previous years. Nonetheless, as it's a once in a year kind of treat, I let myself spend a little more for this delicacy.

Yes, @RafaC - that would work.

TKMaxx sometimes gets a few in, but you have to be in early.

The local Lidl has small ones in stock, in the "wheat-free" section of the shop - not tempted to try them, though - despite some of those I know with food intolerances saying Lidl's selection and quality is top-notch in that area.

And for @TallTrees: I had to laugh when I saw this recently:

https://twitter.com/carolynarnoldNI/status/1469362388134764546?s=20

(Takes you to Twitter, for the full thread and people's reactions).

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

TallTrees — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 18:05:27 GMT

Wonderful 😋 @pgn

Well I would share it with the mouse, but he would definitely be off "my Christmas card list"

for sitting in the cake!

Lovely though ~ thank you for the post

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

RafaC — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 14:29:14 GMT

@pgn Oh I didn't know that there was a chance of getting Pandoros from TKMaxx and Lidl (albeit wheat-free in the latter), thanks a lot for the tip!

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

pgn — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 17:38:41 GMT

Just heard local Tesco in NI has Pandoro, in a blue box, £7 a pop - will upload a pic in a tic, @RafaC

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

RafaC — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 09:19:16 GMT

@pgn oh that's great to know, thanks so much for the tip! I'll definitely go to my local Tesco to pick one up. 🙌

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

Cleoriff — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 09:22:00 GMT

@RafaC wrote:
@pgn oh that's great to know, thanks so much for the tip! I'll definitely go to my local Tesco to pick one up. 🙌

Also advertised in Marks and Spencers food hall @RafaC 🤗

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

RafaC — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 09:26:55 GMT

Ohhh thanks @Cleoriff 😊 I'll check theirs too!
Looks like Pandoro is (thankfully) coming back to the big retailers!

Re: Christmas Cake A different mince pie and Coconut Cakes

Cleoriff — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 10:09:13 GMT

And absolutely loads on Amazon @RafaC

https://www.amazon.co.uk/pandoro/s?k=pandoro