Rory O’Connell’s Tuscan Apple, Lemon & Almond Cake






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Crisp on top and full of plump, juicy apples, this Tuscan tart is simply delicious.

By Rory O’Connell

Celebrity Chef

I am never quite sure if I should be calling this a cake or a tart but in any event, it is delicious and quite easy to make.

Ingredients

I am never quite sure if I should be calling this a cake or a tart but in any event, it is delicious and quite easy to make.

The origins of the recipe are from Tuscany in Italy but I like to use highly perfumed Irish dessert apples when in season. Look out for some lesser known but very delicious Irish dessert apples such as Irish Peach and Ardcairn Russet. 
 
Serves
 

  • 10g butter melted for greasing the parchment paper 
  • 4 dessert apples 
  • Finely grated zest of 2 lemons 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
  • 250g caster sugar 
  • 2 eggs 
  • 150ml cream 
  • 110g butter melted and cooled 
  • 125g whole almonds, blanched, peeled and ground to a fine powder in a food processer or ground almonds 
  • 110g plain flour sieved 
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder sieved 
  •  100g of apricot jam 
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, warmed and sieved 
  •  2 tablespoons of chopped sweet geranium leaves ( optional) 

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180c / 350 f / gas 4 
  2. Line a 28cm flan ring with a removable base with a disc of parchment paper. The paper should in one piece cover the base and sides of the tin and come up 1cm above the edge of the tin. Brush the paper with a little melted butter.
  3. Peel, core and quarter the apples and slice into c 3mm slices. Mix with the lemon zest. Whisk the vanilla, sugar, and eggs to a thick and light consistency similar to a batter. Whisk in the cream and cooled melted butter. Fold in the almonds, flour and baking powder. Add ¾ of the sliced apples, being careful not to break the apple slices.
  4. Pour the mixture into the prepared flan ring and gently smooth over the surface. Scatter the remaining apples over the surface and sprinkle with 1 dessertspoon of caster sugar.
  5. Place in the preheated oven and cook for 20 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 160c etc and cook for a further 40 minutes by which time the tart will feel gently set. It may be necessary to cover the tart during the cooking with a sheet of parchment paper if the tart is getting too dark.
  6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. While the tart is still warm, Paint the surfaced with the warm sieved apricot jam to achieve a glossy glaze and if using the chopped geranium, sprinkle on immediately after glazing the tart. 
  7.  Serve warm with softly whipped cream. 

Clodagh McKenna’s Orange Pistachio Yogurt Cake @NDC_ie #homebaking

clodagh orange pistachio

Yields 8 Servings
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time1 hr
Total Time1 hr 30 mins

This is one of my favourite cakes at this time of the year. It’s a much needed burst of sunshine. Deliciously light, and moist due to the natural Irish yogurt. You can make a gluten free version by simply using gluten free breadcrumbs. You can substitute the pistachios with hazelnuts, roast the hazelnuts before you add them to the cake, it enhances their flavour. It will last for one week, but not sure you will have any left for to test me on that!

To serve:

Decorate with 50g roughly chopped pistachios and the zest of one lemon on top. Serve with a dollop of natural Irish yogurt

Ingredients checklist
50 g slightly stale white breadcrumbs
100 g almonds, ground
100 g pistachios
1 tsp baking powder
4 eggs
150 g caster sugar
125 ml sunflower oil
200 ml natural Irish yogurt
zest of 1 orange
zest of 1 lemon
Ingredients checklist for the citrus syrup
juice of 1 orange
juice of 1 lemon
1 star anise
1 cinnamon stick

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 190°C / Gas 5.

Grease a 20.5cm (8in) round and 5cm (2in) deep tin and then lightly dust with flour.

In a large bowl mix together the breadcrumbs, almonds, pistachios and baking powder.

In a separate bowl whisk the eggs with the caster sugar. Continue to whisk while pouring in the vegetable oil, followed by the natural Irish yogurt.

 

Next stir the liquid pour into the dry ingredients and mix well. Add the orange and lemon zest.

Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin and into the pre-heated oven.

 

Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the cake is golden brown. To ensure cake is done, insert a skewer into the center – if it’s ready, the skewer should come out clean. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before turning out onto a plate.

 

Meanwhile, make the citrus syrup. Put all of the ingredients into a saucepan and bring gently to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved completely. Simmer for 10 minutes or until thick.

 

While the cake is still warm, pierce it several times with a skewer, then spoon the hot syrup over the cake, allowing it to run into the holes. Leave to cool. Spoon any excess syrup back over the cake every now and then until it is all soaked up.

 

Sprinkle chopped pistachios on top, and the zest of one orange. Serve with natural Irish yogurt

https://ndc.ie/recipe/clodaghs-orange-pistachio-yogurt-cake/

 

.@Anahaugh Vegan Chocolate Mousse

This quick and easy chocolate mousse is a brilliant vegan dessert. Made with silken tofu, it’s even high in protein!

