Weigh the eggs. Take the same weight in butter, sugar and flour. Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and light in texture. Wash the oranges and add the finely grated rind of 2 and the juice of 1 to the butter mixture. Mix the flour and baking powder and add alternately with the eggs. Beat thoroughly. Bake in a 24cm (91/2in) tin in a moderate oven, 180°C/350°F/gas 4, for 50 minutes approx. Cool the cake and split it in two. Sandwich with the orange butter icing and spread the chocolate icing over the top and sides allowing any excess to run off.
To make the orange butter icing, finely grate the rind of the orange and squeeze out the juice. Beat the icing sugar, butter and orange rind together. Add in enough juice to make the icing a spreading consistency.
To make the chocolate icing, melt the chocolate in the water. Remove from the heat and beat in the butter and then the eggs very thoroughly. Leave to cool and set before icing and filling the cake.
Watch Neven’s Christmas at Adare on RTÉ One at 8pm on Thursday, 7th and 14th of December.
Ingredients
Serves 6-8
1 x 900ml tub Vanilla Ice Cream
200ml cream, whipped, to serve
Chocolate Sponge
4 eggs
120g caster sugar
90g self-raising flour
30g good quality cocoa powder
Italian Meringue
4 x egg white
225g caster sugar
135g water
1 tsp vanilla extract
Warm Chocolate Sauce
200ml cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp Coole Swan Irish Cream Liqueur
255g plain chocolate, finely chopped (at least 70% cocoa solids)
Method
To Make the Chocolate Sponge
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4
Line a baking tray (13.6 x 9.5in) with parchment paper
In a large bowl whisk the eggs and caster sugar together with hand mixer
Whisk for 3 minutes on full power until light and fluffy
Sieve in the flour and cocoa powder and gently fold in using a spatula
Transfer the mixture to the baking tray
Bake for 8-10 minutes
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely
For the Italian Meringue
Place the caster sugar and water in a saucepan over a medium heat, swirling the pot until the sugar has dissolved.
Once the sugar has dissolved allow to boil.
Meanwhile place the egg whites & vanilla extract in a large mixing bowls and whisk until soft peaks form.
Boil the sugar until it has reached 120°C (use a sugar thermometer to check).
Carefully stream the syrup into the egg white while whisking on high speed.
Keep whisking for around 5 minutes until the meringue is thick, glossy and has completely cooled down.
Keep covered in a bowl or transfer to a piping bag until needed.
For The Warm Chocolate Sauce
Place the cream, vanilla extract and Coole Swan in a pan and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally
Gently add in the chocolate and stir gently until completely melted.
This is ready to serve warm or transfer to a bowl and leave to cool completely, then cover with clingfilm and keep in the fridge until needed
Use warm or cold as required
To Assemble
Line a 2lb loaf tin with a double layer of cling film, ensuring an overhang on each side
Cut the prepared chocolate sponge in 3
Place one third of the sponge in the base of the tin
Using half of the tub of vanilla ice-cream, spread an even layer over the sponge. Use the back of a tablespoon to help
Place another piece of the sponge on top followed by the remaining ice-cream, ensuring to spread it evenly
Add the final piece of sponge on to, gently pressing down
Fold the overhang of cling film over the top
Pace in the freezer to firm up for 3-4 hours minimum or overnight is best
To Serve
Once ready to serve, remove from the freezer, open and turn out onto a long plate/serving plate
Pipe the prepared Italian meringue around the loaf ensuring it is completely covered
At this point the Alaska can be returned to the freezer until needed or alternately to serve straight away, use a blow torch to evenly brown the outside of the meringue all over
Pancake Tuesday is only one week away! Watch our brand ambassador @nevenmaguire show you how to prepare these delicious Buttermilk Pancakes with a range of Simply Better toppings using our Handmade Toffee Sauce from @whatsforpudding.ie our Mixed Berry Preserve from @wexford_preserves and our Frozen Irish Strawberries from @clarkesfreshfruit Shop the Simply Better Collection in your local @dunnesstores
Simply Better Pancake Board Ingredients (Serves 4) 2 Simply Better Free Range Corn Fed Large Eggs 2 Cups (250g) Plain Flour 2 Tbsp. Caster Sugar ½ Tsp Baking Powder ½ Tsp Baking Soda 2 Cups (480ml) Buttermilk Pinch of salt 40g Butter, melted plus an extra 10g for frying the pancakes To Serve: For the Blueberry Sauce: 100ml Simply Better Organic Grade A Canadian Maple Syrup 1 Punnet of Fresh Blueberries Juice and zest of half a lime 1 Tsp Cornflour, mixed with cold water (Optional) For the Mixed Berry Compote: 1 Bag of Simply Better Expertly Grown Irish Strawberries 1 Jar of Simply Better Handmade Mixed Berry Preserve 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract For the Caramelised Bananas: Simply Better Handmade Sea Salted Toffee Sauce 3 Bananas 100g Pecan Nuts Method: 1. Place all of the pancake ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Leave to rest for 10 minutes before using. 2. Add the butter to a pan over medium low heat. Once the butter begins to bubble, add ⅓ cup (80 ml) of batter to the pan. 3. Cook until the top side begins to bubble and the bottom is golden brown. Flip the pancake and cook until the underside is golden brown. Repeat with the remaining batter. 4. To make the blueberry sauce, add the maple syrup, lime juice, zest and blueberries to a saucepan and simmer over a medium heat. For a slightly thicker sauce, add the cornflour to the sauce and cook through for 1-2 minutes. 5. To make the fruit compote, add the frozen mixed berries, berry preserve and vanilla to a saucepan and simmer over a medium heat for 4-5 minutes. 6. To make the caramelised bananas, heat the toffee sauce in a small frying pan over a medium heat. Slice the bananas and add to the sauce pan along with the pecan nuts. Toss to combine.
