Easy Sweetmeat Recipes

GULAB JAMUN

Steps:

• For the syrup, add the sugar, water, elachie and rose essence to a saucepan and simmer on medium to low heat until it's slightly sticky and syrupy. Takes about 20-25 minutes to thicken. Reduce heat to the lowest setting and keep syrup warm
• In a large dish, add the condensed milk, melted ghee (please ensure your ghee has been measured accurately, see note below), milk, nutmeg and elachie. Mix it well. Add the powdered milk and a little flour at a time until you form a soft dough, not too sticky and not too dry, you must be able to roll it into shape easily. You may require more or less flour. If the dough feels too sticky when bringing it together wash your hands and knead again. It will feel less sticky. You can also rub a little ghee on your hands when rolling the dough into shape
• Heat oil on medium heat in a small saucepan. Divide dough into little balls and then roll in the palm of your hands to form an oval finger shape. Keep checking the temperature of your oil, if it gets too hot reduce the temperature or turn the heat off completely to allow it to cool down a little.
• Fry the Gulab Jamuns in the oil, use a slotted spoon to drain all the oil before removing. Dip in the syrup for a few seconds and roll into the coconut
• Place on parchment paper until it cools down and then store in an airtight container

FESTIVE SUGAR PLUMS - OLD FASHIONED SWEETMEATS

Steps:

• Put all of the dried fruit, ground almonds and glace ginger into a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the grated orange zest and mix well. Then add the brandy or orange juice and pulse briefly until the mixture comes together.
• Mix the sugar and mixed spice together.
• Divide the sugar plum fruit mixture into 12 pieces and then roll into small balls, before rolling them in the spiced sugar to coat them all thoroughly.
• Cut the pistachios into slivers and cut the cherries into quarters, then push the pistachio slivers and cherry pieces into the top of the sugar plums, to imitate leaves and berries.
• Place them into small paper cases if you wish and store them in an airtight tin for up to 4 weeks if made with brandy, or up to 2 weeks in the fridge if made with orange juice.
• You may be able to perform the Nutcracker ballet now - or not!

EASY SWEETMEAT

Steps:

• Mix everything including the ¼ lb butter in a microwaveable dish
• Heat in the microwave cook for 5 minutes.
• Stir it and cook again for 5 minutes.
• Pour the mixture in the plate.
• Cut into squares. Ready to serve.

SWEETMEATS

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 350*.
• Grease a 9x12 inch baking pan.
• Cream butter and brown sugar together.
• Add flour and mix well.
• Pat mixture into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven.
• Topping: Mix sugar and eggs.
• Add flour; stir well.
• Fold in walnuts and coconut.
• Pour topping onto crust.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes longer, until topping is set.
• Cool in pan and cut into squares.
• Makes 30 squares.