Chestnut sponge pudding

Ahhh...apologies for the delay in posting. I really wanted to get a post up each day during my '12 days of Christmas', but the recent events with my stolen laptop have meant that I've struggled to get onto a computer with all the software I need to edit the photos. Alas, I failed in my task...but I still have so many Christmassy recipes I want to fit in so I am determined to complete my challenge but it will simply mean that in the next few days there will probably have to be multiple posts on some days (hence why I'm writing and posting this at 1:30am!)....not that I ever heard anyone complain about too much cake!

Ok, relax and breathe, back to cake....

I was in a huge chestnut mode a week or so ago, as i'd been to the supermarket and stocked up on these ready prepared chestnuts (I feel I should prepare my own from scratch too just so I don't feel like i'm completely cheating this year!) 

So then of course I wanted to set about making lots of things with them, particular since this chestnut roast had gone down so well. I first tried making a batch of chestnut scones using this pumpkin recipe as a guide but changing the flours to make it gluten free. It was not much of a success, the flour combo just wasn't doing anything for the consistency or the rise of the scone, i'm pretty sure that if i'd used spelt it would have been fine, scone making is one aspect of my gluten free baking that I have to get right since this is the second attempt in the last few weeks that has gone in the bin! 

So onto trial number two....a mug cake. This little mug cake actually turned into a gem of a dessert in its own right, simply because it seemed too grown up to be a regular mug cake. I actually gave this one two attempts each with different flours. I tried buckwheat (my go to gluten free flour) for the first attempt but I wasn't totally convinced- the flavour seemed to overpower the chestnuts a little, so then a I had another go using ground oats (make sure they are GF if dealing with sensitives) and this sponge was perfect, light and fluffy but still delicate and moist. 

I'm sure other flours would also work just be careful to opt for a mild flavour. It had a lovely subtle chestnut flavour and paired so well with a creamy vanilla sauce. The sauce was a last moment act of spontaneity since I had some of this yoghurt to use up. To make a healthier cream to the one I used (which contained some sugar) you could opt for this cashew custard which would think would be awesome!

Recipe: Chestnut sponge pudding

serves 1-2

Ingredients:

3tbs ground oats (oat flour)

1tbs rapadura

1/4 tsp each baking power and baking soda

1/4 cup chestnut pure

1/4 tsp cinnamon

approx. 2 tbs soy milk (or other) if needed

1tbs chopped chestnuts mixed through batter (optional)

1tbs chopped nuts on chestnuts reserved for top

1/3 yoghurt/custard/cream to serve

Method:

Mix the dry ingredients together in a small bowl. Add the wet ingredients and mix to form a soft spoonable batter. 

Using a silicone egg poach, a silicone muffin case or a small lightly greased microwaveable domed dish, add the reserved nuts to the bottom of the dish and then spoon the batter on top. Cook in the microwave for 60 seconds until just cooked (if the top is still sticky cook for a further 20-30 seconds). You could oven bake this but the result might not be quite so moist, if you decide to oven bake try 10-15 minutes at 180C (note I haven't tried this method).

To create an indulgent dessert pour vegan vanilla yoghurt, cream or custard into the bottom of a small serving dish and then turn the sponge out into the dish so that the cream surrounds it and the nuts are now on top. Drizzle with maple syrup and dust with cinnamon if desired.

You could double or triple this recipe to make multiple individual cupcake sized servings.

For further guidance on making gluten free choices please see this post.

For tips and info on recipe measurement conversions, ingredients, substitutions and the methods behind how I do things.... check out my 'baking tips' tab at the top of the page.

Christmas chestnut roast

The chestnut and cranberry roast was my substitute for the Christmas turkey at my work Christmas party, it was like nut loaf and stuffing balls all wrapped up in one dish!

I baked the roast in a round cake pan and cut wedges, just to visually change things up a bit, but you could bake in a loaf pan or form balls if you preferred. For for extra crispy roasted edges, use the 'double bake' technique detailed here in my regular nut roast.

This is a great seasonal dish and is so simple to throw together... particularly if you cheat a little like I did and buy pre-cooked chestnuts (shhh, I was pushed for time!). I added a few dried cranberries for an extra flavour boost but they are not essential.  I used my regular nut roast as a guide, knowing that the versatile recipe would be likely to lend itself to such variations.