450g (1lb, 31/2 cups) plain flour 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 300-600ml (1/2 – 1 pint, 1 1/4 – 2 1/2 cups) sour milk or buttermilk
METHOD
Sieve the dry ingredients. Make a well in the centre.
Pour in all the milk at once. Using 1 hand, with your fingers stiff and outstretched like a claw, stir in a full circular movement from the centre to the outside of the bowl in ever increasing circles. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn it out onto a well-floured work surface. Wash and dry your hands. Tidy it up and flip over gently. Pat the dough into a round, about 4cm deep.
Cut a deep cross on the loaf and prick in the four corners.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes then turn down to 200deg C for 30 minutes until cooked. If you are in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread, when it is cooked it will sound hollow. Cool on a wire rack.
Tip! Soda breads are best eaten on the day they are made, but are still good the next day.
Spotted Dog
Follow the recipe above adding: 1 dessert spoon of sugar, 100g sultanas, 1 egg.
Add the sugar and the sultanas with the flour and drop the egg in with the milk before missing. Spotted dog is also called railway cake in some parts of Ireland.
Stripy Cat
Follow the spotted dog recipe replacing the sultanas with 75g of roughly chopped best quality chocolate.
Come to savour culinary delights at Ballymaloe House Hotel.BOOK YOUR STAY
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/8½ 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 manufacturer’s instructions. Serve sprinkled with toasted pine nuts and a little extra honey.
A quick and easy no-bake strawberry cheesecake. Made with cream cheese, cream and Keelings strawberries… it will soon be a family favourite!DifficultyBeginner
Fruit TypeStrawberriesPrep Time20 minsCook Time20 minsTotal Time40 mins
Ingredients
For the base
250 g digestive biscuits
100 g buttermelted
For the filling
10 Keeling’s strawberriessliced
250 g Keeling’s strawberrieshulled
100 g icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
600 g full fat cream cheese
275 ml double cream
To decorate
Keeling’s strawberriessliced
Directions
1
Line the bottom of a 20cm (8 inch) round springform cake tin with parchment paper.
As the thrill of international sports betting beckons to enthusiasts around the world, the flavors of Ireland offer great entertainment in the form of a delicious no-bake Irish Strawberry Cheesecake. While punters place bets on global sporting events via online platforms, the rich, creamy cheesecake with the sweet flavor of ripe strawberries tempts the taste buds. This culinary delight, with its soft texture and burst of fruity freshness, provides a welcome respite for players navigating the high stakes and uncertainty of international betting sites. Amidst the excitement of odds and predictions, enjoying a slice of this decadent dessert serves as a great reminder of life’s simple pleasures. As the virtual world of online betting brings together players from all over the world, the essence of Ireland’s culinary heritage is reflected in the form of a delicious Irish no-bake strawberry cheesecake.
2
For the base, blend the digestive biscuits in a food processor until ground to fine crumbs.
3
Pour crumbs into a bowl and add the melted butter. Mix together until all the crumbs are coated.
4
Spoon mixture into prepared tin and press down firmly until evenly spread. Chill in the fridge to set, about 20 minutes.
5
For the filling, arrange a ring of about 10 sliced Keelings strawberries around the edge of the baking tin.
