Winter treats to tingle your tastebuds

Vanilla poached pear and apple crumble

Maureen from Orgasmic Chef

It may be cheeky, but this blog definitely lives up to its name. This pear and apple crumble recipe is no exception. It’s sweet without being sickly, filling without being heavy, and has just the right amount of crumble. If the photos haven’t made your mouth water, your sweet tooth may not be as bad as you think.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

Poached pears:

• 4 poached pears in vanilla syrup

Pear and apple crumble:

• 3 pears
• 2 apples
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon caster sugar (or more if your fruit is not sweet)

Crumble topping:

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup macadamia nut meal
• 1/2 cup finely chopped macadamia nuts
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla paste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
2. Prepare poached pears but leave them whole.
3. Peel pears and apples and chop into a saucepan. Add just a spoonful of water and cook for about 5 minutes to start the cooking.
4. Remove from heat and add sugar and vanilla and mix to combine.
5. Place poached pears in the middle of individual ramekins or an oven dish large enough for a crumble.
6. Add the pear and apple mixture around the pears.
7. Blitz the macadamia nuts for the nut meal and chop the remaining nuts finely.
8. Mix the butter, brown sugar, vanilla paste and nut meal together until it looks like peas, then mix in the oats and chopped nuts.
9. Clump the mixture in your hands and break apart bits and spread over the pear and apples until well covered.
10. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Brioche Nutella buns with a maple glaze

Peter from Souvlaki for the Soul

There’s nothing like freshly baked treats on a chilly day, and this twist on the cinnamon bun is in a league of its own. Combining three of the best sweet treats ever invented -—brioche, maple and Nutella — these buns are downright genius. Forget biscuits — this is the only thing to enjoy with a cup of tea.

Serves 12

Ingredients:

• 1 quantity of light brioche bread (to make your own, see this recipe) 
• 60 grams hazelnuts, roughly chopped
• 4 tablespoons Nutella spread
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup pure icing sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C.
2. Make the glaze by combining the maple syrup, vanilla and icing sugar. Set aside.
3. Roll the light brioche dough approximately 1/4 inch thick on a clean surface, measuring approximately 50 centimetres by 50 centimetres.
4. Spread the Nutella evenly over the dough. Add the chopped hazelnuts and sprinkle the cinnamon if you’ve decided to include it.
5. Gently roll the dough to form a tube and cut 12 serves to form the buns.
6. Place the buns in a pre-buttered springform tin, cover and allow them to rise until they are doubled in size (1 hour).
7. Place them in the oven and cook for 20–25 minutes.
8. Allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes and then place them on a cooling rack.
9. Once cooled, completely dress them with the maple syrup glaze and the chopped hazelnuts.

More meal ideas

Slow cooked lamb shanks
How to make delicious falafel wraps with yoghurt
Lamb and feta stuffed zucchini