G’day lovely Beach Cottage Gals! I have a Coastal Christmas dessert recipe for you, though you certainly don’t need to be by the coast for this…
How you cooking this fine Monday? In Australia today, the Eastern seaboard is having the coldest start to summer in 51 years, or so the weather man says…my bare feet are agreeing with that right now…
So, wanna world famous Too Easy Beach Cottage Recipe…not quite a Dump & Go, more like a slice and go? Do you like very super Too Easy Christmas Desserts? I know I do!
This can hardly be called a recipe if you really sit down and examine it, this is more a gathering of ingredients and a putting them back together for a Christmas dessert to make one look like a super goddess of all things domestic without any effort. Just how I like it.
I first had Panettone when I worked in the West End of London (the area I worked in was where all the Italian deli’s and restaurants were)…and all the shops would have all manner of things hanging off their awnings all through the year, and come Christmas the shops were fully loaded with Panettone. It quickly became one of my favourite things to buy and savour and in those days, really, you only saw it at Christmas, and I loved it when it hit the shops…bundling up in the cold London streets, bustling into one of the deli’s and choosing which Panettone to spend my hard-earned cash on and then walking along with that lovely box of delight with the little fabric handle, swinging in the wind.
There are few things better in life than a morning coffee and a slice of this stuff, which is one of the reasons I make the excuse again and again to make this, so I can use the leftovers toasted with my coffee…. But saying that, it’s even better dressed up and on your Christmas dinner table.
The first time I came across Panettone as a Christmas dessert on the dinner table was one year, I went to a Christmas dinner at a friends house and after a big, long, delicious and lovely feast, one of these, quietly but expertly placed on a cake stand and dusted liberally with icing sugar came out and was the most elegant and perfect post-feast delight.
It was then that I saw Panettone in an all new light. A light that meant I could, at Christmas time, or any other time for that matter, serve up a lovely cakey Christmas dessert that wowed in its presentation but, for its creator, there would be little fuss and palaver.
I always look forward to Christmas dinner, whether than means it’s eaten in a cold climate with snow on the ground and walking to the pub in a scarf or, more likely nowadays, a coastal Christmas, wearing flip flops, hitting the beach and floating about on the deck…but with that, almost untouchable thought of happy times though, I know that for us women the actual reality of cooking and planning the thing can be just another job to add to the never-ending list of jobs that turns Christmas joy and happy festive days into more like a nightmare whereupon by the time it is all over you collapse in a crumpled heap on the sofa, topped with a paper party hat.
So this is my Coastal Christmas dessert that might help with that, it suits a warm Christmas occasion beautifully, though to be honest, I made this in England in the dark days of Winter too…I think desserts are one area that Christmas entertaining, whatever the climate overlaps…who doesn’t like a cake laden with cream and topped with fruit?
And this is the one thing that you can have up your sleeve at this time of year, to keep you from that crumpled woman in the corner watching everyone else have fun…I love the glorious amalgamation of cream and Christmas Cake from Italy, topped with jewels and nodding, in all it’s white heaven to Christmas red…the purrfect Christmas dessert!
For this you will need two main ingredients…Panettone and cream. Plus something pretty to go on top & something to soak it in.
Beach Cottage Coastal Christmas Panettone Delight
1 medium Panettone cake
1 carton cream (suitable for whipping) (600ml)
1 x punnet fruit (anything goes, I like raspberries & strawberries)
sparkly bits to dress it up
6 tbsp sherry or cordial
2 tbsp caster sugar
1 x small bar chocolate (milk or dark)
1. Remove your Panettone from its lovely box
2. Carefully remove the waxy wrapper on the cake (this is the most fiddly bit of this, do not be impatient…slow & easy is the way here or it will tear up and the cake will fall about all over the show …you don’t want that)
3. Now slice the bottom part of your cake into 3 big slices, leaving the domed top part for your morning coffee
4. Now whip up your cream, together with the sugar
until it hold soft peaks in a bowl
5. Now you start making a Panettone sandwich …on each slice drizzle some sherry (or cordial if you are using it)….you just need a small amount so it isn’t too sodden…then spread each sandwich layer with some of the whipped cream and cover the whole top of the tower of Panettone slices with the cream…I like to splodge some down the sides too
6. decorate the top of your cake with the raspberries or fruit of choice
7. randomly place them and then add sparkly bits
and grate over your chocolate
BC Christmas desserts Notes* you can leave the sugar out of the cream, or adjust accordingly to your sweet (or not) tooth * use any sparkly bits you have, I used silver buttons * I prefer milk chocolate but the foodies will tell you it’s Green & Blacks all the way *you can use half the cream for a less decadent affair *for this I use a middle of the road in terms of price Panettone for other occasions I splurge …you don’t need that here *you can omit the sherry / cordial if you don’t like that, in fact I often do as my kids aren’t (obviously) big on alcohol in their dessert…if you do this it will be slightly drier, but just as nice !
