Preparation time – 10 minutes plus soaking and proving time
Cooking time – 15 minutes
Calories per roll – 144 Kcal
Fat per roll – 3g of which saturated – 1.6g
Makes – 18 rolls
Suitable for vegetarians
Suitable for freezing

Wholemeal bread
Warm water 450ml (16fl oz)
Caster sugar 4 tsp
Traditional dried active yeast 1 tbsp
Wholemeal flour 680g (11⁄2lb), plus a little extra for sifting
Salt 2 tsp
Butter 50g (2oz)
Milk 300ml (1⁄2 pint), warm
Egg 1 large beaten with 2 tbsp milk
Oats for sifting, optional

White bread
Warm water 150ml (1⁄4 pint)
Caster sugar 4 tsp
Traditional dried active yeast 1 tbsp
Organic strong plain flour 680g (11⁄2lb)
Salt 2 tsp
Butter 50g (2oz)
Milk 300ml (1⁄2 pint), warm
Egg 1 large beaten with 2 tbsp milk
Oats for sifting, optional

1 Place 150ml (1⁄4 pint) of the warm water in a bowl or jug, add 1 tsp of the sugar and the yeast. Whisk well, then cover with cling film and leave to stand in a warm place for 15 minutes until a 5cm (2in) froth forms.

2 Meanwhile, sift the flour, remaining sugar and salt into a bowl, rub in the butter and make a well.

3 Whisk the yeast mixture and add to the flour, along with the remaining water and milk. Mix to a dough, then turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and very elastic. Or mix with a dough hook in an electric mixer.

4 Cut the dough into 18 equally sized pieces and shape each one into a smooth ball. Place the balls on greased and lightly floured baking trays – well spaced apart. Loosely cover with cling film and leave to rise until doubled in size and retains an impression when lightly pressed with the tip of a finger – about 30 minutes.

5 To bake, preheat the oven to 230°C/450°F/Gas 8. The risen rolls may be sifted with flour and oats before baking, or brushed with milk or milk and beaten egg. Bake for 10–15 minutes until well risen, golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the base. Cool on a wire rack.

Cook’s tip
The ideal temperature for the warm water is ‘blood heat’, which is when the water feels neither hot nor cold when a finger is dipped into it.

Recipe taken from Around Britain Dairy Cookbook

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Preparation time – 15 minutes plus 30–45 minutes proving
Cooking time – 20 minutes
Calories per roll – 602 Kcal
Fat per roll – 17g of which saturated – 8.4g
Serves – 4
Suitable for vegetarians

Strong plain flour 500g (1lb 2oz)
Fast-acting dried yeast 7g sachet
Salt 1 tsp
Eggs 2, lightly beaten
Milk 300ml (½ pint), warmed to blood heat
Butter 50g (2oz) melted

1 Tip the flour into a bowl and stir in the yeast and salt. Reserve about 1 tbsp beaten egg, then beat the rest with the milk and butter and pour into the flour mixture. Mix together well to give a soft dough. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes on a lightly floured surface until it is stretchy.

2 Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/Gas 7 and butter two 18cm (7in) sandwich tins.

3 Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a flattish round ball and place in the sandwich tins. Cover with oiled cling film and leave them in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size.

4 Brush the reserved egg over the top of the loaves to glaze them. Bake the loaves towards the top of the oven for 15–20 minutes, until they have risen and are a golden colour. When lifted out of the tins, the loaves should sound hollow when tapped on the base – if they don’t, return them to the oven and cook for a little longer.

5 Remove the loaves from the oven and transfer to a wire rack. Serve them warm or cold, split in half and served as they are or lightly toasted, or fill them with your favourite savoury combination and eat like a sandwich.

Cook’s tip
If you want really glossy and deeper colour crusts, the buns may be brushed with a second coating of extra egg glaze halfway through the cooking process.

Recipe taken from Around Britain Dairy Cookbook

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Perfect for a drizzly Saturday at home. Enjoy creating these simple pizzas with the kids and, when the pizzas are cooked, enjoy eating them too!

25 minutes preparation time
20 minutes cooking time
406 Kcal per portion
14.2g fat per portion of which 4.6g is saturated
4 servings

For the topping:
Olive oil 2 tsp
Onion 1 small, peeled and diced
Garlic 1 clove, peeled and crushed
Chopped tomatoes 200g can
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sugar a good pinch
Double Gloucester cheese 75g (3oz), grated
Kabanos sausages 2, totalling 75g (3oz), sliced
Cup mushrooms 75g (3oz), wiped and sliced
Basil 8 leaves, finely shredded, to garnish

For the base:
Plain flour 250g (9oz)
Bicarbonate of soda 1⁄2 rounded tsp
Salt 1⁄2 tsp
Buttermilk 284ml tub

1 Make the tomato paste for the topping first. Heat a small frying pan, add the oil, onion and garlic and cook over a low heat for 5 minutes until softened.

