Let's Make Christmas Fortnum & Mason Gift Swap

I cannot believe tomorrow is the day for the Let's Make Christmas Gift Swap at Fortnum & Mason - organised by Vanessa Kimbell (http://www.prepped.co.uk/).  I've been so looking forward to it and been dithering about what to make.  I finally made a decision and here it is WHITE CHRISTMAS MUD CAKES.



Oh dear - not a very good photograph !


Of course, the main reason for the indecision is the added problem of transporting the gift on the train - not quite the same as serving up cake or cakes at home.  So the cakes I finally decided on look nothing like they do in the recipe book, which is a Marks & Spencer recipe book called Christmas, in the book the cakes are baked in pudding moulds and turned out before having a topping which is cone shaped.  Not the best thing for transporting, so I had to make some changes.  First I made the cakes in silver cupcake cases and the topping I piled on top and left it to set before a dusting of icing sugar and edible glitter. 

Here's how they were made:

125g butter, chopped coarsely
125g white eating chocolate chopped coarsely
150g caster sugar
160ml milk
105g plain flour
35g self raising flour
2 eggs


Preheat oven to 160C/140C fan assisted.  Fill a 12 bun muffin tin with paper cases or grease eight 180ml pudding moulds.

Stir butter, chocolate, caster sugar and milk in medium saucepan over low heat until smooth.  Transfer to medium bowl, cool for 10 minutes.  Whisk in sifted flours, then eggs. Spoon cake mixture into cake cases or moulds (if in moulds place on oven tray).

Bake cakes for about 30 minutes.  If baking in moulds turn the hot cakes upside down (still in mould) onto baking parchment-lined tray; stand overnight.  Otherwise place cakes in papercases on a rack to cool.

White Christmas Topping:

120g white eating chocolate chopped coarsely
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
30g rice crispies
100g marshmallows
35g coarsely chopped unsalted pistachios
35g coarsely chopped dried cranberries

Stir chocolate and oil in small saucepan over low heat until smooth.  Combine rice crispies, marshmallows, nuts and fruit in medium bowl, stir in melted chocolate mixture and pile on top of the cakes.

Place cakes in the fridge for at least ten minutes before dusting with icing sugar.


I made a few extra for taste test purposes you understand - they are rather yummy - even if I do say so myself.  I just hope the recipient of my gift thinks so too.

http://www.prepped.co.uk/