I hope you try it, it’s lovely, it can tick Christmas Dessert off of that long and stressy list that may be piling up in the back of your mind and if you are savvy with your shopping you can get everything in and ready now….let me know if you make it
That’s it from me from the beaches…see you soon lovelies…here’s to Christmas and sparklies
Hi Sarah,
I will definitely try this. I can’t tell in the picture if this is a single dessert for one or is it a large one you cut up? Sounds easy and delicious though. Thanks for the recipe. Leahx
Hi Sarah , this is so intriguing !!!
I have never thought of such an original idea for dessert – simple , beautiful and I believe delicious .It is so going to be made soon
Thank you and have a joyous , gentle season !
Oh Sarah! This is it, this is what I will take to my mum and dad’s this Christmas. My dad is Italian, needless to say, we have always had panettone at Christmas in our house, and he absolutely ADORES cream and strawberries!!…sorted!
He will think I am the best daughter ever turning up with one of these in my arms…thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.
Looks delicious and super easy.
Technical question…how do you do the movie sequence (pouring the cream)? I don’t have PS or PSE and use a Mac. Would love to try this.
I have never tried Panettone but have often looked at it and wondered what it tasted like. Love the look of this simple dessert…who wants to be slaving away in a kitchen during the festive season? Not me
Will definitely be trying this Sarah…thanks
x
Just back from a long weekend away in Chicago and catching up… Some questions: How do you pronounce Panettone? What does it taste like? Is it dense and moist or light and fluffy? Is it quite sweet or very mild? What are the dotty bits in it?
Sarah one tip (I think I got this from Nigellas book) add lime to your cream as it is being whipped (about 1/2 a lime) and it will go perfectly with the raspberries and choc bits. Also do you add the raspberries in between the layers too or just the top? I am so going to try this! I am not a fan of this cake (never have been) but I always get given one or two over the christmas period I may actually eat it served up like this!
Very very very very tempting. Wow, I love the colors too.
Problem is my hand blender is for some reason angry and giving out nasty sparks. Will a stand mixer do? Everytime I wanted to have soft peaks in a stand mixer, i ended up with runny cream. Have you ever done it with a stand mixer?
This looks really yummy. I love whipped cream and this seems like a really good match. I sometimes eat toast with whipped cream and jam, so I can only imagine that this must be very delicious . I’m curious if I can get a hold of the Panettone, haven’t seen those around here in Denmark. But I guess there are recipes for them.
This is my first time here, by the way. You have an amazing blog and your photos are beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration.
I just made a smidge of this and it is divine. I melted a bit of raspberry jam and added the faintest amount balsamic vinegar. Our local Aldi had panettone but I wasn’t sure how well they would be received. Now I’m off to pick up a couple more for the holidays. And we have edible glitter and sparkly silver sprinkles which work nicely for the bit of sparkle!
I love pannetone, it is such a versatile cake
Your pudding looks really good, it would make a nice change from our bread and butter pudding on boxing day!
Thanks
Great bokeh shots!!! I love Panettone and make a bread pudding out of it (with Disaronno) every Christmas. I am so going to have to try this recipe as well!
I don’t have PS or PSE and use a Mac. It’s beautiful and I bet it’s delious! I love Panettone and make a bread pudding out of it (with Disaronno) every Christmas. What does it taste like?
I sooo love Panettone alone with Tea but this looks so pretty and delicious too! I love how they are simple yet pretty recipes.Thanks so much for something a lil different.~Cheers & Blessings Kim
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
…you don’t need that here *you can omit the sherry / cordial if you don’t like that, in fact I often do as my kids aren’t (obviously) big on alcohol in their dessert…if you do this it will be slightly drier, but just as nice !
Hi Sarah,
I will definitely try this. I can’t tell in the picture if this is a single dessert for one or is it a large one you cut up? Sounds easy and delicious though. Thanks for the recipe. Leahx
sorry it’s a big one I will add that, thanks xo
Hi Sarah , this is so intriguing !!!
I have never thought of such an original idea for dessert – simple , beautiful and I believe delicious .It is so going to be made soon
Thank you and have a joyous , gentle season !
thanks Sylvia and I love the way you call it gentle season!
x
Oh Sarah! This is it, this is what I will take to my mum and dad’s this Christmas. My dad is Italian, needless to say, we have always had panettone at Christmas in our house, and he absolutely ADORES cream and strawberries!!…sorted!
