Christmastime Vanilla Shortbreads

Everyone likes shortbreads so this special Vanilla Shortbreads recipe courtesy of our friends at Bonne Maman will prove to be a real Christmastime winner with friends and family members alike!

Ingredients

225g unsalted butter

2 tsp vanilla extract

115g caster sugar

340g plain flour

125g custard powder

4-5 tbsp milk

Bonne Maman Conserves

Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread

Icing sugar, to dust

Heat the oven to 150°C, 130°C fan, gas 2.

In a medium bowl, beat together the butter, vanilla and sugar until creamy. Mix in the dry ingredients and enough milk to form a firm dough.

Knead the dough into a ball and put it between two sheets of baking paper. Roll out the dough as thinly as you can, about 5mm, then chill for 20 minutes.

Using whatever cutters you have, stamp out an even number of biscuits. Now stamp out small rounds or stars from the centre of half the biscuits to make the tops.

Mix together all the dough off-cuts and re-roll between the paper as before. Stamp out more shapes.

Once the shapes are cut out, arrange on 2 baking sheets lines with paper and chill for 10 minutes.

Bake the biscuits for about 10-12 minutes or until firm and pale golden. Cool on the baking sheet.

When cool, spread your favourite Bonne Maman Conserve or Hazelnut Chocolate Spread on the bottom biscuits and top with another, pressing them together. Dust with icing sugar.

Black Forrest Roulade with Bonne Maman

Ingredients For the cake

5 eggs, separated

100g caster sugar

60ml vegetable oil

60ml whole milk

80g self-raising flour

25g cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

360g jar Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread

For the filling

150ml double cream

250g tub mascarpone cheese

1 can pitted black cherries in light syrup, drained

icing sugar

How to make it

For the cake. Line a shallow baking tray / Swiss roll tin with non-stick baking paper. Heat the oven to 180°C, 160° fan, Gas 4.

In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites into soft peaks then gradually whisk in 60g of the caster sugar, a little at a time, until the mixture forms stiff peaks.

Whisk the egg yolks with the remaining caster sugar for 2-3 minutes, then whisk in the oil and milk. When well blended, add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and 30g of the Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread. Beat well until smooth, then gently fold in the whisked egg whites with a spatula or large metal spoon.

Spread the mixture into the prepared tin. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the sponge is risen golden and springy to the touch.

Lay a damp tea towel on the work surface and cover with a large sheet of non-stick baking paper. Dust the paper liberally with icing sugar. When the cake is cooked, remove from the oven, and turn the cake over onto the paper. Slowly and gently peel off the lining paper and leave the cake to cool.

Meanwhile, make the filling. Whisk the cream, mascarpone cheese and 2 tbsp icing sugar together until smooth and the consistency of lightly whipped cream. Be careful not to over whisk it. Spoon a generous layer of filling onto the cooled cake and spread to the edges. Sprinkle over the cherries with a little of the syrup. Spread the remaining filling on top and roll up tightly from the shortest edge. Cover the roulade with the remaining Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread. Decorate with chocolate shards, sugar toadstools and greenery. Chill for an hour before serving.

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Get them bubbling with Bubbleology Mixology Home Kits this Christmas

Top bubble tea brand Bubbleology is ensuring that this Christmas will be bubbly and bright with its special delicious range of Bubbleology Mixology Home Kits (from £8.50).

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For this Christmas opt for the Fieldgoods Luxury Ready Meal Bundle

This Christmas the ultimate in foodie gifting with delicious, nutritious and sustainable meals this Christmas, courtesy of premium ready meal brand FieldGoods. And you can leave your apron on the hook on the back of your kitchen door! 

Founders and self-described food obsessive brothers Elliot and Sam have bundled up some of their favourite hearty dishes that offer convenient dinners on busy days, but without compromising on taste or quality. 

The Ell & Sam’s Picks bundle (£72) includes six two-person portions of award-winning dishes including tender Lamb & Apricot Tagine marinated with a heady mix of spices, rich Slow Cooked Beef Chilli, cooked with the juiciest tomatoes, a super fragrant Thai Green Chicken Curry, paired with silky roasted aubergine and creamy coconut milk and more. 

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Gintastic Christmas Gifting with Garden Gin

Calling all gin lovers! The luxury Essex Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate’s bespoke Garden Gin (£42) in partnership with local and sustainable distillery, Essex Spirits Co, is making the perfect gin Christmas stocking filler for this year.

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This intensely smooth, modern gin makes an impressive gift to give to loved ones this festive season at £45 a bottle.

Available now for national delivery 

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Rick Stein Christmas Food and Drink Hampers

Filled with a generous supply of gorgeous gourmet food and drink and delivered directly from Padstow in Cornwall, spread festive joy to foodies you love with a selection of Christmas hampers from Rick Stein, starting from £47.50.

The Rick Stein Happy Christmas Stocking (£47.50) features Rick Stein Spanish red wine, chilli chipotle nuts, Rick Stein caramel sea salt chocolate bar, green olives and a keepsake Christmas jute sack. 

For something extra special, there’s the Rick Stein’s Christmas Hamper (£100) featuring bottles of Rick Stein Spanish red & white wine, Rick Stein’s spicy apple and walnut chutney, figs in cognac, Rick Stein savoury oat biscuits with Cornish sea salt and also with Davidstow cheddar cheese as well as raspberry and white chocolate shortbread.

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