Tag: essence

Hairy Bikers’ chocolate yule log

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The Hairy Bikers’ make great comforting Christmas recipes and this chocolate yule log is no exception. Serve as an alternative Christmas pudding or as a Christmas Eve treat – no-one will be able to resist!

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Decorating the yule log with desiccated coconut gives it an extra Christmassy look

Ingredients

  • Soft butter for greasing
  • 6 large eggs, separated
  • 150g caster sugar
  • 50g cocoa powder

Icing and filling

  • 200g plain, dark chocolate, broken into squares
  • 200g icing sugar
  • 200g butter, room temperature
  • 2 tbsp Camp chicory and coffee essence

Decoration

  • Fresh holly leaves or leaves made from ready-to-roll coloured icing
  • Icing sugar or desiccated coconut

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4. Line a 23 x 33cm Swiss roll tin with baking parchment, grease with a little butter and set aside.
  2. Put the egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl and whisk with an electric beater until thick and creamy. Sift the cocoa powder over the egg mixture and whisk in thoroughly. Wash and dry the beaters and whisk the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold a third of the egg whites into the cocoa mixture, then gently fold in the rest until evenly distributed. Pour the mixture into the tin and spread gently with a spatula. Bake for 20–25 minutes or until well risen and beginning to shrink away from the sides of the tin.
  3. Remove the cake from the oven, loosen the edges with a round-bladed knife and leave to stand for a few minutes. Place a piece of baking parchment on the work surface, turn the cake onto the parchment and leave it to cool completely – 30–40 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, make the icing. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, or in the microwave. Remove from the heat and leave to cool, but do not allow it to set. Put the icing sugar in a food processor, add the butter and blitz until smooth. Add the coffee essence and 2 tablespoons of melted chocolate, then blend until smooth. Make sure the chocolate is cool, or it will melt the butter. 
  5. Take just over half the icing mixture out of the processor and put it in a bowl to use for the filling. With the motor running, slowly add the remaining chocolate to the icing mixture in the processor and blend until smooth. This will be used for icing the cake.
  6. When the cake is cool, trim off the crusty edges. Using a palette knife or spatula, spread the filling over the cake, taking it right to the edges. Starting at one of the long sides, gently roll up the sponge, keeping the first roll fairly tight so it forms a good spiral shape. Spread the icing evenly over the cake and drag a fork through it to resemble the ridges on the bark of a tree.
  7. Chill for at least 30 minutes to allow the icing to set. Decorate with sifted icing sugar.

This recipe is taken from

The Hairy Bikers’ 12 Days of Christmas,

which is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, £20.00.

By The Hairy Bikers

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Nutritional information

Guideline Daily Amount for 2,000 calories per day are: 70g fat, 20g saturated fat, 90g sugar, 6g salt.

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What’s your budget to spend on food and drink for Christmas this year?

  • £151+ 26%
  • £101-£150 17%
  • £71-£100 12%
  • £51-£70 9%
  • £31-£50 10%
  • Less than £30 10%
  • I don’t know yet 5%
  • I’m not setting a budget 11%

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Dark chocolate brownies

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These classic chocolate brownies are made extra-special with a delicious choccie glaze. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days

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Ingredients

For the brownies:

  • ½ cup butter
  • 3oz plain chocolate, chopped
  • 1⅓ cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • ½ cup plain flour
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts

For the chocolate glaze (optional):

  • ⅓ cup whipping cream
  • 1 cup plain chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence

Method

  1. Add the butter and chocolate to a medium pan over low heat. Stir frequently until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour and walnuts until well blended.
  2. Spread the batter evenly in a buttered and floured 8in square baking pan.
  3. Bake at 180°C/160°C fan/350°F/Gas Mark 4 for 25 to 30 minutes until the edges feel firm to the touch and begin to turn a shade darker.
  4. Meanwhile, make the chooclate glaze. In a small pan, stir the whipping cream and chocolate over low heat until melted and smooth. Stir in the vanilla essence.
  5. Run a knife between the pan rim and the brownie. If desired, spread with the chocolate glaze. Allow to cool in the pan on a rack for about 1 hour. Cut into 9 or 16 squares.

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Nutritional information per portion

  • Calories 195(kcal)
  • Fat 12.0g
  • Saturates 5.8g
  • Salt 0.1g

This nutritional information is only a guide and is based on 2,000 calories per day. For more information on eating a healthy diet, please visit the Food Standards Agency website.

Guideline Daily Amount for 2,000 calories per day are: 70g fat, 20g saturated fat, 90g sugar, 6g salt.

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Cherry and vanilla Victoria sponge

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This vanilla cream and cherry version of traditional Victoria sponge is a brilliant take on the family favourite and perfect for afternoon tea.

  • Serves: 10

  • Prep time: 20 mins

  • Cooking time: 20-25 mins

  • Total time: 45 mins

  • Skill level: Easy peasy

  • Costs: Cheap as chips

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Top tip: How can you tell when your cake’s cooked? Touch it with your fingertips and the sponge should spring back lightly.

Ingredients

  • 225g (8oz) butter, softened
  • 225g (8oz) golden caster sugar
  • 225g (8oz) self-raising flour
  • 10ml (2tsp) baking powder
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1tsp vanilla essence

For the filling:

  • 100g (4oz) butter, softened
  • 1tsp vanilla essence
  • 225g (8oz) icing sugar
  • 90ml (6tbsp) cherry compote
  • Icing sugar, to dust

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F, gas mark 4). Grease and line 2 x 20cm (8in) round sponge cake tins with baking parchment.
  2. Place the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, eggs and vanilla essence in a large bowl and beat with an electric whisk until thoroughly blended, pale and creamy. Divide between the two cake tins and gently level the surface.
  3. Bake for 20-25 mins until golden brown and the sponges spring back when lightly pressed with your fingertips. Leave in the tin for 2-3 mins, then turn out on to a cooling rack. Cool completely.
  4. To make the filling, beat together the butter, vanilla essence and icing sugar until smooth. Sandwich the sponge cakes together with the buttercream and cherry compote and dust the top thickly with sifted icing sugar.

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Nutritional information per portion

This nutritional information is only a guide and is based on 2,000 calories per day. For more information on eating a healthy diet, please visit the Food Standards Agency website.

Guideline Daily Amount for 2,000 calories per day are: 70g fat, 20g saturated fat, 90g sugar, 6g salt.

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Today’s poll

Are you planning on making food gifts for Christmas this year?

Thanks, your vote has been counted!

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