He will think I am the best daughter ever turning up with one of these in my arms…thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.
xx manda
so pleased to help Manda!
xo
I just want the fresh whipped cream and fruit. Yum.
It looks sooo good and the recipe seems easy. I’m not a cook but I might be able to pull this one off.
Looks delicious and super easy.
Technical question…how do you do the movie sequence (pouring the cream)? I don’t have PS or PSE and use a Mac. Would love to try this.
it’s an animated gif x
Panettone…yummo!
Hello Sarah
What a delicious dish and so easy (you know I’m a fan of the easy club)!
I’ve got a great variation idea from you for this too maybe for a smaller serve. I’ll let you know how I go when I try it.
Gorgeous pictures as usual
frame these around your kitchen.
Have a wonderful day,
loulou, from hereiamloulou blog
x
Sarah,
It’s beautiful and I bet it’s delious! Thanks for the recipe!
Debbie
Now I’m drooling! Thanks for sharing – I will have to go looking for a panettone – I’ve never heard of it before!
I have never tried Panettone but have often looked at it and wondered what it tasted like. Love the look of this simple dessert…who wants to be slaving away in a kitchen during the festive season? Not me
Will definitely be trying this Sarah…thanks
x
What a shame I can no longer eat wheat, my Christmas dessert will have to be gluten free- just as well there is always the good ol’ pav!
Just back from a long weekend away in Chicago and catching up… Some questions: How do you pronounce Panettone? What does it taste like? Is it dense and moist or light and fluffy? Is it quite sweet or very mild? What are the dotty bits in it?
Pan i tone ee
it is sweet-ish light and fluffy and sort of dry! the dotty bits is dried fruit
x
OMG I must try
Hey,
Just wondering if you make this the day of an event or day prior?
Hope you have a special christmas with lots of memories made and moments to cherish. x
this keeps pretty well…I have made it the night before with good results x
This looks delicious. Another alternative could be orange juice instead of cordial or sherry.
Bless your cotton coastal socks for this – I’ll be making it for Christmas! xx
Sarah one tip (I think I got this from Nigellas book) add lime to your cream as it is being whipped (about 1/2 a lime) and it will go perfectly with the raspberries and choc bits. Also do you add the raspberries in between the layers too or just the top? I am so going to try this! I am not a fan of this cake (never have been) but I always get given one or two over the christmas period I may actually eat it served up like this!
Very very very very tempting. Wow, I love the colors too.
Problem is my hand blender is for some reason angry and giving out nasty sparks. Will a stand mixer do? Everytime I wanted to have soft peaks in a stand mixer, i ended up with runny cream. Have you ever done it with a stand mixer?
This looks really yummy. I love whipped cream and this seems like a really good match. I sometimes eat toast with whipped cream and jam, so I can only imagine that this must be very delicious
. I’m curious if I can get a hold of the Panettone, haven’t seen those around here in Denmark. But I guess there are recipes for them.
This is my first time here, by the way. You have an amazing blog and your photos are beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration.
Best wishes
Annika
Thanks Sarah- we have two Christmas dinners here in England before we head home to Aust- I can now put up my hand to do the dessert for both!
This looks gorgeous & i needed an excuse to buy another Panettone….
Divine photos too!!
Love your red and white striped cloth!
Melissa x
I just made a smidge of this and it is divine. I melted a bit of raspberry jam and added the faintest amount balsamic vinegar. Our local Aldi had panettone but I wasn’t sure how well they would be received. Now I’m off to pick up a couple more for the holidays. And we have edible glitter and sparkly silver sprinkles which work nicely for the bit of sparkle!
Thank you once again for sharing!
This looks absolutely gorgeous, having friends for a meal on the 27th, will definitely be giving THIS a go!
I love pannetone, it is such a versatile cake
Your pudding looks really good, it would make a nice change from our bread and butter pudding on boxing day!
Thanks
Yummy! I love all of the pics too!
Great bokeh shots!!! I love Panettone and make a bread pudding out of it (with Disaronno) every Christmas. I am so going to have to try this recipe as well!
Amazing pudd, fabulous bokeh, perfect Chrimbo colours, love it love it love it!
These are beautiful photos and it actually looks easy to make…except I’ve never seen or tasted Panettone!
Sarah!
These are just amazing! Can hardly stand to view it…it looks amazing♥
Amazing photos!
I don’t have PS or PSE and use a Mac. It’s beautiful and I bet it’s delious! I love Panettone and make a bread pudding out of it (with Disaronno) every Christmas. What does it taste like?
I sooo love Panettone alone with Tea but this looks so pretty and delicious too! I love how they are simple yet pretty recipes.Thanks so much for something a lil different.~Cheers & Blessings Kim