May I introduce you to Apple Doodle? Thank you. We had this a lot during my childhood and I never tired of it. It’s a sponge sweetened with golden syrup and punctuated with the sharpness of Bramley apple;  served, of course, with lashings of Bird’s custard. The golden syrup adds a surprisingly significant extra layer of flavour to it – takes it from the standard baked sponge pudding to one with a real character.

First, cream your butter and sugar, then add 2 tbsp golden syrup and beat that in too.

Add 1 tbsp of your measured flour and two beaten eggs

Then fold in the remaining flour, apples and some lemon juice.

Looks a bit like culinary cement.

Into the bottom of your dish, put two tbsps golden syrup and spread it out a bit. Lick the spoon.

Spoon the thick mixture on top of the syrup and level the top off.

Bake for around 45 mins, until golden and smelling gorgeous.

Serve with a drowningly large portion of Birds’ Custard! Enjoy.

—

Golden Syrup Apple Doodle

PRINT THIS RECIPE (opens in a new window)

2 large eggs, (weighed in their shells, weight noted), lightly beaten
same weight in self-raising flour
same weight in unsalted butter
same weight in caster sugar
2 medium cooking apples, peeled and chopped
1 dessertspoon lemon juice
4 heaped tbsp golden syrup

Preheat oven to GM4/180C/350F, also lightly grease an ovenproof dish

Put 2 tbsp golden syrup in the bottom of your dish.

Cream the butter and sugar, then beat in the remaining 2 tbsp golden syrup.
Add 1 tbsp of your flour and the beaten eggs.
Fold in the remaining flour, the chopped apples and lemon juice.

Put into dish and level the top.
Bake for around 45 mins, until golden and smelling gorgeous.

Serve with custard. Lots of it.

That’s all the description it needs really, although I should clarify something. This is actually a Delia Smith recipe that my Mum has made one change too, so in fact it is not so much my Mum’s recipe as Delia’s recipe, and as such I need to point out that My Mum is not Delia – her name is Pat.

Delia, if you stumble across this blog (hey! Stranger things have happened!) don’t worry – you’re not my Mum, but your Mincemeat recipe feels like it is my Mum’s because it’s the one she has used for a long time. K?

‘Tis easy! BTW, this makes 6lb so if you want less, just halve the quantities.

In a large bowl, yes a LARGE bowl, put this lot:

Great.

Now take it all out and weigh and chop it this time. Silly Billy.

So, put in the following things – I mix each ingredient in with my hands as I go, to be sure that it’s all really well distributed:

350g raisins, 225g sultanas, 225g currants, 350g soft dark brown sugar, 50g blanched almonds, cut into slivers:

125g whole mixed candied peel chopped very finely,

125g glace cherries- chopped, 450g Bramley apples, cored and finely diced (don’t bother to peel them),

zest and juice of 2 oranges and 2 lemons, 4 tsp mixed spice, ½ tsp cinnamon, a really good grating of nutmeg and 225g shredded suet.

Cover the bowl with a clean cloth and leave somewhere cool overnight (or for 12 hours).

When that time has elapsed, preheat the oven to GM ¼ (that was the ‘S’ setting on my oven) or 225F/120C. Cover the bowl loosely with foil and put into the oven for 3 hours. If you don’t want this amount, make a half quantity and put in the oven for 2 hours.

Take out of the oven and remove the foil. It will be drenched in fat, but Delia and Mum (my Mum, not… oh nevermind) assure me that this is correct.

As the mincemeat cools, stir from time to time. The idea of this is that each tiny ingredient gets a coating of fat – including the apple which has a reputation for fermenting and ruining your chances of storing the mincemeat. No such worries with this recipe. Stir when you walk past it and see the texture change as the fat permeates every part of the mincemeat.

When the mincemeat is cold, stir in 6 tbsp Brandy. Yummo. Inhale. Christmas.

Sterilise 6 x 1lb jars and allow them to cool. pack the mincemeat into the jars, cover the top with a wax disc and seal with one of those cellophane jam lid/circles.

Delia says it will keep in a cool, dark cupboard indefinitely, but is best eaten within the year. I’m keeping mine in ‘the larder that’s not a larder’ (as opposed to ‘The Larder’ which is the larder or ‘The Hellmouth’, aka under the stairs)

For stunning mince pies, use the shortbread pastry recipe.

You know, as you’re making this, it is quite shocking to see the amount of fat – I mean SEE it right there in front of your eyes; but you’re eating something that is pretty much an annual treat, after all. You can read the nutritional information on the back of a packet or jar all you like, but it isn’t as impactive as stirring it in yourself.
When you think of commercially prepared mincemeats with their additives, stabilisers and general weirdness, on TOP of all the fat, it should be some comfort that because you’ve made it yourself, you can identify all the ingredients – there’s no spookiness – these ingredients are natural and the difference speaks for itself, because the taste is so superior.

There are some really good mincemeats and mince pies available, but one bite tells you it’s from a shop; it is frankly, undeniable. Serve these and there is no way they are anything but tenderly, lovingly and joyfully home made.

Ho ho ho.

——-

Mum’s Mincemeat

PRINT THIS RECIPE (opens in a new window)

slightly adapted from a Delia Smith recipe

350g raisins,
225g sultanas,
225g currants,
350g soft dark brown sugar,
50g blanched almonds, cut into slivers,
125g whole mixed candied peel chopped very finely,
450g Bramley apples, cored and finely diced (don’t bother to peel them),
zest and juice of 2 oranges
zest and juice of  2 lemons,
4 tsp mixed spice,
½ tsp cinnamon,
a really good grating of nutmeg
225g shredded suet

6 tbsp Brandy

Combine all the ingredients, except the Brandy, in a large bowl. Stir, mix, combine really thoroughly. I stir each ingredient in (with my hands, no less) as I add it – that way you know you’re on top of it.
Cover the bowl with a clean cloth and leave overnight, or for 12 hours, to allow the flavours to blend.

When the time has elapsed, preheat the oven to GM ¼ (that was the ‘S’ setting on my oven) or 225F/120C.
Loosely cover the bowl with foil and out into the oven for 3 hours (2 hours if you’re doing a half quantity).
Remove the bowl from the oven, ditch the foil and allow it to cool. As it cools, stir it from time to time to completely incorporate the fat – as it cools and the fat coagulates, it will encase each little ingredient in there and facilitate good storage.

When it is cold, stir in the Brandy.
Clean and sterilise 6 1lb jars then allow them to cool. Pack the mincemeat into the jars, press a wax disc ont to the top and seal.
Should keep in a cool, dark cupboard indefinitely, but Delia recommends eating it within the year.