Festive English Pastries

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

The holidays are inevitably associated with hectic preparation, especially in the kitchen. One of the obligatory elements of the holidays are sweets. And the luminaries in their preparation are the English. When we think of the typical English Christmas cake, the image of the golden crust, the many dried fruits and nuts and the smell of butter that spreads throughout the house comes to mind.

Festive English cake

Necessary products: (for a tray measuring 30 cm by 10 cm) 200 g very softened butter, 5 eggs, at room temperature, 1 tsp. flour, ¾ tsp. sugar, 1 tsp. baking powder, 100 g of raw, peeled almonds, grated rind of one lemon;

For the fruit filling: 400 g of various dried fruits (mango, melon, pineapple, blueberries, etc.), 100 g of raw almonds, 3 tbsp. flour, 3 tbsp. rum;

Method of preparation: Sift the flour and baking powder twice, then set aside. Almonds (for the dough) are ground in a blender very finely. Pour into a deep bowl. Together with one of the eggs, beat with a mixer. Add the finely grated lemon peel, butter and sugar and beat well. The remaining eggs are mixed lightly.

Gradually add to the rest of the mixture while stirring constantly with a mixer. The flour is added in three parts to the rest of the mixture. Stir gently with a spatula until the mixture is homogeneous.

The dried fruits are cut into small cubes, sprinkled with rum and left to soak for several hours. Bake the almonds (for the filling) briefly in a hot oven until they turn pink and cut them into large pieces.

The fruits and nuts for the filling are mixed together with the 3 tbsp. flour. Mix well so that the flour covers them on all sides. Add to the cake mixture and stir again.

The pan in which the cake will be baked is greased with butter and sprinkled with flour, shaking off the excess. Line with baking paper so that it covers the bottom of the pan. Pour the mixture into the pan. The surface is smoothed.

Preheat the oven to 220 degrees, and when the pan is placed in it, reduce to 170. Bake for about 15 minutes. Then the tip of a knife dipped in oil is passed over the surface of the cake so that it stops rising. Bake for another 50-60 minutes or until a dry stick comes out. When ready, remove the cake and allow to cool completely. Only then is it taken out of the mold and cut.

In addition to its wonderful holiday cakes, English cuisine also offers biscuits, also suitable for the occasion.

English Christmas cookies

Necessary products: 2 eggs, 200 g melted butter, 180 g powdered sugar, 100 g ground walnuts, 1 tsp. raisins, 4-5 crushed cloves, 1 small nutmeg, 1 tsp. finely chopped orange peel from jam, 400 g of flour;

Method of preparation: Beat eggs with sugar. Add the butter, walnuts, raisins, cloves, grated nutmeg, finely chopped orange peel and finally the flour. Knead the dough, from which the crust is rolled out. Pieces or shapes are cut from it.

From the dough pieces are formed balls, which are arranged in a greased pan. Bake in a moderate oven. The resulting biscuits are durable and become tastier after staying.