3 festive recipes to make your Christmas sparkle

FROM mince pies to turkey, to eggnog to honey-glazed gammon, Christmas is a time for tradition, enjoying quality time with family, and of course, delicious food.

Whatever your festive fave is, allow us to help you eat, drink and be merry with three recipes that will elevate your festive season.

If you’re looking for festive treats and bakes, look no further as we have you covered with three knockout Christmas recipes.

We spoke to Masterchef South Africa Season 3 winner, Roxi Wardman, who shared three of her whimsical and creative recipes to spread Christmas cheer on a plate.

Recipe 1: Chocolate Raspberry Mince Pies

Pastry
Ingredients
1 1/3 cup flour
¼ cup sugar
3 tablespoon cocoa
150g cold butter
1 egg

Method
1. In a bowl, mix together flour, sugar and cocoa.
2. Rub butter into dry ingredients until it resembles a sandy consistency.
3. Add egg and slowly bring pastry together to form a ball.
4. Refrigerate for 30 min.
5. Preheat oven to 180°C.
6. Roll pastry out and cut circles to fit a cupcake pan and a star to place on top of each pie.
7. Blind bake for 10 min.
8. Fill with mixture and add pastry star on top and bake for another 10–15 min.

Filling
Ingredients
1 apple peeled and finely diced
½ cup flaked almonds
1 cup fruit cake mix (mixture of raisins, sultanas and orange peel)
1 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup brandy

Method
1. Mix all the ingredients together in a pot.
2. Simmer for 10 minutes or until mixture has thickened.
3. Cool and fill pastry with mixture.

Recipe 2: Gingerbread tart

Ingredients
2 packs ginger biscuits
200g melted butter
250g raspberries (fresh/frozen)
250g sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla essence
240g dark chocolate
100ml cream

Method
1. Crush biscuits until they form a fine crumb.
2. Add melted butter and mix to combine.
3. Press mixture into a tart tin.
4. Refrigerate until firm.
5. In a pot over low heat, add raspberries, sugar and vanilla.
6. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 min until thickened.
7. Refrigerate until cool.
8. Once cooled, spread raspberries over the entire biscuit base and set aside.
9. In a bowl, add chocolate and cream and microwave at 1-min intervals until chocolate is completely melted.
10. Combine well and pour chocolate on top of raspberries.
11. Spread out evenly and decorate with gingerbread men, stars and raspberries

Recipe 3: Raspberry and chocolate truffle reindeer

Ingredients
500g milk chocolate
60ml cream
100g raspberries (fresh or frozen)
Red skittles for nose
Pretzels for antlers
White fondant for eyes
250g melted milk chocolate

Method
1. Finely chop 500g chocolate and place in bowl.
2. Add cream.
3. Microwave at 1-min intervals until chocolate is melted; mix well to combine.
4. Add raspberries.
5. Place in fridge until mixture firms up.
6. Once firm. scoop and roll into balls.
7. Place in freezer for 3 hours.
8. Dip balls in melted chocolate. and place skittles and pretzels in place.
9. Work fast as chocolate sets quickly!
10. Add fondant eyes.

Recipes courtesy of Roxi Wardman. For more from her, follow her on Instagram (@roxiwardman)

ENDS