Recipe: Christmas chestnut roast

Ingredients:

1 cup coarsely chopped cooked chestnuts (I briefly pulsed in a food processor)
1/2 cup chopped cashews/pinenuts
approx. 1/4 cup dried cranberries (optional)
2 tbs olive oil
1 large onion- diced
2 crushed garlic cloves
2 carrots- grated
1 medium parsnip- grated
1 cup white beans- mashed
1 cup cooked quinoa (or cooked rice or oats*)
2 heaped tbs tapioca flour
1/4 cup fresh herbs (parsley/thyme/rosemary)
1/2 tsp mixed spice/nutmeg
2 tbs soy sauce
salt and pepper to taste
water (if needed- I never need it)

Pre-heat oven to 180C. Grind nuts and set aside. Sauté vegetables in olive oil for 5 mins until soft. 

Mix all ingredients in large bowl adding sautéed vegetables to it. Mix and mash together well and add a little water only if needed to achieve a sticky (but not wet) consistency. Add more oats (or another carbohydrate of choice) if mixture is too wet. 

Press mixture firmly into a greased 9" cake pan or equivalent loaf tin. Bake for approx. 45 minutes until golden.

(Apologies these last couple of photos are a bit dark and blue, the light was fading at the time of the shoot and when usually I would have quickly tweaked the colour and brightness in Photoshop I am lacking in my tool set until I get a new laptop....managing as best I can for the time being!)

For further guidance on making gluten free choices please see this post.

For tips and info on recipe measurement conversions, ingredients, substitutions and the methods behind how I do things.... check out my 'baking tips' tab at the top of the page.

Christmas Day…done!

So how long did you spend in your jammies Christmas day morning?

This year I was actually pretty good and got dressed well before lunch…but not until I’d opened my stocking (which usually includes some underwear and socks!)

Christmas day was spent at home with my family- mum, dad, brother and sister. All the presents were piled under the tree and every year that still seems so magical to me! We spent quite a few hours in the run up to lunch giving out the gifts, interspersed with trips back and forth to the kitchen to manage proceedings.

This year I packaged my gifts in brown paper with a minimal amount of sticky tape to help the recycling process! …but I do love lots of ribbon- it’s not Christmas without lots if ribbon! Part of the gifts to my family were bottles of my homemade vanilla extract. I also decided it would be a novelty to give homemade ‘vouchers’ so they could choose they own personalised cakes from my growing list of recipes. It will be interesting to see what they choose!

We all pitched in to help with Christmas lunch.  My main task was the brussel sprouts …so…many….sprouts…to…peel! I blanched them and then pan fried them with shallots and chestnuts. 

My other self-appointed roll was as ‘dessert creator’. I wanted to provide a lighter healthy vegan alternative to go alongside the traditional Christmas pud. It needed to be something pretty fool proof and easy to put together (no dramas on Christmas day thank you!).

I decided upon a combination of many of the recipes I have posted in recent days. The ingredients list may look long but the method is actually so simple.

                                          

…light fat-free chocolate sponge (based on this recipe)

...chocolate chestnut frosting (previously mentioned here) or you could use your own favourite

…cranberry compote (based on this recipe) or any berries could be used

…all layered up to create one fruity luxurious Christmas chocolate cream sponge! 

I really love the tart berries combined with the sweetly smooth and creamy frosting, topping the light and springy sponge base.  The perfect end to a sumptuous satisfying dinner…even those who claim they ‘couldn’t eat another thing’ could squeeze in a pieces of this!

Recipe: Chocolate cream cranberry sponge

Makes one 10x15 inch pan (or a thicker sponge for a slightly smaller pan)

Ingredients

Sponge base: (this can be made a day in advance)

10 1/2 oz. firm silken tofu

1/3 cup rapadura

1/3 cup agave syrup

1 tbs vinegar

1 tbs water

1 tbs vanilla extract 

1 tbs ground flax mixed with 2tbs hot water (see egg replacer note below )

1 cup whole wheat spelt flour

¼ cup ground almonds

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

½  tsp salt

1 tbs ground flax mixed with 2tbs hot water

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder.

Chestnut cream frosting: (Can be made in advance)

I used a two-layered approach with my  chocolate frosting smoothed directly over the sponge (I had some reserved in the freezer) and then this chestnut frosting over that.

