Sweet Treats for Cold Days
Sweet Treats for Cold Days
When the winter chill is letting the blues settle in your bones, there is no better comfort than whipping up something warm, decadent and sweet.
Here are a few recipes to try out.
Brown Pudding
Not all of us are masters in the kitchen, so here is a super easy recipe that you can make in your microwave and that is guaranteed to become a family favourite. Serve it up with warm custard or with a dollop of whipped cream.
Ingredients:
Syrup:
625ml Hot Water
300g (375ml) White Sugar
15ml Butter or Margarine
15ml Lemon Juice
5ml Cinnamon
5ml Ground Ginger
5ml Rum or Caramel Essence
Batter:
150ml Fine Apricot Jam
115g (125ml) Butter or Margarine
10ml Baking Soda
200g (375ml, un-sifted measured) Plain Flour
Pinch of Salt
Method:
– Mix all the syrup ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and microwave at 100% power until the sugar is melted and the syrup is boiling. Stir regularly.
– Microwave the jam and butter / margarine 1 – 2 minutes at 100% power till its melted. Stir in the baking soda, then the flour and salt.
– Spoon the batter into the syrup.
– Cover the bowl with cling wrap and put lid on.
– Microwave the pudding for 5 minutes at 100% power.
– Let it rest for a few minutes and serve warm with your chosen sauce.
Low Fat Chocolate Cake
Ever thought the word chocolate and fat free will go in one sentence? This fantastic recipe you can enjoy guilt free if the thought of a winter dessert is making you dread of gaining weight.
This chocolate wonder uses the clever addition of apple sauce for moisture in the batter and is covered with a decadent fudgy chocolate sauce and is not only fat free, but taste delicious too!
Ingredients:
Cake:
375ml Cake Flour
250ml White Sugar
45ml Cocoa Powder
6ml Baking Powder
5ml Baking Soda
Pinch of Salt
10ml Vanilla Essence
15ml White Vinegar
125ml Bottled Apple Sauce
250ml Luke Warm Water
Fudge Icing:
125ml Fat-free Milk
10ml Vanilla Essence
250ml Apple Sauce
250ml Icing Sugar
250ml White Sugar
250ml Cocoa Powder
Method:
– Preheat oven to 200°C
– Sift the dry ingredients into a deep non-stick baking tray. (About 27 x 18cm)
– Mix well to combine and smooth the surface.
– Make 3 wells in the dry mixture.
– Mix together the vanilla essence, vinegar and apple sauce and pour into the wells.
– Pour over the water and mix well. Make sure to incorporate all the dry ingredients until a smooth consistency is obtained.
– Bake for 15 minutes, and then lower the oven temperature to 150°C and bake for another 5 minutes.
– While the cake is baking make the fudge icing by combining all the icing ingredients in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat and stir until well combined.
– Allow the cake to cool slightly and pour the fudge icing over the cake.
– Cut into squares and serve immediately!
Recipe from the Xdiet cookbook by Tabitha Hume
Citrus Crumble
Nothing boosts your system like getting a good dose of vitamins. Vitamin C is a known to act as a barrier against colds and flu.
This zesty crumble is packed with Vitamin C and is a great alternative to Apple Crumble.
Serve it steaming hot out of the oven with whipped cream or vanilla yoghurt.
Ingredients:
2 Limes
2 Oranges
75g Brown Sugar
100g Oatmeal
25g Butter; grated
¼ Teaspoon Vanilla Essence
Method:
– Preheat the oven to 220°C
– Peel and slice the oranges and limes. Place the slices in a gratin dish with 25g brown sugar.
– For the Crumble Topping: Mix the remaining 50g brown sugar in a bowl with the grated butter, vanilla essence and oatmeal.
– Sprinkle this over the fruit
– Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until golden.
Chai Tea
Not everyone loves puddings and desserts, but they might enjoy a steaming hot beverage. Why not try something else than hot chocolate or milo to warm your soul? This exotic Chai Tea is infused with the goodness of spices and will not only warm your body, but also your soul.
Ingredients:
15ml Fennel Seeds
6 Green Cardamom Pods
12 Whole Cloves
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 (1cm) Piece Ginger Root – peeled and thinly sliced
6 Black Peppercorns
7 Cups Water
30ml Loose Leaved Tea
60ml Brown Sugar
250ml Milk
Directions
– In a medium saucepan, combine fennel seed, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick, ginger root, peppercorns and water. Boil for 5 minutes.
– Remove from the heat and steep for 10 minutes.
– Add the tea, bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer 5 minutes.
– Strain mixture, discard spices and return the tea to the saucepan.
– Stir in the brown sugar and milk. Serve immediately.