Cranberry Almond Ginger Cake
Ingredients
Serves 8
7 tbsp (105 ml) salted butter, room temperature
⅔ cup + 1 tbsp (150 + 15 ml) white sugar, divided
2 eggs
⅔ cup (150 ml) sour cream
2 tbsp (30 ml) milk
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
1 tsp (5 ml) almond extract
1 cup (250 ml) flour
½ cup (125 ml) almond flour
1 tsp (5 ml) baking soda
¼ cup (60 ml) diced candied ginger ed candied ginger
1½ cups (375 ml) cranberries, divided, thawed if frozen
1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice
1 tbsp (15 ml) Disaronno Amaretto liqueur or water
⅔ cup (150 ml) icing sugar
½ cup (125 ml) toasted sliced almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Grease a 9-in (23 cm) springform cake pan and line bottom with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and ⅔ cup (150 ml) sugar with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs, sour cream, milk, vanilla and almond extract. Mix for 1 minute to incorporate and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix together flour, almond flour, baking soda and baking powder. Add these dry ingredients to egg mixture and mix to combine. Gently fold in candied ginger and 1 cup (250 ml) cranberries.
- Pour batter into prepared cake pan and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- Place remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) sugar in a small bowl. Add remaining ½ cup (125 ml) cranberries and roll in sugar to coat.
- In another small bowl, mix together lemon juice, amaretto and icing sugar and stir until a thick glaze forms. Drizzle over cooled cake and top with sugared cranberries and sliced almonds.
Drink Pairings
Canadian Whisky Maple Pecan Pie
Ingredients
Serves 1 Pie
3 eggs
½ cup (125 ml) corn syrup
½ cup (125 ml) maple syrup
¼ cup (60 ml) Canadian whisky
½ cup (125 ml) lightly packed golden sugar
¼ tsp (1 ml) salt
½ tsp (2.5 ml) vanilla extract
2 cups (500 ml) pecan pieces
1 standard-sized, pre-made bottom pie crust
vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, to serve
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, corn syrup, maple syrup, whisky, sugar, salt and vanilla until fully combined.
- Place pecans in pie crust, then pour egg mixture over. Let settle, then bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until set; filling will have puffed up and will settle once cool. If crust is browning too quickly, cover with foil.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Drink Pairings
Roquefort Crème Brûlée with Pear & Chocolate Hazelnuts
Ingredients
Serves 4
CHOCOLATE HAZELNUTS
½ cup (125 ml) chopped semi-sweet chocolate
½ cup (125 ml) toasted hazelnuts
2 tbsp (30 ml) raw cocoa powder
CREME BRULEE
¼ cup (60 ml) granulated sugar, plus extra for topping
5 large egg yolks
1½ cups (375 ml) whole milk
⅔ cup (150 ml) whipping cream
4 oz (125 g) Roquefort cheese, crumbled
1 ripe pear, for garnish
Instructions
- Start by making Chocolate Hazelnuts. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Melt semi-sweet chocolate in a double boiler or a heatproof bowl that fits snugly over a saucepan of boiling water. Remove chocolate and set aside so it cools slightly but still remains liquid, about 15 minutes. Add hazelnuts and stir to coat. With a fork, one by one, remove hazelnuts from chocolate, letting excess chocolate fall through fork tines back into bowl. Transfer to lined baking sheet in a single layer. Transfer to refrigerator for 5 minutes to let chocolate harden.
- Place cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Remove hazelnuts from refrigerator and transfer to bowl with cocoa powder. Toss until well coated, then transfer to a mesh sieve and gently shake off any excess powder. Place hazelnuts in an airtight container and set aside in a cool place or refrigerate until ready to use.
- For Crème Brûlée, preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). In a medium bowl, whisk together ¼ cup (60 ml) sugar and egg yolks until thick and lightened in colour, about 2 minutes.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together milk and cream until it just comes to a boil. Remove saucepan from heat and whisk in blue cheese until dissolved. To egg mixture, add milk mixture a bit at a time, whisking constantly, until everything is well incorporated. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher and set aside.