100g silken tofu

20g agave or brown rice syrup plus ¼ tsp stevia

1 tsp vanilla extract

100g chestnut puree (I used canned puree)

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tbs cocoa powder

Cranberry compote:

Approx. 4 cups fresh cranberries

3 tbs rapadura (extra if you don’t like your cranberries too tart)

1/3 cup water

1 tsp cinnamon

Method

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 10x15 inch pan with baking parchment. In food processor, mix the tofu, rapadura, agave, vinegar, water, vanilla and flax mix. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ground almonds, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Pour the blended tofu mixture into flour mixture; stir together thoroughly. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Smooth batter evenly into pan and bake  for 10-12 minutes.

Allow to cool before lifting from the pan. The sponge can be made up to a day in advance.

To prepare the frostings, blend all ingredients listed together in a food processor until a smooth consistency forms. Layer the frostings up on top of the sponge.

To make the cranberry compote, add the fresh cranberries to a small sauce pan along with the rapadura, cinnamon and water. Simmer and stir every minute or so for 10- 15 minutes until the berries have softened and formed a thick compote.

Spoon the compote on top of the frosting and serve immediately.

The dessert can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days.

P.S. I know I also promised a boxing day pasty recipe!  We made the pasties for lunch today and now I just need to get it all written up…I promise this is on its way! It maybe too late for your Christmas day leftovers but it is also the perfect recipe idea for any ‘roast’.

For tips and info on recipe measurement conversions, ingredients, substitutions and the methods behind how I do things.... check out my 'baking tips' tab at the top of the page.

‘Twelve Days’ day 12: sweet chestnut pancakes with cranberry compote

It’s come around at last…day ‘12’ is here!

So that must also mean that Christmas is just around the corner. (*super excited face*)

However, I must make one small apology…. 

When I announced my ‘12 days’ I also mentioned throwing a few savoury recipes in too….hmmm not so much! It wasn’t planned that way, it was simply that cake overwhelmed me and I got a little carried away. Oh well. There are worse things than cake and it is the name of this blog after all!

I will try to make it up to you little in the last few days before Christmas, as I am planning on a savoury round up- a ‘buffet bites’ type post if you like to give a little boost of inspiration to carry you through the Christmas period. I for one need a bit of a savoury kick- the amount of cake, cookie, frosting and pancake testing I’ve had to do in these last few weeks…it’s a hard life!!

So here you have it- the recipe for today. The perfect Christmas pancake brunch, sweet chestnut pancakes with a cranberry compote. Sweetly spiced and fruity, the perfect warming start to Christmas morning.

I bought my chestnut puree in a can in the local supermarket, I would assume this is readily available wherever you are- if not I guess you could blend your own (but that is just a guess!) or you could try an alternative pancake recipe along the lines of this blueberry pancake recipe, I imagine this would work just as well substituting the blueberries for cranberries and adding some Christmassy spices.

Recipe: sweet chestnut pancakes with cranberry compote

Ingredients

Pancakes:

1/3 cup mix of wholemeal spelt flour

1 tbs ground flax plus 2 tbs hot water

1/3 cup chestnut puree

¾ tsp baking powder

Pinch of salt

½  tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp cinnamon

1 tbs agave (omit if you prefer a more savoury pancake base)

Approx. ½ cup soy milk (or milk of choice) use more or less to achieve a batter that pours thickly.

Topping:

2 large handfuls fresh cranberries

1 tbs rapadura

4 tbs water

Soy yogurt (or others yoghurt/cream)

Maple syrup

Cinnamon

Makes approx. 4 pancakes to feed one or two (feel free to double, quadruple of whatever multiples you need to feed the crowds!)

Method

To make the cranberry compote, add the fresh cranberries to a small sauce pan along with the rapadura and water. Simmer and stir ever minute or so for approx. 10 mins.

Meanwhile to make the pancakes, mix the flax with the hot water an set aside to gel for a couple of minutes. Mix the chestnut puree, soy milk, agave and vanilla in a small bowl then add the flax mix. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl then add the wet and mix to get a thick but smooth batter. Spoon large dollops on a lightly oiled hot frying pan and fry till golden for a minute or so each side.

Serve topped with soy yoghurt and cranberry compote along with maple syrup and a dusting of cinnamon as desired.

For tips and info on recipe measurement conversions, ingredients, substitutions and the methods behind how I do things.... check out my 'baking tips' tab at the top of the page.