by alma cooper
Artwork: Alma Cooper
Copyright © 2023
Bonfire Night cookies-
Ingredients
- 75g unsalted butter, softened
- 100g caster sugar
- 1 large egg
- 250g plain flour
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
For the icing
- 1 large egg white
- 250g icing sugar, sifted
- ½ tsp lemon juice
- gel food colourings (we used blue, yellow and red)
- star sprinkles (optional)
Method
- STEP 1
Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric whisk for 4-5 mins until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg until combined. Add the flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon and ginger, and continue to beat until the mixture comes together into a dough. Put the dough between two pieces of baking parchment and roll out to a 6mm thickness using a rolling pin.
- STEP 2
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Remove the top layer of parchment and cut out cookies using a 6cm round or star cutter. Re-roll the offcuts and continue to cut out cookies until all the dough has been used (you should get 20-22, depending on the cutter).
- STEP 3
Arrange the cookies on a large baking sheet lined with baking parchment, spacing them at least 2cm apart (you may need two baking sheets). Bake for 7-10 mins until slightly golden at the edges. Leave to cool on the baking sheet for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- STEP 4
Once cool, make the icing. Beat the egg white with an electric whisk until just starting to froth up, about 1 min. Add the icing sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, whisking continuously at a medium-high speed until combined. Add the lemon juice and whisk to stiff peaks, about 5 mins – the icing should be shiny. Add more icing sugar if needed to help it stiffen up.
- STEP 5
To decorate, divide the icing into bowls and colour with the gel food colourings (we left some icing white, then coloured three bowls with blue, yellow and red). Spoon the coloured icing into separate piping bags fitted with small round nozzles (or snip off the ends). Pipe lines on the biscuits to create firework-like ‘burst’ patterns or swirls. While the icing is wet, decorate with star sprinkles, if you like. Leave to set slightly, then serve. Will keep in an airtight container for up to a week.
S’mores dip-
Ingredients
- 200g milk chocolate
- 2 tbsp full-fat milk
- 350g mini marshmallows
To serve
- 100g digestive biscuits
- 100g strawberries, washed and hulled
- 100g pineapple chunks
- skewers
Method
- STEP 1
Heat the chocolate, milk and 200g of the marshmallows in an ovenproof frying pan over a low heat until melted and smooth. Top with the remaining marshmallows in circles so that the whole surface is covered.
- STEP 2
Grill on high for 1-2 mins until the marshmallows are toasted. Serve with digestives and strawberry and pineapple skewers for dunking.
Sticky cider onion hot dogs-
Ingredients
- 30g butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 finely sliced onions
- 100ml dry cider
- 1 tbsp dark brown soft sugar
- 1 tbsp cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 4 sausages
- 4 brioche hot dog buns
Method
- STEP 1
Melt the butter in a pan with the olive oil. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and fry for 25-30 mins or until caramelised. Add the cider and simmer until reduced. Stir in the sugar and vinegar. Mix the mustard with the mayonnaise. Cook the sausages following pack instructions. Split the hot dog buns and fill each with a sausage. Top with the onions and the mustard-mayo.
Ingredients
- 8 Granny Smith apples
- 400g golden caster sugar
- 1 tsp vinegar
- 4 tbsp golden syrup
Method
- STEP 1
Place the apples in a large bowl, then cover with boiling water (you may have to do this in 2 batches). This will remove the waxy coating and help the caramel to stick. Dry thoroughly and twist off any stalks. Push a wooden skewer or lolly stick into the stalk end of each apple.
- STEP 2
Lay out a sheet of baking parchment and place the apples on this, close to your stovetop. Tip the sugar into a pan along with 100ml water and set over a medium heat. Cook for 5 mins until the sugar dissolves, then stir in the vinegar and syrup. Set a sugar thermometer in the pan and boil to 150C or ‘hard crack’ stage. If you don’t have a thermometer you can test the toffee by pouring a little into a bowl of cold water. It should harden instantly and, when removed, be brittle and easy to break. If you can still squish the toffee, continue to boil it.
- STEP 3
Working quickly and carefully, dip and twist each apple in the hot toffee until covered, let any excess drip away, then place on the baking parchment to harden. You may have to heat the toffee a little if the temperature drops and it starts to feel thick and viscous. Leave the toffee to cool before eating. Can be made up to 2 days in advance, stored in a dry place.
Ingredients
- 8 Granny Smith apples
- 400g golden caster sugar
- 1 tsp vinegar
- 4 tbsp golden syrup
Method
- STEP 1
Place the apples in a large bowl, then cover with boiling water (you may have to do this in 2 batches). This will remove the waxy coating and help the caramel to stick. Dry thoroughly and twist off any stalks. Push a wooden skewer or lolly stick into the stalk end of each apple.
- STEP 2
Lay out a sheet of baking parchment and place the apples on this, close to your stovetop. Tip the sugar into a pan along with 100ml water and set over a medium heat. Cook for 5 mins until the sugar dissolves, then stir in the vinegar and syrup. Set a sugar thermometer in the pan and boil to 150C or ‘hard crack’ stage. If you don’t have a thermometer you can test the toffee by pouring a little into a bowl of cold water. It should harden instantly and, when removed, be brittle and easy to break. If you can still squish the toffee, continue to boil it.
- STEP 3
Working quickly and carefully, dip and twist each apple in the hot toffee until covered, let any excess drip away, then place on the baking parchment to harden. You may have to heat the toffee a little if the temperature drops and it starts to feel thick and viscous. Leave the toffee to cool before eating. Can be made up to 2 days in advance, stored in a dry place.
Orchard fruit & cider tatin with cinnamon cream-
Ingredients
- 200g golden caster sugar
- 100ml cider (optional)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 50g cold butter, sliced
- 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and quartered
- 3 firm pears peeled, cored and halved
- 340g sheet all-butter puff pastry
For the cinnamon cream
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 100g crème fraîche
- 150ml double cream
- 70g icing sugar
Method
- STEP 1
Scatter the sugar into a 24cm ovenproof frying pan and add the cider, if using, and the cinnamon stick. Place on the heat and bring to the boil, then reduce the syrup until it caramelises and goes amber, then add the butter off the heat and toss through to make a sticky sauce. While the sauce is still warm, pack the pan with the apples and pears. Roll the pastry out until it’s slightly larger than the pan, then drape over the fruit and use a spoon to tuck the pastry under the fruit completely encasing them so that all you see is the puff pastry. Pop in the fridge for an hour or overnight.
- STEP 2
Whisk the cinnamon, crème fraiche, cream and sugar together to soft peaks. Chill in the fridge.
- STEP 3
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and with a knife, prick a few holes in the top of the pastry. Put the pan in the oven and bake for 45 mins, then remove and leave to cool for 10 mins or so. This will make it easier and safer to turn out the tart. Place an upturned plate on top of the pan, then carefully flip the dish over. Serve in slices with the cinnamon cream on the side.
Published: Mar 10, 2023
Latest Revision: Mar 10, 2023
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