- Place four 8.5 oz (255 ml) ramekins in a roasting pan and bring a kettle or large saucepan of water to a boil. Divide Crème Brûlée mixture between ramekins in roasting pan and place pan on a rack in oven. Pour enough hot water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins. Lightly tent pan with aluminum foil and bake until just set, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove ramekins from pan and set on a wire rack to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- When ready to serve, working with 1 ramekin at a time, evenly sift about 2 tsp (10 ml) granulated sugar over top of each custard. Place under broiler or use a small kitchen torch to caramelize sugar. Allow sugar to cool for 1 minute; meanwhile, slice pear thinly. Top each custard with pear slices and a few chocolate hazelnuts. Serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
Caramelized Apple Hand Pies
Ingredients
Serves 8 pies
¼ cup (60 ml) unsalted butter
½ cup + 3 tbsp (125 + 45 ml) granulated sugar, divided
2 lbs (907 g) Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¾-in (2 cm) cubes (about 6 apples)
⅓ cup (75 ml) whipping cream
1 tsp (5 ml) pure vanilla extract
1 tsp (5 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 pinch sea salt
1 x 1 lb (454 g) ready-made puff pastry sheet, thawed if frozen
1 egg, beaten well
½ tsp (2.5 ml) cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large sauté pan, melt butter over medium heat. Sprinkle in ¼ cup (60 ml) sugar and stir to combine and soften sugar, about 2 minutes. Add apples, toss to coat in butter mixture and increase heat to medium-high. Sauté, flipping occasionally, until apples release their juice, about 5 minutes. Continue cooking until apples caramelize and are very tender, another 5 to 7 minutes. Add another ¼ cup (60 ml) sugar and toss to quickly combine. Add cream and simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, lemon juice and salt. Set aside and let cool.
- Preheat oven to 425 F (220 C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. On a clean work surface, roll puff pastry into an approximate 24-in (61 cm) square. Using a sharp knife, cut dough into 8 equal squares. Brush edges of dough with beaten egg, reserving leftover egg for next step. Mound 2 generous tablespoons (30 ml) apple filling in centre of each square. Fold dough in half on the diagonal and crimp edges with a fork to seal.
- Carefully transfer pies to lined baking sheet and lightly brush tops with beaten egg. In a small bowl combine remaining 3 tbsp (45 ml) granulated sugar and cinnamon. Cut 2 small slits on top of each pie and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake until golden and crispy, 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving; pies are best eaten day they are made but will keep for 1 day at room temperature in an airtight container.
Drink Pairings
Black & White Bourbon Madeleines
Ingredients
Serves 32
4 oz (125 g) chopped semi-sweet chocolate
½ cup + 1 tbsp (140 ml) unsalted butter, room temperature, divided, plus extra for greasing
¾ cup (175 ml) granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
¼ tsp (1 ml) kosher salt
1 cup (250 ml) all-purpose flour
2 tbsp (30 ml) Dutch processed black cocoa powder
½ tsp (2.5 ml) baking powder
10 oz (300 g) white chocolate, finely chopped
½ cup (125 ml) whipping cream
1 to 2 tbsp (15 to 30 ml) bourbon (depending on flavour preference)
2 tbsp (30 ml) black sesame seeds
Instructions
- Set up a double boiler or a heatproof bowl that fits snugly over a saucepan of boiling water and melt semi-sweet chocolate. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Meanwhile, in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together ½ cup (125 ml) butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, incorporating each fully before adding the next. Stir in vanilla and salt until just incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder and baking powder. With a rubber spatula, fold flour mixture into butter mixture until just incorporated. Add reserved melted chocolate and fold into batter until just incorporated, with no white streaks remaining. Let batter rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Prepare 2 madeleine pans by liberally brushing wells with extra softened butter or cooking spray and placing in freezer for at least 15 minutes.
- Remove pans from freezer and spoon 1 tbsp (15 ml) batter into each mould. Return pans to freezer and let batter chill for 15 minutes. Transfer to oven and bake until madeleines have risen and set, about 10 to 13 minutes. While warm, turn baked madeleines out onto a wire rack and let cool to room temperature. Wipe out pans with a clean dry cloth and repeat steps 4 and 5 until all batter has been used up.
