Christmas Baking: Malt Treats

Lately I've been doing some Christmas baking. My mum works full time right up until Christmas and as I work an evening shift it means I'm free during the day to do some of the things that traditionally she would do. I admit, it makes me feel a bit old! and shows how my place in my parents home has changed as I get older. 

Anyway, I thought I'd share with you the recipe's for some of my favourite Kiwi Christmas treats. A Kiwi Christmas is very different from those in the Northern hemisphere and my favourite treats are chilled and perfect for a 30 degree (celcius) day. Nevertheless, they make a tasty treat at any time of year really! These are easy recipes from easy to find ingredients - you'll probably have most of them in the cupboard already. I haven't included photos of the method, just the finished product, but honestly it's so easy you don't need them!

Lolly Log
You'll need:

• 110 grams of melted butter
• 1/2 tin (200 grams) of condensed milk 
• Dessicated coconut
• Vanilla essence 
• 1 packet of plain malt biscuits (girl guide biscuits, malt milk or wine biscuits are a servicable alternative)
• 1 packet of fruit puff lollies/sweets/candy. This is the only one that may cause some difficulty for non-Kiwi attempts, as I've never seen the same type of lolly overseas. They are similar to dry marshmallow or confectionary foam. A picture can be seen here. If no substitute can be found, marshmallows can be used just as well although will give a different texture and flavour from the traditional.  
• Baking paper

To make:

• Add condensed milk to melted butter and mix well until fully combined
• Crush biscuits until crumbed (a food processor is the easiest way, adding 2-3 biscuits at a time)
• Add crushed biscuits to butter mixture with a few drops of vanilla essence. Mix well until forms a crumbly dough. 
• Chop fruit puffs or similar into halves or quarters according to own preference. Combine with dough. This may not look as if it's combining well - don't worry! Just combine as well as possible. 
• Tip mixture out onto baking paper and form into a rough log shape. Cover the log in dessicated coconut
• Roll the baking paper around the log and refrigerate for at least two hours. Slice to serve. The log will keep well for weeks in the fridge! 

 

Marshmallow Balls 

You'll need:

•  Half a tin (200g) of condensed milk
• 1 packet of malt biscuits (or similar, see last recipe)
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cocoa
• 100 grams of butter
• 1 packet of marshmellows 
• Vanilla essence 
• Dessicated coconut

To Make: 

• Melt the condensed milk, brown sugar, cocoa, butter and vanilla essence together, stirring constantly, but do not bring to the boil. 
• Crush biscuits (again, a food processor is useful here) and combine with the melted mixture until forms a stiff dough.
• Break of small parts of the dough (approx two teaspoons) and flatten in hand (having wet hands really helps here). Roll flattened dough around a marshmallow and into a ball. 
• Roll each ball in dessicated coconut
• Refrigerate for at least two hours until hard. Again, these will keep easily in the fridge for weeks.

Once again, Merry Christmas everyone! I hope your enjoying your friends, family and a bit of Christmas craft. 


That's all for now,
*Sarah*

Summer Reading Challenge Update: No change :P