2 Add the tomatoes. Season well, adding sugar. Cook for 8–10 minutes until thickened to a paste.

3 Preheat the oven to 230°C/450°F/ Gas 8. To make the base, sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large bowl. Pour in about 250ml (9fl oz) of the buttermilk and mix, using a fork, to make a soft but not too sticky dough. Add more of the buttermilk if you need to, or more flour if it gets too sticky.

4 Put the dough onto a work surface lightly dusted with flour. Knead briefly then divide it into four. Form each piece into a ball and place it on a greased heavy baking sheet. Flatten out with your knuckle each to a 15cm (6in) round.

5 Spread the tomato paste over each pizza, almost to the edge. Scatter with half the cheese, then the slices of sausage, the mushrooms, basil and, lastly, the rest of the cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve warm with salad.

Recipe taken from Year Round Dairy Cookbook

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The 11 marzipan balls on the top represent the apostles, minus the treacherous Judas.

Preparation time – 30 minutes
Cooking time – 2¼ hours
Calories per slice – 722 Kcal
Fat per slice – 30g
of which saturated – 13.2g
Makes – 11 slices
Suitable for vegetarians

Butter 250g (9oz), softened
Light muscovado sugar 250g (9oz)
Eggs 4
Plain flour 300g (11oz)
Baking powder 1 tsp
Ground mixed spice 2 tsp
Ground almonds 50g (2oz)
Luxury dried mixed fruit 500g (1lb 2oz)
Lemon 1, finely grated zest and 2 tbsp juice
White marzipan 500g (1lb 2oz)
Apricot glaze or sieved apricot jam 2 tbsp

1 Preheat the oven to 150°C/300°F/Gas 2 and line a 20cm (8in) cake tin with baking parchment.

2 Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a spoonful of the flour along with each egg. Sift in the remaining flour, baking powder and spice and fold the almonds, dried fruit and lemon zest and juice into the mixture. Spoon half into the cake tin and smooth the surface level.

3 Roll out one third of the marzipan until it’s a circle, just smaller than the cake tin, and lay it on top of the mixture in the tin. Spoon the remaining mixture over the top and level the surface.

4 Bake the cake in the centre of the oven for 2–2¼ hours, or until a skewer comes out clean after being inserted into the cake. Cover with a sheet of baking parchment if it starts to brown. When cooked, remove the cake from the oven and leave to cool.

5 Remove the cake from the tin and peel away the lining paper. Spread the apricot glaze or jam over the top. Roll out half of the remaining marzipan to fit the top of the cake. Place it on the cake and smooth down, taking care not to trap any air pockets underneath. Pinch around the edges.

6 Divide the remaining marzipan into 11 pieces and roll each into a ball. Brush a little apricot glaze or jam onto the base of each and evenly space around the top of the cake. Place under a hot grill to brown the marzipan lightly. Remove from the grill and leave to cool before serving.

Cook’s tips
• The cake will keep in an airtight container for up to a week.
• If you have a choice of marzipan, choose white marzipan, which has a more natural flavour than golden marzipan.

Recipe taken from Around Britain Dairy Cookbook available for a short period at just £2.99!

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Preparation time – 25 minutes
Cooking time – 25 minutes
Calories per portion – 435 Kcal
Fat per portion – 24g of which saturated – 13.6g
Serving – 10
Suitable for vegetarians
Suitable for freezing

Very dark plain chocolate 175g (6oz)
Unsalted butter 110g (4oz), softened
Light brown sugar 175g (6oz)
Cold finely mashed potato 75g (3oz)
Eggs 2, beaten
Self-raising flour 175g (6oz)
Salt 1⁄2 tsp
Milk 4 tbsp
Double cream 125ml (4fl oz)
Icing sugar 50g (2oz), sifted
Whisky 3 tbsp
Raspberry jam 3 tbsp
Raspberries to decorate

1 Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5 and grease and line two 20cm (8in) Victoria sandwich cake tins. In a heatproof bowl, break 50g (2oz) of the chocolate, and place over a pan of gently simmering water to melt.

