Luscious Carrot Cake

dgold carrot cake 26516The first time your kids hear ‘carrot cake’, they might pull a face – a cake with carrots in it? – but once they try some of this deliciously moist, sweet and dense dessert, they should be all smiles. This cake should get you between 12 and 16 slices, depending on how generous you are!

Ingredients

  • 150g Dairygold Baking Block, melted
  • 150g light brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 200g self-raising wholemeal flour
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • ½tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½tsp ground nutmeg
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 100g raisins
  • 200g grated carrot
  • 100g pecans

For the icing:

  • 130g Dairygold baking block
  • 300g soft cream cheese
  • 160g icing sugar

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mk 4.

Prepare a rectangular cake tin (or two sandwich tins) by lining it with lightly greased greaseproof paper, leaving some overlapping the edges.

Beat the sugar, Dairygold Baking Block and eggs together until the mixture has doubled in size.

Next, fold in the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and spice, making sure to mix well.

Stir in the carrots, raisins and nuts until they’re evenly mixed through.

Pour into your tin(s) and bake for 35-40 minutes, before allowing to cool.

While that’s happening, beat together the icing ingredients and smooth over the cooled cake.

If you made two cakes in sandwich tins, you can create a middle layer of icing for double the creamy deliciousness!

– See more at: http://www.yourdairygold.ie/bake-it/luscious-carrot-cake.aspx#sthash.RjBXxCvm.dpuf

Almond Cake with Apricot Brandy Sauce

almond-cake-with-apricot-brandy-sauce-thumbnail

Serves:10

The cake owes its moist, spongy texture to the same thing that gives the sauce its luscious consistency: Kerrygold Irish Butter made with grass-fed cow’s milk. The soft, creamy butter does double duty in this dessert, and the result is a dish that’s twice as hard to forget.

http://kerrygoldusa.com/recipes/almond-cake-with-apricot-brandy-sauce

Chocolate Hazelnut Eclairs

Chocolate_Eclairs-5_hi_res

Ingredients:

  • For the choux pastry:
  • ½ stick of Kerrygold Unsalted Butter
  • ½ cup of water
  • ¾ cup of plain flour, sifted
  • 3 large free range eggs
  • For the crème patisserie:
  • 6 large free range egg yolks
  • ⅔ cup of sugar
  • ⅓ cup of cornflour
  • 2 cups of milk
  • 1 vanilla pod
  • ½ stick of Kerrygold Unsalted Butter
  • For the chocolate glaze:
  • ⅔ cup of good quality dark chocolate
  • ¼ cup of cream
  • ½ stick of Kerrygold Unsalted Butter
  • ½ cup of roasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425˚F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the butter and water in a saucepan and bring to a steady boil until the butter is melted. Remove from the heat and add the flour, beating with a wooden spoon until a dough comes together. Place back over the heat and beat the dough in the saucepan for about 40 seconds. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  2. Beat the eggs in a small bowl. Add the eggs little at a time, beat thoroughly with a wooden spoon until the egg is completely incorporated after each addition. You are looking to have a consistency that will hold its shape when piped. It should be smooth, shiny and just about fall from the spoon. You might not use all the egg.
  3. Using a spatula, scoop the dough into a large piping bag fitted with a large round piping nozzle and pipe 10cm lines on the lined baking sheets, leaving about 4cm in between each line to allow for spreading. Brush each one with a little leftover beaten egg.
  4. Place in the oven, reducing the heat to 375˚F for approximately 25 minutes until they have risen and are golden and crisp. Transfer to a wire rack and use a sharp pointed knife to pierce three holes on the underside of the buns. Allow to cool completely before filling.
  5. For the crème pâtissière, split the vanilla pod in half and scrape out the seeds. Add this to a medium saucepan with the milk and place over a medium high heat. Bring to the boil and then turn off the heat. Scoop out the vanilla pod.
  6. While the milk is coming to the boil, place the sugar, cornflour and egg yolks in a large mixing bowl and beat with a whisk until thick and pale.
  7. Pour the hot milk into the bowl, whisking quickly and continuously until it is smooth and incorporated. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and place over a medium heat beating continuously until it has thickened.
  8. Transfer the crème pâtissière to a cold bowl, create a flat surface with the back of a spatula and wipe the top with little butter (this will prevent a skin forming). Cover directly with cling film and allow to cool completely.
  • 9   For the chocolate glaze, melt the dark chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of hot water. When the chocolate has melted remove the bowl from the heat and gently stir through the cream. Fold in the butter until you have a shiny, spreadable chocolate glaze.
  • 10  To assemble the eclairs, fill a piping bag, fitted with a small round nozzle, with the crème pâtissière and pipe into the holes on the underside of the choux buns. Spread the chocolate glaze over the top of each eclair and sprinkle with the roasted hazelnuts. Serve straight away or the eclairs will keep for 1 or 2 days in the fridge.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT ECLAIRS

Apricot and Almond Cake with Oranges & Caramel

apricot-and-almond-cake-with-oranges-in-caramel

Ingredients

  • 225g butter
  • 225g sugar
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 75g ground almonds
  • 100g plain flour
  • 100g dried apricots, chopped in the food processor
  • 3 Quality Assured large eggs, beaten

Oranges in caramel

  • 4 large oranges, peeled and sliced
  • 4 tablesp. sugar
  • 125ml water

To Cook

Set oven 180°C (350°F) Gas Mark 4.

Line a shallow 23cm cake tin with baking parchment.

