White Chocolate Orange Cranberry Christmas Cake Food

WHITE CHOCOLATE, ORANGE & CRANBERRY CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Rub a little butter over the base and sides of two 20cm cake tins (use cake tins rather than sandwich tins as the higher sides work better), then line the base and sides with baking parchment. Melt 150g butter with 100g of the chocolate in a bowl set over a small saucepan of gently simmering water - make sure the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Stir the butter and chocolate every min or so until it has melted. Set aside to cool a little.
• Meanwhile, measure 250g flour, 2 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp bicarb and 250g sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and add 150g yogurt, 2 tsp vanilla extract, half the orange zest and juice, 3 eggs and 2 tbsp milk. Whisk everything together, then stir in the melted butter and chocolate.
• When the cake mixture is smooth (this makes a very wet pourable batter), divide it equally between the two cake tins. Bake on the middle shelf for 25-30 mins, they will look golden and evenly risen when cooked. Check they are done by pushing a skewer into the centre of the cakes - it should come out clean. If there is any wet cake mixture on the skewer, return the cake to the oven for a few more mins, then check again.
• Leave the cakes to cool in their tins for 5 mins, then transfer to a cooling rack. Wash out the tins and repeat steps 1 and 2, to make two more sponges in total. You can make them a day or two before icing, then wrap them in a double layer of cling film once cool. They can also be frozen for up to two months.
• To make the compote, simmer the cranberries and sugar in a small pan for 4-5 mins until jammy, then leave to cool.
• For the icing, melt the chocolate, either in 20-30 secs bursts in a microwave or in a bowl over simmering water. Set aside to cool a little. Roughly mash the butter and icing sugar together, then beat until smooth with an electric whisk or mixer. Add the chocolate and cream cheese and beat again until smooth.
• To assemble the cake, place one sponge on a cake board the same size as the sponge, then sandwich the other sponges on top with a little icing and the cranberry compote. Use the cake with the neatest edge, flipped upside down, on top to give your cake a good shape.
• Pile about half the remaining icing on top of the cake and use a palette knife to spread it thinly over the top and down the sides of the cake. This is a crumb coat, it catches any crumbs, ensuring the final layer looks clean and professional. Chill the cake for 10-20 mins to firm up the icing or leave it somewhere cool for longer. Spread the remaining icing over the top and sides of the cakes, giving it nice sharp edges. We've left some of the cake exposed for the 'naked' cake look, or cover it completely if you like. Will keep for three days.
• To decorate the cake: dot the top with meringue kisses that you've either bought or made yourself, edible snowflake decorations and gold leaf, if you like.See our guide to decorating a Christmas cake 3 ways for details on this design along with more decorating ideas.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY-ORANGE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 13x9-in. pan with foil, letting ends extend up sides; grease foil. In a bowl, mix flour and brown sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake until light golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., For filling, whisk together egg, milk, orange zest and extract until blended; stir in baking chips and cranberries. Spread evenly over crust. Bake until top is golden brown, 20-25 minutes longer. Cool 15 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Lifting with foil, remove bars from pan. Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers. Freeze option: Freeze cooled bars in freezer containers, separating layers with waxed paper. To use, thaw before serving.

WHITE CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH CRANBERRY FILLING

Steps:

• FILLING:.
• In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, the 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar, the cranberry juice, orange peel, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
• Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 10 minutes or until thickened. Transfer filling to a medium bowl.
• Cover and chill for 2 hours. Transfer to a blender or food processor. Cover and blend or process until smooth.
• CAKE:.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the bottoms of two 9x1 1/2-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms of pans with waxed paper; grease and lightly flour pans. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, cook and stir the 8 ounces white chocolate over low heat until melted.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt, set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat the 10 tablespoons butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add the 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar, beating until combined.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in the 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla.
• Alternately add flour mixture and milk to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Beat in melted white chocolate just until combined.
• Spread batter in the prepared cake pans.
• Bake about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean. Cool cake layers in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.
• Remove layers from pans. Peel off waxed paper. Cool completely on wire racks.
• FROSTING:.
• In a medium saucepan, cook and stir the 12 ounces white chocolate over low heat until melted.
• Cool for 20 minutes. In a large bowl, beat the 1 cup butter on medium to high speed until fluffy.
• Beat in melted white chocolate and the 2 teaspoons vanilla. Gradually beat in powdered sugar.
• ASSEMBLY:.
• Use a long serrated knife to cut each cake layer in half horizontally. Place one layer, cut side up, on a serving plate. Spread with one-third of the filling.
• Top with the second layer; spread with one-third of the filling.
• Top with the third layer; spread with the remaining filling.
• Top with the fourth layer, cut side down.
• Spread top and side of cake with frosting. If desired, cover loosely and chill for up to 24 hours. Let stand about 30 minutes at room temperature before serving, if chilled.
• Makes 16 servings.

CRANBERRY-WHITE CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• To make the cake, grease and flour a 9" tube pan; set aside.
• In a large bowl and with an electric mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese until light.
• Add the brown and granulated sugars, orange rind and vanilla.
• Continue beating until fluffy.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
• In a medium bowl, sift the flour and baking powder.
• Add to the creamed mixture, stirring until well combined.
• Stir in the cranberries and white chocolate chips.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake in a 350 degree F oven about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.
• Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack.
• To make the glaze, melt the white chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler over hot, not boiling, water.
• Stir in the orange juice.
• Unmold the cooled cake.
• Spoon the glaze over the top; let cool.
• Garnish the top of the cake with orange slices, or fill the centre with cranberries.

CRANBERRY-ORANGE WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325ºF.
• Combine cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 min.
• Beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each until just blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 5 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Meanwhile, mix cornstarch and 1 Tbsp. orange juice until blended. Bring cranberries, remaining orange juice and remaining sugar to boil in saucepan on medium-high heat; simmer on low heat 6 min. or until cranberries are softened, stirring frequently. Stir in cornstarch mixture; bring to boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir 1 min. or until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in orange zest. Cool. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Spoon cranberry glaze over cheesecake just before serving.