Baking Christmas magic!

With festive goodwill in abundance at this time of year, nothing shows loved ones they’re truly cared for quite like a delicious homebaked treat. For little ones, it’s also a fantastic way for families to spend quality time together and develop their own special Christmas homebaking traditions

Brand Central

6 December 2023

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Nothing creates that homely, cosy Christmas feeling quite like a spot of home baking. In recent weeks, the perennially popular, wholesome TV favourite, ‘The Great British Bake Off’ has been continuing to inspire home bakers of all levels, from novices to the more experienced, to try their hand at baking up a treat during a crisp winter’s evening.

In a new global report entitled, ‘A Year of Innovation in the Baking Ingredients and Sugar Market 2023’, Mintel reports on the specific EMEA innovations that have taken place within this sector.

“Consumers want fuss-free and quick baking preparations. Brands in the baking ingredients market continue to focus innovation around consumers’ need for convenience,” the analyst states. “Easy-to-use options that don’t compromise quality for convenience are likely to appeal to consumers who are short on time but also value-conscious.”

In a previous report released in April 2021, entitled ‘Baking Beyond the Baked Good’, Mintel also examined the question, ‘Why are consumers really baking?’ According to the analyst: “Baking is more than a means to an end for bakers; it’s a hobby. Consumers are baking more often not only to treat themselves but also to relax, to improve their own baking skills and as a way to bond with their families, indicating the experience of baking is just as important as the baked good itself. Brands can further amplify that experience in messaging and innovation to extend the joy of baking long beyond the pandemic.”

Make lasting memories

During Christmas, Siúcra knows how important it is to make lasting memories. Whether your customers are whipping up goodies with the kids in the kitchen or enjoying meals with family, Siúcra has got everyone covered for all baking needs this festive season.

Siúcra has put together a collection of festive recipes that are not only tasty but also designed to inspire bakers of all levels of expertise

Your shoppers can treat family, friends, grandparents, or teachers to some sweet homemade treats, put a unique spin on a classic gift, or just have some fun together in the kitchen to create memories. This is the perfect time to impress loved ones with a homemade holiday masterpiece or a delicious dessert using the well-known Irish brand, Siúcra.

This year, Siúcra has put together a collection of festive recipes that are not only tasty but also designed to inspire and help you create sweet treats and traditions at home, using some of Siúcra’s top seasonal products.

Visit nordzuckerireland.ie for more details.

Gingerbread sandwich cookies

These gingerbread sandwich cookies make for a scrumptious homemade festive treat

Prep time: 40 minutes

Makes: 22

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes, plus chilling time

Difficulty: Intermediate

For the gingerbread cookies:

450g plain flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tbsp ground cinnamon

1 tbsp ground ginger

½ tsp ground allspice

½ tsp ground cloves

125g butter, softened

125g Siúcra Rich Dark Brown Sugar

200g treacle

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

For the ginger cream filling:

80g butter, softened

100g cream cheese, softened

220g Siúcra Icing Sugar

1 tbsp ground ginger

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp milk

Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Cream the butter and brown sugar in an electric mixer until it becomes pale and creamy. This may take a few minutes longer than you think so the trick is to be patient.
Beat in the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract until combined. Add in the dry ingredients that you set aside earlier and mix on low speed until it comes together as a slightly crumbly dough.
Turn the dough out onto a sheet of cling film and press to form a flattened disc. Wrap the dough in cling film and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.
Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/ gas mark 4 and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Meanwhile, leave the dough out at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to soften before rolling. This will prevent the edges from cracking.
On a well-floured surface, roll the dough to about ⅛ inches thick. Use a gingerbread cookie cutter to cut cookie shapes and transfer them to a baking tray, leaving about a half inch between each cookie. Re-roll the scraps and repeat until you can’t get any more cookies out of the dough.
Bake the cookies for 10-11 minutes until golden. Let them cool on the baking tray for at least 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool fully.
Christmas is the perfect time to impress loved ones with a homemade holiday masterpiece using the well-known Irish brand, Siúcra

To make the ginger cream, mix the butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl until smooth and creamy. Add in the powdered sugar, ground ginger and vanilla extract, and mix until combined. Transfer the ginger cream to a piping bag fitted with a piping tip of your choice.
Match up two similarly sized and shaped cookies and pipe the filling onto one cookie. Gently sandwich the other cookie on top. Dust the tops with icing sugar before serving.

Per serving: 251 kcals, 10g fat (6g saturated), 39g carbs (22g sugars), 3g protein, 1g fibre, 0.128g sodium.

Top kitchen tips

Try adding other spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to the cream filling for a richer taste.

Always cream the butter and sugar for a little longer than you think is necessary – that’s the key to the perfect bake.

These cookies can be stored in an air-tight container for up to five days.

No mess, no fuss, just fun!

Odlums takes pride in making baking accessible to all bakers, from those with years of experience to beginners

Odlums is proud to have been milling and packing flour in Ireland for over 175 years. Originally established in Portlaoise by the Odlum family in 1845, Odlums has been an integral part of Irish baking and cooking for generations.

‘Tis the season to get baking and this Christmas and for some, the task of baking at Christmas can be an intimidating one. Some might simply associate it with taking on the more time-consuming favourites like Christmas cake and Christmas pudding. Odlums takes pride in making baking accessible to all types of bakers from the more experienced to the beginner who may be trying baking for the first time. Odlums.ie has something for everyone.

Odlum’s has made it even easier this Christmas with its new range of Cake Shakers. Available in two flavours, Classic Muffin and Chocolate Brownie. Odlums Cake Shakers make baking easy; simply add water and oil to the bottle and shake! Shaking the ingredients together will create a smooth liquid mixture which is then ready for the oven. It’s that easy – no mess, no fuss, just fun!

Available nationwide; to find out more visit Odlums.ie or find the brand on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Ireland’s leading butter

Kerrygold delivers an abundance of choice to meet budding home bakers’ needs

Ireland’s leading butter brand, Kerrygold, is the secret ingredient for every kitchen moment. The full line-up of Kerrygold products now includes the Kerrygold 100-gram Butter Stick. The handy 100-gram format offers food lovers greater variety for a host of usage occasions while delivering the unmistakable great taste that Kerrygold is known for all over the world.

Whether your shoppers are budding chefs, a dab hand at baking, or simply seeking that extra edge to up their kitchen game, Kerrygold offers food lovers an abundance of choice to match every occasion.

To access the full range, contact the brand directly at Irish.Retail@ornua.com.

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