Beat the butter and sugar together, until light and fluffy, add the lemon juice and ground almonds. Fold in the flour, apricots and eggs. Transfer the mixture to the lined cake tin, smooth the top and bake for approx. 35 mins., until firm to the touch.

 

Oranges in Caramel

Place the oranges in a flat dish, heat the sugar in a heavy pan, allow the sugar to brown add the water and boil until you have a caramel sauce. Pour it over the oranges. Serve with the cake.

 http://www.bordbia.ie/consumer/recipes/desserts/pages/apricotandalmondcakewithorangescarmel.aspx

Fresh Berry Pie Bars

Fresh_Berry_Pie_Bars__2_of_3_

Fresh Fruit Cookies

odl fruit cookies apr 16

Ingredients

300g/10oz Odlums Cream Plain Flour

150g/5oz Butter (room temperature)

150g/5oz Caster Sugar

1 Medium Egg (beaten)

Few Drops Vanilla Essence

 

Topping

250ml Carton Fresh Cream (whipped)

Fresh Fruit in Season

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Lightly grease large flat baking trays.
  2. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla essence and mix well.
  3. Gradually add the flour and mix until dough is formed. Wrap and chill for an hour.
  4. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured board to a thickness of 3 – 4mm.Cut with large round cutters of choice. Dip the cutters into flour before each use.
  5. Arrange them on prepared tins/trays and bake in a central oven position for about 12 minutes or until firm and golden brown. Leave to cool for 10 minutes then transfer to wire tray to cool.
  6. When cold decorate with a layer of fresh cream and fruit of your choice!

Fresh Fruit Cookies

Rustic Raspberry Tart with Kerrygold Butter Crust

Rustic_Raspberry_Thursday

Sweetened fresh raspberries make a wonderful filling, but the star of this dessert is the buttery, flaky crust baked with all-natural Kerrygold Butter. It holds the fruit and creates a delicate tart that begs to be placed next to a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoyed with loved ones after a delicious meal.

http://kerrygoldusa.com/recipes/rustic-raspberry-tart-with-kerrygold-butter-crust

Raspberry, Almond & White Chocolate Tart

raspberry_almond_tart_6-266x266

Ingredients

  • 100g (4oz) Avonmore butter, at room temperature
  • 100g (4oz) icing sugar
  • 25g (1oz) plain flour
  • 100g (4oz) ground almonds
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped out
  • • large pinch ground cinnamon
  • • 300g Raspberries
  • • 2 oz White Chocolate Pieces
  • • 1 tbsp toasted flaked almonds

For the pastry:

  • 100g (4oz) butter, diced and chilled
  • 175g (6oz) plain flour, plus extra for dusting
  • pinch of salt
  • 50g (2oz) caster sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/2 tbsp Water

To serve:

  • Raspberries
  • 250ml Avonmore Fresh Dessert Cream

Directions

  1. To make the pastry, place the butter, flour, salt and sugar in a kitchen mixer and blend briefly until mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs.
  2. Add the egg yolk and water and mix together again briefly until the soft dough has formed. Cover in clingfilm and chill for 1 hour.
  3. Preheat the oven to 190C (375F), Gas mark 5. To make the almond filling, using electric whisk, cream the butter and icing sugar together in a large bowl. Add the flour and almonds and gradually beat in the eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon. Beat for another 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Fold in the white chocolate pieces.
  4. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface, line a 23cm (9in) fluted loose-bottomed flan tin with the pastry. Chill again for 15 minutes. Spread the almond filling in the pastry base and carefully arrange the raspberries on top, gently pressing them into the filling.
  5. Bake the tart for 25-30 minutes until the tart is cooked through and golden brown on top.
  6. Garnish with raspberries and serve with Avonmore Fresh Dessert Cream, which is already slightly sweetened & ready to pour

http://cookwithavonmore.ie/recipe/raspberry-almond-white-chocolate-tart/

 

Oaty Blueberry Muffins with Ginger and Pear Frosting

fla cup cakes tw jan 16

Serves 16*
*depending on the size of your muffin cases
This is a great recipe to impress when the girls are coming around for an afternoon chat. That said, my children love to bake these with me too. The blueberries give them the added extra goodness. 

Ingredients:

  • 300g golden caster sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 170ml sunflower oil
  • 100ml milk
  • 280g self-raising flour
  • 100g Flahavan’s Progress Oatlets
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 150g blueberries
  • 1 large pear, peeled and finely diced
For the Topping
  • 150g cream cheese
  • 100g butter, softened
  • 2 pieces stemmed ginger, very finely chopped
  • 2 tsp ginger syrup
  • 350g icing sugar
  • 2 poached pears, thinly sliced for decorating
  • Edible flowers to decorate (optional)

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/Fan 150°C/Gas 3.
  2. Place muffin cases in a muffin tray.
  3. Whisk the sugar, eggs, milk and oil together until thick and pale.
  4. Fold in the flour, oatlets, ginger and salt.
  5. Stir in the blueberries and diced pear.
  6. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases.
  7. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until lightly golden.
  8. Place on a cooling rack.
  9. Cream the butter in a large bowl, then add some icing sugar, followed by the cream cheese and the rest of the icing sugar.  Spoon in the ginger syrup.
  10. Pipe or spread over the cool muffins, decorate with chopped ginger and place slices of pear and a pretty edible flower on the top.
Tip: 
If using soft fruit like raspberries, just place fruit in freezer for about ½ hour and they will stay fairly whole when baked.
 http://www.flahavans.ie/recipes/oaty-blueberry-muffins-with-ginger-and-pear-frosting-/247