Chocolate Afghan Christmas Pudding Cookies Recipe

I've been meaning to post up these cute little Chocolate Afghan Cookies I made for my Nanny Family for Christmas but haven't had the time. This is Annabel Langbeins recipe from her Summer Annual book 'A Free Range Life.

I make this recipe all the time for the kids lunch boxes as it makes quite a lot.

You can top these with or without chocolate Icing, either way they taste great.

I put the cookies in a cute jar and tied a ribbon around the top, they made a great home baked gift.

Chocolate Afghans

Makes about 50

400g butter,at room temperature

3/4 cup white sugar

3 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa

4 cups cornflakes (I sometime do just 3 cups as its quite hard to roll into perfect balls)

To Ice (optional)

200g dark or white chocolate, broken into chunks.

1 bag of Jaffas

Green Sprinkles.

Preheat oven to 180.C and line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, stir in flour and cocoa, then mix in cornflakes with a wooden spoon, taking care not to crush them. Place tablespoonful of mixture onto prepared trays and flatten a little.

Bake until set (12-15 minutes). Allow to cool on a tray for 5 minutes then transfer on a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

To make the Christmas puddings melt chocolate and spread over the tops of the cooled cookies. Top with a Jaffa and green sprinkles.

Christmas Treats from Bakers Delight and Christmas Cake Reicpe

      

I was so lucky to receive two lovely goodie bags from Baker Delight last week both filled with a 6 pack of Fruit mince pies and a Christmas cake, and I have to say they were both delicious my family were very lucky to get to taste them with me and they all agreed. The pastry from the fruit mince pie are beautiful and go down nice with a hot cuppa. Since they Bakers Delight were so generous at giving me two bags I decided to do a little competition on my Facebook page and give it away to my friends who had to answer a simple question which was 'How long has Bakers Delight been around for?. If you want to know the answer or if you would like to buy some of these Christmas goodies for yourself then head over to there website www.bakersdelight.co.nz to find out.

                                 

If you would like to make your own Christmas Cake this year Try Annabel Langbeins easy three-ingredient Christmas Cake recipe.

Annabel Langbeins Three-Ingrediant Christmas Cake.

Makes: 1 medium cake

Cook about 1 hour 15 mins

1kg mixed dried fruit

2 1/2 cups (600ml) milk

2 3/4 cups self-raising flour, or 2 3/4 cups plain flour mixed with 2 3/4 tsp baking powder

1 tbsp sherry, rum or whisky, to brush (optional)

icing sugar, to dust on top (optional)

Place dried fruit in a bowl,cover with milk and leave to soak overnight in the fridge.

The next day, preheat oven to 160.C and line a medium(23cm diameter) springform cake tin with baking paper.

Stir flour into fruit mixture until evenly combined and smooth into prepared tin. Bake until it is risen, set and golden and a skewer inserted onto the centre comes out clean (check after about 1 1/4 hours and return to oven for a little longer if needed). Remove from oven and, while still hot, brush with sherry,rum or whiskey, if using. Cool in the tin before turning out. Stored in an airtight container, it will keep for several weeks. Just before serving, dust with icing sugar, using doily cut-out or snowflake stencils to create festive patterns (optional). Enjoy :)

Honey Pancakes

                                                  

Whip up these Light and fluffy Honey Pancakes on a Sunday morning by using Annabel Langbeins Magic Baking Mix.

Honey Pancakes

Makes: 8-10 medium pancakes

2 eggs

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups milk

2 tsp runny honey

2 cups Annabel Langbeins Magic Baking Mix

finely grated zest of 1/2 an orange

a little oil spray or butter, to cook.

Beat the eggs and sugar until think and creamy. Whisk in the milk and honey, then the baking mix and orange zest. leave to stand for 30 minutes.

Heat frypan over medium heat. Add a little oil or butter and rub around pan with paper towel to lightly grease (to much makes the edges turn up). Working in batches, cook 1/4 cupfuls of mixture over medium-low heat to allow them time to cook through to the middle. Add oil or butter between batches as needed. Serve with blueberries or maple syrup.

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#afreerangelife @annabellangbein

Cheesy Scones

                                                   

Heres another great recipe to make using Annabel Langbeins Magical Baking Mix simple Chessy scones. These Chessy scones are lovely warm from the oven and are super easy and quick to make.

Chessy Scones

Makes: 8-10

2 cups Annabel Langbeins Magic Baking Mix

2 cups of grated tasty chesse, or a mix of tasty and parmesan

1/2 tsp black or cayenne pepper

3/4 cup milk

Pre-heat oven to 200.C and line a baking tray with baking paper.

Stir together baking mix, cheese and pepper or cayenne. Add milk and mix with a knife to form a soft dough. using a 1/4 cup measure or ice cream scoop, place 8-10 balls of mixture on a prepared baking tray. Bake until risen, golden and cooked through (about 15 minutes). Best eaten the day they are cooked but also freeze well.

#afreerangelife @annabellangbein

Annabel Langbeins Date loaf

                                               

By using Annabel Langbeins baking mix you can make this lovely soft date loaf. You can make it with or without the walnuts either way they both taste great.

Annabel Langbeins Date Loaf

Makes: 1 loaf

1 1/2 cup chopped dates

1 cup lightly packed soft brown sugar

1/4 cup water

1 egg

1/4 cup neutral oil

2 tbsp golden syrup

2 cups Annabel's Magic Baking Mix

2 cups chopped walnuts

Place dates, sugar and water in a large pot and bring to a boil, stirring continuously for 2 minutes over medium heat until quite think and jammy. Remove from heat and cool for 10 minutes.

Pre-heat oven to 160.C. Grease a medium loaf tin and line with baking paper.

Stir egg, oil and golden syrup into the cooled date mixture, then gently stir in baking mix and walnuts. pour into prepared loaf tin, smooth the top (dont be alarmed if the mixture looks like cookie dough its suppose to look like that, just push the mixture down in to loaf tin). Bake until top bounces back when pressed and skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean (60-70 minutes). Allow to cool in the tin. Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Serve warm or cold, sliced lightly buttered.

#afreerangelife @annabellangbein

1 Baking Mix 10 ways

                                      

This wonderful baking mix is from Annabel Langbeins new book 'A Free Range Life' this one mix can make pancakes, date loaf, cheesy scones, cinnamon scrolls and more. I can't wait to make all the recipes and share them with you.

Annabel's Magic Baking Mix

Makes 8 cups

7 cups plain flour

4 tbsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

150g cold butter 

Place flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl or a food processor and give abit of a mix or if using a processor a few pulses. Dice or grate the cold butter into the mixture and mix or pulse until you get a coarse sand texture. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for several weeks until needed.

Use this basic mix to make any of the delicious recipes below:

1)Date Loaf

2)Chessy Scones

3)Honey Pancakes

@annabellangbein #afreerangelife 

Annabel Langbein Free Range Foodie

                                      

Sorry I've been so slack with posts lately but I've got some exciting news, I've been selected to be one of Annabel Langbeins free range Foodies. I received my exclusive copy today of her new summer annual Annabel Langbeins A Free Range Life. Now the fun begins, it's my job to set a date with my family for lunch or dinner using recipes from her new book and share them with you all. I can't wait to get started on planning my menu. Keep posted for recipes.

If you would like to purchase your own copy, it goes on sale soon for $19.95

For more info visit:

annabel-langbein.com

#afreerangelife @annabellangbein