2 In another bowl, beat together the butter and brown sugar until pale. Beat in the melted chocolate and mashed potato.

3 Gradually beat in the eggs, adding a little of the flour with each. Sift the remaining flour and salt into the mixture and add the milk. Gently fold together until well combined.

4 Divide the mixture equally between the prepared tins and smooth over the tops. Bake for about 25 minutes until risen and springy-firm to the touch. Turn onto wire racks to cool completely.

5 Melt the remaining chocolate as above and cool for 10 minutes. Add the cream, the icing sugar and the whisky. Carefully whisk together until thick and creamy. Spread the jam over one half of the cake and then spread half the chocolate cream on top. Sandwich together with the other half. Spread the remaining chocolate cream on top. Decorate with fresh raspberries before serving.

Cook’s tip
If whisky isn’t your preferred tipple, dark rum or brandy also works well with chocolate, or replace with orange juice for a non-alcoholic version.

Recipe taken from Around Britain Dairy Cookbook.

Serves 8–10
Preparation 50 mins
Cooking 25 mins
Per portion 613 kcals, 44g fat (24.3g saturated)
Suitable for feezing
Suitable for vegetarians

150g (5oz) butter, melted
6 eggs
½ tsp vanilla extract
225g (8oz) caster sugar
50g (2oz) plain flour, sifted twice
50g (2oz) cocoa powder, sifted
4 tbsp Kirsch liqueur
450ml (3/4 pint) double cream
410g can black cherry pie filling
Chocolate curls (made with vegetable peeler)

1 Grease and flour bases and sides of three 20cm (8in) sandwich tins.

2 Strain melted butter through muslin or use Clarified Butter (page 183).

3 Whisk together eggs, vanilla and sugar over a saucepan of hand-hot water for 8–10 minutes or until mixture is thick and texture of softly whipped cream. Remove bowl from saucepan and continue whisking for a further 5 minutes.

4 Gently fold in flour, cocoa powder and melted butter, using a metal spoon.

5 Divide mixture between prepared tins. Bake at 180°C (350°F) Mark 4 for 10–15 minutes.

6 Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes in tins, then place on a wire cooling rack to cool thoroughly.

7 Prick cooled sponge cakes all over with a skewer. Spoon Kirsch over cakes and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

8 Whip cream until softly stiff. Sandwich cakes together with some of the whipped cream and pie filling. Spread top with cream and spoon pie filling in the centre.

9 Decorate top with chocolate curls. Serve at once.

Serves 6–8
Preparation 5 mins
Cooking 40-45 mins
Per portion 150 kcals, 8g fat (4.3g saturated)
Suitable for vegetarians

110g (4oz) plain flour
Pinch of salt
1 egg
300ml (½ pint) milk
40g (1½oz) butter

1 Sift flour and salt into a bowl. Break in egg.

2 Gradually add half the milk, beating to form a smooth batter.

3 Pour in remaining milk and beat until smooth.

4 Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F) Mark 7. Put butter into a 25 x 30cm (10 x 12in) baking tin. Heat for 10 minutes or until a faint haze just appears.

5 Pour in batter.

6 Bake just above centre of oven for 40–45 minutes.

Small Yorkshire Puddings 

1 Follow recipe and method for Yorkshire Pudding.

2 Place butter in a 12-section bun tin and heat as step 4.

3 Pour in batter and cook for 15–20 minutes.

Recipes taken from The Dairy Book of Home Cookery. 2012 edition

Serves 8
Preparation 30 mins
Cooking 40 mins Per portion 430 kcals, 34g fat (19.1g saturated)
Suitable for freezing
Suitable for vegetarians

110g (4oz) self-raising flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder
110g (4oz) butter
110g (4oz) caster sugar
25g (1oz) golden syrup
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
4 tsp milk
200ml (7fl oz) double cream, whipped
Grated chocolate to decorate

1 Grease and line a two 18cm (7in) round sandwich tins. Sift flour twice with cocoa.

2 Cream butter, sugar, syrup and vanilla together until very pale, light and fluffy.

3 Beat in eggs, one at a time, adding 1 tbsp of sifted dry ingredients with each one. Fold in milk and remaining dry ingredients.

