Easter Feast

Orange Meringue Cake

For the cake mixture:

• 200g butter
• 200g caster sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 250g self-raising flour
• 1 orange, juice &zest
• 3tbsp milk
• 1tbsp orange blossom water

For the meringue mixture:

• 2 egg whites
• 100g caster sugar

For the filling:

• 300ml double cream – whipped
• Jar of raspberry jam (optional)
• Orange zest &1 tbsp of juice
• 2tbsp icing sugar – sieved

• 1. Preheat oven to 160c. Prep 2 x 20cm cake tins
• 2. Place all the cake ingredients in your food processor and beat until light and fluffy. Divide the mixture between the two tins.
• 3. Whisk the egg whites until stiff, gradually adding the sugar and whisk until glossy.
• 4. Spoon the meringue over both the cake tins, leaving a 2cm border as the meringue will spread. Bake for 30-40 minutes.
• 5. For the filling, add orange zest &1 tbsp of orange juice to the cream.
• 6. Spread the jam on top of the meringue of the base cake, top with cream &sandwich with the top layer, dusting the meringue with icing sugar.

Simnel Fairy Cakes

Makes 24 cakes

• 250g mixed dried fruit
• 1 orange, grated zest &juice
• 175g butter
• 175g caster sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 300g self-raising flour – sieved
• 1tsp mixed spice
• 2tbsp orange blossom water
• 2tbsp milk
• 175g marzipan, rolled into 24 balls
• 200g icing sugar – sieved
• 2tbsp orange juice
• Decoration of your choice
• 24 paper cupcake cases

• 1. Preheat oven to 170c. Warm the orange juice &dried fruit together in a saucepan.
• 2. In your food processor, beat together the butter, caster sugar, eggs, flour &spice until well combined.
• 3. Add the dried fruit with juice, orange water &milk an whiz.
• 4. Bake for 15 minutes ✓ then return to the oven, if necessary.
• 5. Decorate by mixing the icing sugar &orange juice together and spoon over each cake.
• 6. Decorate by mixing the icing sugar &orange juice together and spoon over each cake.

Fruit sticks with warm chocolate sauce

Chocolate sauce

• 100g 70% dark chocolate – broken up
• 30g butter
• 1tbsp golden syrup
• 2tbsp double cream

Suggested fruit:

• Pineapple
• Kiwi
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Grapes

• 1. For the chocolate sauce, put the chocolate, butter &golden syrup in a saucepan on a gentle heat, stir till the chocolate is melted, then add the cream.
• 2. Serve warm with fruits of your choice, threaded on wooden kebab sticks.