Irish Yoghurt Clonakilty Cranberry and Orange Cake.
Ingredients
Cake
125g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra to grease
200g caster sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
Β½ orange zest and juice
1 tsp vanilla bean extract
250g plain flour
1 heaped tsp baking powder
2 tsp mixed spice
100g Irish Yoghurt Clonakilty Greek Style Yoghurt, plus extra to serve
150g fresh cranberries
Topping
150g fresh cranberries
Β½ orange, juice
60g caster sugar
150g icing sugar
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C. Line a 23cm springform round tin with baking parchment. 2. Cream together the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. 3. In a jug, combine the beaten eggs, orange zest, orange juice and vanilla. 4. Add this mixture to the creamed butter in 3β4 additions, fully incorporating each before adding more. 5. Fold in the flour, baking powder and mixed spice. 6. Fold in the Irish Yogurt Clonakilty Greek Style Yogurt until the batter is smooth. 7. Transfer ΒΌ of the batter to the tin. Scatter a handful of cranberries in a line over this layer. 8. Fold the remaining cranberries into the rest of the batter and spoon into the tin. 9. Bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. 10. Leave the cake in the tin for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Topping
1. Heat the cranberries, orange juice and caster sugar in a small pan for about 5 minutes until half the berries have popped and the rest are softened. 2. Strain through a fine sieve, reserving the softened fruit. 3. Mix 2β3 tablespoons of the strained liquid with the icing sugar to make a thick icing. 4. Stir the softened fruit into the remaining strained liquid. 5. Pour and spread the icing over the cooled cake and allow it to drip slightly down the sides. 6. Top with the softened fruit.
Serving suggestion: Serve with a spoonful of Irish Yogurt Clonakilty Greek Style Yogurt.
Chefs’ tips:
If the batter begins to curdle while adding the egg mixture, add a spoonful of the flour mixture β it stabilises the batter and keeps the cake light.
Scatter a little orange zest over the icing for a bright, fragrant finish.
For a decorative flourish, add a few candied rosemary stalks on top. To make these, dip fresh rosemary sprigs lightly in sugar syrup, then toss in caster sugar and allow to dry β they look frosted and pair beautifully with the cranberry flavour.
Just because we can’t go out for brunch, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a stack of mouth-watering pancakes this weekend! Our recipe for Porridge Pancakes with Grilled Honey & Orange Figs is a guaranteed way to put a smile on your face! So follow the recipe below and whip up something tasty for breakfast this morning – after all, we deserve a treat! #FlahavansOats#IrelandsOatExperts#OatyPancakeStack
Serves 4 | Takes 25 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
50g Flahavanβs Oats 250 ml milk OR 275g leftover porridge and a splash of milk 1 egg 50g plain flour 1 tsp baking powder 4 black figs Knob of butter Juice and zest of half an orange 1 tbsp honey Greek yoghurt
METHOD:
Place the Flahavanβs Oats in a small pan over a medium heat with 250ml milk and bring to the boil and reduce the temperature to a low heat and continue cooking for around 10-12 minutes until thick and creamy. Leave the porridge overnight covered with some clingfilm.
Whisk the overnight porridge together with a splash of milk and the egg until well combined. Alternatively, you can add the splash of milk and egg to any leftover porridge you may have.
Sift in the flour and baking powder to the porridge and whisk to combine.
Halve the figs and place cut side facing up on a baking tray. Drizzle with the honey and the orange zest and juice. Place under a hot grill and cook for 5-6 minutes or until the figs start to release their juices and collapse.
Melt a knob of butter in a non-stick frying pan and cook spoonfuls of the batter in batches until golden brown on each side. Repeat until all the batter is used up.
Serve the pancakes with the grilled figs and Greek yogurt
2 fennel bulbs, trimmed and cut lengthways into 3-4mm (ΒΌin) slices
2 apples (unpeeled), quartered, cored and cut into wedges 5mm (ΒΌin-Β½in) thick
4 smoked mackerel fillets, skin removed and flesh torn into bite-sized chunks
4 handfuls of rocket leaves
First, add the extra-virgin olive oil and the lemon juice to a large bowl. Season with the salt and freshly ground black pepper, then whisk everything together. Next, add in the sliced fennel, the wedges of apple and the chunks of mackerel. Mix together well, then add the rocket leaves and gently toss everything together to dress the leaves. β¨Divide between plates and serve immediately.
Ricotta adds an interesting texture here, and the saffron makes it wonderfully fragrant.
Serves 6
500ml/17 fl oz whole milk
1 tsp of saffron threads
5 egg yolks
200g/7oz sugar
250ml/8Β½ fl oz double cream
500g/1lb 2oz ricotta
2 tbsp honey, plus extra to serve
2 handfuls of toasted pine nuts, to serve
Bring the milk and saffron to a simmer and keep warm.
In a large bowl, combine the yolks and sugar and beat until pale.
Add half the warm milk to the egg mixture and whisk again until combined. Pour the mix into the saucepan along with the remaining warm milk. Cook over a low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens into a custard and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from the heat and whisk in the double cream, followed by the ricotta and the honey, until blended.
Churn in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturerβs instructions. Serve sprinkled with toasted pine nuts and a little extra honey.