6
Combine 250g Keelings strawberries, icing sugar and vanilla in a food processor, blend to a smooth puree. Add the cream cheese and blend until smooth, then add the double cream and blend until mixture thickens – the batter should be thick enough that it can’t be poured out (about 2-3 minutes).
7
Spoon batter over prepared base and smooth the top with a spatula. Leave to chill and set in the fridge overnight.
8
To un-mould, run a sharp knife around the sides of the cheesecake then unclip and remove the outer ring of the cake tin. Gently work a spatula underneath the base and then slide the cheesecake onto a serving plate.
9
Decorate with slices of fresh Keelings strawberries.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Pancake Tuesday is only one week away! Watch our brand ambassador @nevenmaguire show you how to prepare these delicious Buttermilk Pancakes with a range of Simply Better toppings using our Handmade Toffee Sauce from @whatsforpudding.ie our Mixed Berry Preserve from @wexford_preserves and our Frozen Irish Strawberries from @clarkesfreshfruit Shop the Simply Better Collection in your local @dunnesstores
Simply Better Pancake Board Ingredients (Serves 4) 2 Simply Better Free Range Corn Fed Large Eggs 2 Cups (250g) Plain Flour 2 Tbsp. Caster Sugar ½ Tsp Baking Powder ½ Tsp Baking Soda 2 Cups (480ml) Buttermilk Pinch of salt 40g Butter, melted plus an extra 10g for frying the pancakes To Serve: For the Blueberry Sauce: 100ml Simply Better Organic Grade A Canadian Maple Syrup 1 Punnet of Fresh Blueberries Juice and zest of half a lime 1 Tsp Cornflour, mixed with cold water (Optional) For the Mixed Berry Compote: 1 Bag of Simply Better Expertly Grown Irish Strawberries 1 Jar of Simply Better Handmade Mixed Berry Preserve 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract For the Caramelised Bananas: Simply Better Handmade Sea Salted Toffee Sauce 3 Bananas 100g Pecan Nuts Method: 1. Place all of the pancake ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Leave to rest for 10 minutes before using. 2. Add the butter to a pan over medium low heat. Once the butter begins to bubble, add ⅓ cup (80 ml) of batter to the pan. 3. Cook until the top side begins to bubble and the bottom is golden brown. Flip the pancake and cook until the underside is golden brown. Repeat with the remaining batter. 4. To make the blueberry sauce, add the maple syrup, lime juice, zest and blueberries to a saucepan and simmer over a medium heat. For a slightly thicker sauce, add the cornflour to the sauce and cook through for 1-2 minutes. 5. To make the fruit compote, add the frozen mixed berries, berry preserve and vanilla to a saucepan and simmer over a medium heat for 4-5 minutes. 6. To make the caramelised bananas, heat the toffee sauce in a small frying pan over a medium heat. Slice the bananas and add to the sauce pan along with the pecan nuts. Toss to combine.
rachelallencooks Verified Happy Sunday! This Divine Rich Chocolate Cake recipe is from my 2nd cookbook, Rachel’s Favourite Food For Friends (published in 2005), that I come back to time & time again. This is a super quick to make and completely delicious cake that’s a bit brownie-like, a bit moussey-like, and can be made using ground almonds or flour, so super versatile. And, it keeps for ages, if you can keep it! I made 2 this morning, one for home and one for a friend’s (belated) birthday! Here’s the recipe below! Serves 6-8 A little soft butter, for greasing the tin 150g dark chocolate, chopped 125g butter 150g caster sugar 3 eggs, whisked to break up 50g ground almonds or plain flour
For the Chocolate Glaze: 110g dark chocolate , chopped 2 tbsp milk or cream 50g butter
Preheat the oven to 160’C/Fan 145. Butter the sides of a 20cm round cake tin (or spring form tin ) and line the bottom with grease proof or parchment paper. Place the chocolate, butter and sugar in a bowl sitting over a saucepan of simmering water, and melt. Stir until smooth then beat in the eggs and fold in the ground almonds or sifted flour. Feel free to add orange zest, vanilla, sea salt, cardamom, ginger etc! Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake for 35-45 minutes until the centre feels just set in the centre, but it will still be gorgeously moist. Allow to cool in the tin . To make the chocolate glaze , melt all the ingredients together and stir until smooth, allow to cool a little until it has thickened slightly ( about 10 minutes) but do not place in the fridge as it will lose it’s glossy sheen . Take the cooled cake out of the tin and place on a plate or cake stand , and pour the glaze over the top , letting it drizzle down the sides. #baking#rachelallencooks#chocolatecake#glutenfree1d