Equipment: you will need a confectionery thermometer.

Each serving provides 620 kcal, 8.5g protein, 86g carbohydrate (of which 74g sugars), 27g fat (of which 7.5g saturates), 2g fibre and 0.4g salt.

Ingredients

For the chocolate mousse

For the honeycomb

For the apricots

How-to-videos

Method

  1. Put the tofu, ground star anise, vanilla seeds, treacle and agave syrup into a large bowl and blend with a hand blender until silky smooth.
  2. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof glass bowl sat over a saucepan of simmering water, being careful not to let the bowl touch the water. Fold into the tofu. Spoon the mixture between 4 glasses and refrigerate until set.
  3. To make the honeycomb, line a baking tray with baking paper. Put the sugar, glucose and golden syrup into a deep saucepan and heat until it reaches 145C. (This should take about 5 minutes). Quickly whisk in the bicarbonate of soda. Be careful as the mixture will bubble up very suddenly. Quickly pour onto the lined baking tray. Set aside to cool and harden.
  4. To make the apricots, heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the apricots and star anise and cook until the apricots start to caramelise. Sprinkle over a pinch of sugar and leave to cool.
  5. To serve, sprinkle the toasted almonds on top of the mousse and serve with the apricots and peices of honeycomb.

Odlums Danish Apple Cake

Danish-Apple-Cake-2-e1579091698727

Danish Apple Cake

CategoryOur Top Picks

Cook Time40 mins

What you need:

  • 225g / 8oz Odlums Cream Plain Flour
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 125g / 4oz Butter or Margarine
  • 225g / 8oz Icing Sugar
  • Rind of 1 Lemon
  • 2 Eggs
  • 150ml / 1/4pt Milk
  • 6 Cooking Apples (peeled & thinly sliced)
  • 100g packet Flaked Almonds
  • Granulated Sugar (depending on sweetness of apples)

How to:

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Lightly grease an ovenproof dish about 28cms x 18cms (11″ x 7″).
  2. Cream together the butter or margarine and icing sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the lemon rind.
  4. Sieve flour and baking powder. Add the flour to the batter, alternately with the milk.
  5. Spread half the mixture into prepared dish, layer half the apples over this and top with remaining mixture. Arrange the apple slices on top. Sprinkle with sugar if wished and finally sprinkle over the flaked almonds.
  6. Bake for about 40 minutes until well risen and firm to the touch.
  7. Serve with cream, ice cream or cr̬me fraiche.

https://www.odlums.ie/recipes/danish-apple-cake/?fbclid=IwAR1QJDJLE62k4PcRLvM-k5V1D7EXYnR09G5B4CLg4eglgT0h-j0sSbndETw

Dark Chocolate, Ginger & Hazelnut Oaty Biscuits @flahavans #ToyShow 🕹

flahavans

Happy Late Late Toy Show Day ! 🎉 Why not whip up these Dark Chocolate, Ginger & Hazelnut Oaty Biscuits as a treat for you and the little ones tonight🍫 Crunchy, sweet, and packed with that zingy ginger kick—Enjoy this cookie while you enjoy the show! 😍🍪 #Flahavansirishoats

Serves 18 cookies|Takes 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
150g Flahavan’s Jumbo Porridge Oats
100g sprouted buckwheat flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1tsp cinnamon
50g toasted blanched hazelnuts, chopped
200g hazelnut butter
120g tahini
90ml coconut oil
60ml ginger syrup, from stem ginger
60ml maple syrup
90g stem ginger, finely chopped
100g Butlers 70% Dark Chocolate bar, finely chopped

METHOD:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/Gas mark 4 and line a large baking tray with baking parchment
2. Combine the Flahavan’s Jumbo Oats, buckwheat flour, baking powder, cinnamon and chopped hazelnuts together in a large mixing bowl
3. In a saucepan, mix together the hazelnut butter, tahini, coconut oil, ginger syrup and maple syrup and gently melt over a low heat until combined
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir, slowly folding in the stem ginger
5. Roll the mixture into 18 small balls and place on the baking tray. Gently flatten each ball with a fork and bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes (or until brown on the edges)
6. Once cooked, allow to cool for 15 minutes on the baking tray before transferring to a cooling rack. Whilst the cookies are cooling, melt the Butlers 70% Dark Chocolate in a bowl over a pan of hot water, making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water
7. Drizzle the chocolate over them using a teaspoon. Allow the chocolate to cool and set completely, then enjoy or wrap up with some ribbon and treat your friends and family

Sweet And Moist Greek Honey Cake #HaughtonHoney

greek-honey-cake-1-w450h450

A sticky Greek cake that tastes a little like the much more complicated Greek dessert Baklava