4 Transfer to prepared tins and smooth top. Bake at 180°C (350°F) Mark 4 for 20 minutes, or until springy to touch.

5 Turn out on to a wire rack, strip off paper and leave until cool.

6 Cut cake into 2 layers. Fill and cover top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with chocolate.

Recipe taken from The Dairy Book of Home Cookery

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Preparation time 10 minutes
Cooking time 35 minutes
Calories per slice 136 Kcal
Fat per slice 6g of which saturated 2.9g
Makes 10 slices
Suitable for vegetarians and freezing

For the cake
Butter 50g (2oz), at room temperature
Caster sugar 75g (3oz)
Self-raising flour 75g (3oz)
Ground almonds 25g (1oz)
Egg 1 Lemon ½, grated zest only

For the topping
Lemon ½, juice only
Granulated sugar 50g (2oz)

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4, then strip line and grease a 450g (1lb) loaf tin with non-stick baking paper or use silicone bakeware.

2 In a large bowl, mix together all the cake ingredients until smoothly blended. Spread the mixture in the tin and bake for 35 minutes until just firm to the touch.

3 For the topping, mix the lemon juice with the sugar and spoon it evenly over the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Leave in the tin to cool for at least 10 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool. Slice for serving.

Cook’s tip
Leave out the lemon zest and topping but add 50g (2oz) dried fruit to the mixture and sprinkle the top with 25g (1oz) chopped hazelnuts before baking.

Recipe taken from
Clever Cooking for One or Two
now available for just £7
from the Dairy Diary website.

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Serves 6
Time 40 mins
Calories 282 per portion
Fat 15g of which 8.6g is saturated
Suitable for freezing

Plain flour 50g (2oz)
Wholemeal flour 50g (2oz)
Butter 65g (2½oz)
Milk 175ml (6fl oz)
Onion 1 small, peeled and chopped
Potatoes 250g (9oz), peeled and diced
Frozen peas 75g (3oz)
Corned beef 198g can, diced
Chopped parsley or chives 2 tbsp
Cheddar cheese 25g (1oz), grated

1 Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6.

2 Place flours in a bowl. Rub in 50g (2oz) butter until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add seasoning.

3 Add 1–2 tbsp of milk and mix to a dough. Roll out and line a 20cm (8in) flan ring. Bake blind for 15 minutes.

4 Meanwhile, melt remaining butter in a pan and cook onion and potatoes for 5 minutes. Add remaining milk, cover and simmer for 8 minutes. Uncover,
add peas and seasoning and cook for 2–3 minutes. Spoon corned beef over base and top with potato mix, parsley
or chives and then cheese.

5 Reheat in oven for 15 minutes, or until cheese has melted and filling is hot.

Recipe taken from 2012 Dairy Diary.

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Makes 12 cakes
Time 30 mins
Calories 265 per cake
Fat 14g of which 8.5g is saturated
Suitable for vegetarians

Butter 175g (6oz)
Caster sugar 110g (4oz)
Eggs 2, beaten
Self-raising flour 110g (4oz)
Glacé cherries 50g (2oz), chopped
Icing sugar 110g (4oz)
White chocolate buttons and halved glacé cherries to decorate

1 Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5. Spread out 12 paper cases on baking sheets, or put them into patty tins.

2 Cream 110g (4oz) butter and all caster sugar together until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in eggs, beating well after each addition. Fold in flour, then chopped cherries.

3 Fill paper cases half full and bake for 15–20 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

4 Beat remaining butter with icing sugar for butter icing and spread over top of cooled cakes.

5 Decorate with white chocolate buttons and glacé cherries.

Recipe taken from 2012 Dairy Diary.

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No wonder baking is back in fashion. Yummy!

Serves 8
Preparation 30 mins
Cooking 40 mins
Per portion 430 kcals
34g fat (19.1g saturated)

110g (4oz) self-raising flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder
110g (4oz) butter
110g (4oz) caster sugar
25g (1oz) golden syrup
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs 4 tsp milk
200ml (7fl oz) double cream, whipped
Grated chocolate to decorate

1 Grease and line a two 18cm (7in) round sandwich tins.

2 Sift flour twice with cocoa.

3 Cream butter, sugar, syrup and vanilla together until very pale, light and fluffy.

4 Beat in eggs, one at a time, adding 1 tbsp of sifted dry ingredients with each one.

5 Fold in milk and remaining dry ingredients.

6 Transfer to prepared tins and smooth top.

7 Bake at 180°C (350°F) Mark 4 for 20 minutes, or until springy to touch.

8 Turn out on to a wire rack, strip off paper and leave until cool.

Cut cake into 2 layers. Fill and cover top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with chocolate.