- Meanwhile, make ganache coating. In a medium heatproof bowl, place white chocolate. Warm cream in a small saucepan until just boiling. Pour cream over chocolate and let sit for 30 seconds. Using a whisk or spatula, gently stir chocolate and cream together. Once smooth, add remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) butter and bourbon, stirring until fully incorporated. Set aside at room temperature, stirring occasionally, until it has thickened but still flows, about 30 minutes.
- Drizzle half of each shell side of madeleine with ganache and set back on wire rack, shell-side up. Sprinkle ganache with sesame seeds and allow to set, about 1 hour at room temperature, or place in refrigerator for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy. Once coated with ganache, madeleines are best eaten day they are made. Uncoated madeleines may be stored in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 4 days, or frozen for 1 month. Allow to come to room temperature before decorating.
Drink Pairings
Berry Cassis Pops
Ingredients
Serves 10
2½ cups (625 ml) vanilla Greek yogurt
¼ cup (60 ml) honey
1 lemon, zest only
1 cup (250 ml) frozen raspberries, thawed, with their liquid
1 cup (250 ml) frozen blackberries, thawed, with their liquid
½ cup (125 ml) crème de cassis
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together yogurt, honey and lemon zest. Transfer to a large zip-top bag and set aside.
- In a large blender, blend berries and crème de cassis for 1 minute, or until smooth. Transfer to another large zip-top bag.
- Cut one of the bottom corners off the berry mixture bag to create a piping bag. Divide berry mixture between popsicle moulds, piping to about ¼ of the way up each mould. Repeat with yogurt mixture, filling each mould to the top.
- Using a wooden skewer, gently stir each popsicle mould 3 to 4 times to swirl the mixtures together; do not mix together completely. Place sticks in moulds and freeze for at least 8 hours.
Drink Pairings
Paloma Pops
Ingredients
Serves 10
½ cup (125 ml) tequila
¼ cup (60 ml) triple sec
3 cups (750 ml) grapefruit juice (no pulp)
½ cup (125 ml) lime juice (about 3 to 4 limes)
2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh mint leaves*
1 to 2 tbsp (15 to 30 ml) sugar dissolved in 1 to 2 tbsp (15 to 30 ml) warm water, as needed
Instructions
- In a large, spouted jug, stir together tequila, triple sec, grapefruit juice, lime juice and mint. Taste for sweetness and stir in dissolved sugar to taste, if desired.
- Pour into popsicle moulds, place sticks in moulds and freeze for at least 8 hours.
Drink Pairings
Sangria Pops
Ingredients
Serves 10
2 cups (500 ml) red wine
1 cup (250 ml) lemon-lime soda
1 cup (250 ml) orange juice (no pulp)
Instructions
- In a large, spouted jug, stir together all ingredients. Pour into popsicle moulds, place sticks in moulds and freeze for at least 8 hours.
Drink Pairings
Bellini Pops
Ingredients
Serves 10
1 cup (250 ml) frozen sliced peaches
1 x 14 oz (398 ml) can peaches, with their syrup
2 tbsp (30 ml) strawberry jam
3 cups (750 ml) Prosecco, divided
Instructions
- In a large blender, combine frozen and canned peaches, strawberry jam and 1 cup (250 ml) Prosecco. Blend on high for 1 minute, or until smooth. Add remaining 2 cups (500 ml) Prosecco and blend for 3 to 5 seconds to combine. Let sit for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow bubbles to settle.
- Pour into popsicle moulds, place sticks in moulds and freeze for at least 8 hours.
Drink Pairings
Watermelon Daiquiri Pops
Ingredients
Serves 10
2 heaping cups (about 500 ml) seedless watermelon cubes
1 heaping cup (about 250 ml) fresh or frozen sliced strawberries
2 lemons, zest and juice
1 tbsp (15 ml) grated ginger
½ cup (125 ml) white rum
1 to 2 tbsp (15 to 30 ml) sugar dissolved in 1 to 2 tbsp (15 to 30 ml) warm water, as needed
Instructions
- In a large blender, combine watermelon, strawberries, lemon zest and juice, ginger and rum. Blend on high for 1 minute, or until smooth. Taste for sweetness and stir in dissolved sugar to taste, if desired.
- Pour into popsicle moulds, place sticks in moulds and freeze for at least 8 hours.