Thanks to Angela for this simple cake recipe that kids just love.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of plain flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon of orange zest
  • 3/4 cup of butter
  • 3/4 cup of white sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 3/4 cup of milk
  • 1 cup of chopped walnuts
  • 1 cup of Haughton Honey
  • 1 cup of white sugar
  • 3/4 cup of water
  • 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 175c/350F. Grease and lightly flour a 9″ square cake tin. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and orange rind. Set this to one side.
  2. In a large bowl mix together the butter and the sugar with a whisk until light and fluffy. Then blend in the eggs one at a time. Gently blend in the flour mixture prepared earlier with the milk and stir in the walnuts.
  3. Pour the batter in to the prepared tin. Place in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes and then cut the cake into diamond shapes before pouring the honey syrup over. Decorate with lemon zest if you wish.
  4. To make the honey syrup combine the honey, 1 cup of white sugar and 3/4 cup of water. Bring slowly to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and continue cooking for a further 2 minutes. Keep warm before pouring on to the cake.

Notes for the cook: if you have a fan-assisted oven then reduce the specified temperature in the recipe by about 15% ~ 1 teaspoon = 5ml and 1 tablespoon = 15ml ~ some ingredients are measured in cups and some equivalents are; 150g, 6oz (1/2 cup) = 120ml, 4fl oz

http://www.haughtonhoney.com/our-honey/recipes/sweet-and-moist-greek-honey-cake

Lemongrass Coconut Cake by Rachel Allen @Ballymaloe


By Rachel Allen Celebrity Chef
More from
Rachel Allen’s Cake Diaries


A quirky combination. The end result? A scrumptious cake for all to enjoy.
Ingredients
4 stalks of lemongrass, base and tops trimmed, outer leaves removed but reserved for the syrup (see below)
250 g (9oz) caster sugar
4 eggs
200 g (7oz) butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
125 g (41/2 oz) desiccated coconut
125 g (41/2 oz) plain flour, plus extra for dusting
2 tsp baking powder
greek yoghurt or creme fraiche, to serve
for the syrup
reserved trimmings and outer leaves of the lemongrass (see above)
75 g (3oz) caster sugar
23cm (9in) diameter cake tin with 6cm
Method
Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F/Gas 3). Butter the sides of the cake tin and dust with flour, then line the base with a disc of baking parchment.
Slice the lemongrass stalks quite thinly into rounds about 3mm (1?8in) thick, then place in a food processor with the caster sugar and whiz for 1–2 minutes or until the lemongrass is finely puréed and very aromatic.
Add the eggs, butter and coconut and whiz again until combined, then sift the flour and baking powder together and add to the machine, whizzing very briefly just until the ingredients come together.
Tip the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 40–45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. While the cake is cooking, make the syrup.
Roughly chop the lemongrass trimmings, place in a saucepan with the sugar and 75ml (3fl oz) of water and set over a high heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar is dissolved, then bring to the boil and boil for 2 minutes before removing from the heat and leaving to infuse.
When the cake has finished baking, take it out of the oven and let it sit in the tin for 10 minutes. Loosen around the edges using a small, sharp knife and carefully remove the cake from the tin before transferring to a serving plate.
Reheat the syrup, then pierce holes all over the cake with a skewer and pour the hot syrup through a sieve onto the cake, moving the pan and sieve around as you pour so that the syrup covers the top of the cake. Allow the cake to cool down completely.
Serve with a dollop of natural Greek yoghurt or crème fraiche.

Jammy Easter egg biscuits by Liberty Mendez

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/easter_baking_with_kids

These adorable jam and lemon curd filled biscuits in the shape of Easter eggs are super easy to make with kids over the holidays and make a change from chocolate. (Of course, you can also fill them with chocolate!)

Ingredients

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4 and line two large baking trays with parchment paper.
  2. Put the soft butter and the sugar in a bowl and beat with an electric whisk until smooth and creamy. Add the flour, lemon zest and milk and mix until you have a smooth dough.
  3. Take 2 sheets of parchment paper and put the dough in between them. Roll it out so it is around 3mm thick. If it’s a hot day and the dough is soft, you can chill the dough for up to an hour at this point.
  4. Remove the top piece of paper then cut out about 20 egg shapes, re-rolling the dough from the if you need to. Put half of them onto one lined baking tray. These will be the bottom biscuits.
  5. Cut a hole in the lower-middle of each remaining egg shape using a 2.5cm/1in round cutter.
  6. Put the cut-out centre circles onto the other lined baking tray. Bake the biscuits on both trays for 12 minutes, or until golden-brown at the edges. (The biscuits with the holes will need slightly less time.)
  7. Leave to cool for 2 minutes on the tray and then transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
  8. Once completely cool, sift a little icing sugar over the biscuits with the holes. Spread about 1 teaspoon of jam or lemon curd onto the underside of each whole biscuit. Then place a cut-out biscuit on top so the curd comes through the hole slightly. Serve or store in a biscuit tin until ready to serve.