Spiced Lemon Cake

SERVES: 12-16

175g butter, diced and softened
1¼ cups caster sugar
3 extra large eggs
1 ½ cups plain flour
½ cup Almond Meal
1 tsp BP
½ tsp mixed spice
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup lemon juice
1 tbsp finely grated lemon rind
¼ cup Currants
¼ cup Pine Nuts

Spiced Syrup:
¼ cup caster sugar
juice of 1 lemon (approx. 60ml)
1 cinnamon stick

Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced).

  1.  Place butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer, beat until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time until well incorporated.

  2. Fold in the sifted flour, almond meal, baking powder and spice alternately with the sour cream, mixing until well combined. Add lemon juice and rind, mixing well.

  3. Spoon batter into a greased and lined 20cm square cake pan. Sprinkle the pine nuts and currants over the top and bake for 40- 45 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.

  4. For the syrup: Place sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon in a saucepan. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer until reduced, thick and syrupy. Remove cinnamon stick.

  5. Drizzle the syrup evenly over the cake, allowing it to be absorbed. Allow to cool in the pan for 1 hour. Serve cake pieces with a dollop of thick cream or yoghurt.

Gingerbread Almond Wreath

SERVES: 12

250g butter, diced and softened
1¼ cups brown sugar
4 extra large eggs
2 cups Almond Meal
1 cup desiccated coconut
½ tsp bicarb
1 Tab ground ginger
2 tsp mixed spice
1 cup Currants
½ cup Sultanas
¼ cup Flaked Almonds
Rosemary sprigs and raspberries, for serving

  1. Pre-heat oven to 170°C (150°C fan-forced). Lightly grease and line a 22cm ring tin.

  2. Beat the butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition.

  3. Stir in the almond meal, coconut, bi-carb and spices. Mix well, then stir in the currants and sultanas. Pour into prepared pan and scatter the top with flaked almonds. Bake for 55-60 minutes until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.

  4. Serve on a platter surrounded by fresh rosemary sprigs and fill the cavity with raspberries.