Recipe taken from Dairy Book of Home Cookery

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Serves 6–8
Preparation 20 mins
Cooking 1¼ hrs
Per portion 264 kcals,
13g fat (7.7g saturated)
Suitable for freezing
Suitable for vegetarians

225g (8oz) plain flour
Pinch of salt
1 tbsp baking powder
110g (4oz) butter
50g (2oz) caster sugar
½ tsp grated orange rind
2 eggs, beaten
3 tbsp orange marmalade
2–3 tbsp milk

1 Grease and line an 18cm (7in) round cake tin or a 450g (1lb) loaf tin.

2 Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a large bowl. Rub in butter until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

3 Add sugar and orange rind. Mix to a fairly soft batter with eggs, marmalade and milk. Transfer to tin.

4 Bake at 180°C (350°F) Mark 4 for 1–1¼ hours or until a wooden cocktail stick, inserted into centre, comes out clean. Leave in tin for 5 minutes.

5 Turn out on to a wire cooling rack. Peel off paper. Store cake in an airtight container when cold.

Recipe taken from The Dairy Book of Home Cookery | 2012 edition

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Makes 12
Time 20 mins
Calories 133 per portion
Fat 5g of which 2.7g is saturated
Suitable for vegetarians
Suitable for freezing

Self-raising flour 275g (10oz)
Salt ¼ tsp
Butter 50g (2oz)
Dried basil 1 tsp
Tomato purée 1 tbsp
Milk 275ml (9fl oz)
Egg 1, beaten
Sesame seeds 1-2 tbsp
Cherry tomatoes and Cheddar cheese to serve, optional

1 Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. Place flour and salt in a bowl. Rub butter into flour until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

2 Add basil, tomato purée and milk and half of the egg and mix to a soft but not sticky dough.

3 Roll out on a floured work surface into a rectangular shape about 2cm (¾in) thick and cut into 12 x 5cm
(2in) squares.

4 Place on a greased baking sheet, brush tops with egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 10 minutes or until well risen and golden.

Serve with tomatoes and cheese, if using.

A Dairy Diary recipe.

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Moist and sticky with glistening succulent fruit.

Preparation time 15 minutes
Cooking time 1 hour 15 minutes
Calories per square 228 Kcal
Fat per square 9.8g of which saturated 5.6g
Makes 16 squares
Suitable for freezing
Suitable for vegetarians

White bread 2–3 days old, crust removed: 225g (8oz), bread torn into small pieces
Milk 375ml (13fl oz)
Oranges 2, grated rind of both, juice of 1
Mixed ground spice 1 tbsp
Seedless raisins 175g (6oz)
Sultanas 150g (5oz)
Mixed chopped peel 50g (2oz)
Ready-to-eat prunes 75g (3oz), chopped
Ready-to-eat dried apricots 75g (3oz), chopped
Glacé cherries 75g (3oz), quartered
Eggs 3, beaten
Butter 150g (5oz), melted
Black treacle 1–2 tbsp
Granulated sugar

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4 and grease a 23cm (9in) square shallow baking dish.

2 Soak the bread with the milk in a bowl for 10 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients, except the sugar, and mix well.

3 Transfer to the baking dish, spread evenly and bake for 45–50 minutes until the pudding is lightly browned and set in the centre.

4 Sprinkle with the granulated sugar and serve hot with custard. Or leave to cool, cut into squares, cover and refrigerate.

COOK’S TIP
If serving warm with custard, stir a little extra grated orange rind and a tablespoon or two of sherry into the custard when reheating.

Recipe taken from Just One Pot.

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Crisp on the outside, melt-in-your-mouth on the inside. Yummy!

Makes 18
Preparation 25 mins
Cooking 25 mins Per portion 93 kcals,
4g fat (0.3g saturated)
Suitable for freezing
Suitable for vegetarians

2 egg whites
110g (4oz) ground almonds
225g (8oz) caster sugar
15g (½oz) ground rice
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp almond flavouring
A little extra egg white
9 blanched almonds, split in half

1 Grease two baking sheets. Line with rice paper.

2 Beat egg whites until foamy but not stiff. Add almonds, sugar, ground rice, vanilla and almond flavouring. Beat well.

3 Pipe or spoon 18 mounds of mixture, well apart, onto prepared baking sheets. Brush with egg white. Put half an almond in middle of each one.

4 Bake at 170°C (325°F) Mark 3 for 20–25 minutes, or until pale gold.

5 Leave to cool for 5 minutes. Carefully lift off, then remove rice paper from edges.

6 Cool on a wire cooling rack. Store in an airtight container when cold.

Recipe taken from the new 2012 edition of The Dairy Book of Home Cookery.

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Both wheat and dairy free, these little oaty crunchies are completely irresistible. 

Time 25 minutes plus cooling
Calories per cookie 72 Kcal
Fat per cookie 4g of which saturated 0.5g
Makes 30 cookies
Suitable for vegetarians

Porridge oats 125g (4½oz)
Medium oatmeal 50g (2oz)
Light soft brown sugar 110g (4oz)
Heather honey 2 tbsp
Vanilla extract a few drops
Vegetable oil 110ml (3½fl oz)
Egg 1, beaten

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4 and line two large baking trays with baking parchment.

2 Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Then put heaped teaspoonfuls of the mixture, well spaced apart, on the baking sheets and flatten slightly with the back of the spoon – you should be able to make 30 cookies.

3 Bake for 12–15 minutes until they are a rich golden brown. Leave them to cool for 10 minutes on the baking trays before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Cook’s Tip
For the best results, choose a stronger tasting variety of honey and add a teaspoon of cinnamon or ground mixed spice for a different flavour.

A Good Food Fast recipe.

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Perfect with an afternoon cup of tea.

Makes 20 squares
Time 1 hour 10 mins
Calories 120 per portion
Fat 4g of which 2.2g is saturated
Suitable for vegetarians
Suitable for freezing

Plain flour 175g (6oz)
Oatmeal 50g (2oz)
Bicarbonate of soda 1½ tsp
Ground ginger 1 tbsp
Brown sugar 75g (3oz)
Butter 75g (3oz)
Golden syrup 50g (2oz)
Black treacle 50g (2oz)
Egg 1 medium, beaten
Milk 150ml (¼ pint)
Raisins 110g (4oz)

1 Preheat oven to 170°C/325°F/Gas 3. Grease and line a 20cm (8in) square cake tin. Mix together flour, oatmeal, bicarbonate of soda and ginger.

2 Gently heat sugar, butter, syrup and treacle in a pan. Add egg and milk and mix together. Beat in dry ingredients then stir in raisins.

3 Pour into prepared tin and bake for 1 hour until firm to touch. Cool in tin, then cut into squares.

A Dairy Diary recipe.

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Time 30 minutes
Calories per pastry 281 Kcal
Fat per pastry 18g of which saturated 6.1g
Makes 8 pastries
Suitable for vegetarians

Ready-rolled puff pastry 425g packet
Egg 1, beaten
Apple sauce 8 tsp
Golden marzipan 110g (4oz)
Apricot jam 2 tbsp, warmed and sieved
Flaked almonds 15g (½oz), toasted

1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/Gas 7 and line a large baking tray with baking parchment.

2 Unroll the pastry and cut into eight equal-sized squares. Brush each with beaten egg and then add 1 teaspoon of apple sauce on to the centre of each.

3 Form the marzipan into a sausage-shape about 5cm (2in) long and slice into eight. Lay a piece on top of the apple sauce on each of the pastry squares. Fold up the corners of the puff pastry squares to meet in the middle over the marzipan, forming a mitre shape. Pinch each of the corners to seal.

4 Transfer to the baking tray, brush the top of the pastries with more egg and cook for 15–18 minutes until risen and golden.

5 Transfer to a wire rack, lightly brush with the sieved jam and sprinkle with a few almonds. They are best served warm.

Cook’s Tip
Use the same cooking method, but vary the fillings, such as canned fruit, jam or squares of chocolate.

Rceipe taken from Good Food, Fast.

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Makes 12 slices
Time 2 hours
Calories 396 per portion
Fat 12g of which 5.7g is saturated
Suitable for freezing
Suitable for vegetarians

Mixed dried fruit 350g (12oz)
Glacè cherries 150g (5oz), roughly chopped
Mixed peel 50g (2oz)
Walnuts 50g (2oz), roughly chopped
Brown sugar 175g (6oz)
Butter 110g (4oz)
Mixed spice 1 tsp
Bicarbonate of soda ½ tsp
Milk 300ml (½ pint)
Self-raising flour 350g (12oz), sifted
Eggs 2, beaten

1 Preheat oven to 160°C/325°F/Gas 3. Place all ingredients except flour and eggs into a pan. Bring up to boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Cool slightly.

2 Add flour and eggs and stir well. Line a deep 20cm (8in) cake tin with greaseproof paper. Tip cake mixture into tin and level top.

3 Bake for 40 minutes then reduce heat to 150°C/300°F/Gas 2 and cook for 40-45 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.

4 Allow to cool in tin for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Remove paper and leave until cold.

Recipe taken from Dairy Diary 2011.

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