Last Minute Mince Pies

baking
 
These last minute mince pies are perfect to whip up with the kids on Christmas eve to leave out for Santa. They are bite size, light and packed with flavour. With crispy filo pastry cases, dried fruit centers and topped with a marzipan star. So easy you can do them with all the family to keep them busy on the run up to the big day.

You'll need...
1 packet of filo pastry (250g)
1 jar of mincemeat (400g)
50g butter
200g golden marzipan (ready to roll)

To make...
Take your filo pastry out of the fridge (but not out of the plastic wrapper) leave to adjust to room temperature for a couple of hours before you start.
Preheat the oven to 200oC
Melt the butter in the microwave for 30seconds then take two 12 hole baking tin and lightly brush with the butter.
Unfold the filo pastry, take one sheet, brush with butter then top with another sheet.
Cut into 8 pieces, brush one side with butter and fold each piece in half.
Push the filo pieces into the prepared tray, filling each hole.
Brush with a little butter on the edges of the pastry cases.
Bake for 10 mins.
Roll out the marzipan to the width of a pound coin.
Cut out star shapes using a small star cutter.
Take the filo cases out the oven and add a spoonful of mincemeat and top with a marzipan star.
Put back in the oven for 5 mins.

Christmas Tableware

Ashley Thomas at home

Christmas dinner made easy with my limited edition tableware at Debenhams. The collection features hand-painted song lyrics, robins and leaping deers, perfect to get you and your guests into the festive spirit.

Exclusive to Debenhams 
Shop in stores nationwide or online for a limited time only. Items from £5.
www.debenhams.com/ashleythomas



Christmas Cake TrayBake

baking

This recipe is a quick and easy version of the classic Christmas cake. It's a lovely way to get into the Christmas spirit and a great thing to have in the house if you are expecting a few visitors over the Christmas season. It will keep in a cake tin for 2-3 weeks. You can also drizzle brandy to the top of the cake before you ice it. Just poke some holes into the baked cake and spoon a little brandy over the top. Leave to soak in for 20 mins and then top with marzipan and icing as below.

You'll need...
For the fruit cake...
175g Butter
175g Golden caster sugar
3 Large eggs
175g Plain flour
1 ½ tsp mixed spice
500g Pre-soaked mixed dried fruit
200g Glacé cherries

To decorate...
apricot jam
500g ready to roll marzipan
500g ready to roll royal icing sugar
silver balls




 To make...
Preheat the oven to 170oC
Soften the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds, add the sugar and mix well.
Beat in the eggs bit by bit and mix in the flour and mixed spice.
Cut the cherries in half and then add these along with the dried fruit.
Add baking paper to the bottom of a traybake tin, mine measures 11 x 7 inches.
Add the cake mixture to the tin and bake for 45-50mins.


Allow to cool completely. Then take the cake carefully out of the tin, I flipped mine onto a glass worktop saver. But this can be tricky as it is a heavy cake!

Meanwhile take the marzipan and roll out to the size of you traybake tin. This requires some serious muscle power! I'd recommend to draw around your traybake tin first on some baking paper. Warm the marzipan slightly in the cooling over and add it to the baking paper. Then add another sheet of baking paper to the top of the marzipan (so it is between two sheets) and get rolling!

After this do the same with your royal icing and roll out to the size of your traybake tin.


Finally piece it all together, first add a few spoons of the jam to a small bowl and warm in the microwave for 15seconds.
Take a brush and brush the top of the cake with jam.
Add your rolled out marzipan to the top of your cake and then your rolled out icing.
Trim the sides, taking off all the excess marzipan and icing.
Top with silver balls and cut into slices.
Ta da! You are now a Christmas domestic goddess!





Debenhams Christmas Collection 2016

Ashley Thomas at home
My Christmas collection is now available at Debenhams. This season's theme is Christmas Woodland, look out for the leaping deers, watercolour bunnies, pheasants and robins. Its a beautiful collection using my hand painted woodland imagery. Typography plays a big part in this years range, with seasonal inspired phrases and classic sing-a-long jingles.


Medium oval platter £20
Hand-painted mugs £10
Gravy boat £18
Star cookie cutters £5
Star 3 tiered cake stand £35
Set of 2 Christmas cake tins £20
Deer large bowl £22
Set of 3 star bowls £16




Christmas woodland bedding £30-60


Snowman biscuit jar £20
Snowman salt and pepper £10Tree shaped cookie cutters £5
Prancing reindeer cake stand £22
Boxed mug £10
Large oval platter £22
Set of 4 dessert plates £20 

All products are limited edition and are exclusive to Debenhams.
Please click the links to shop the full range or please get in touch with the Debenhams customer services on 0844 800 8877 to order directly. The collection is available for a few months only as it is a special Christmas commission I've done for them.

Mojito Cake

baking




You'll need...
For the cake...
175g self raising flour
175g caster sugar
1tsp baking powder
Zest of 2 limes
125g butter, softened
2 eggs, beaten
60ml white rum

For the syrup...
75ml water
75g caster sugar
1tbsp white rum
Juice of 1 lime

For the icing...
100g butter, softened
200g icing sugar
juice of one 1 lime
Sprig of mint

1limes, thinly sliced and mint leaves to decorate



To make...
Pre-heat the oven to 170oC, Grease a 20cm cake tin.
Make the cake, sift the flour and sugar into a large mixing bowl.
Add the baking powder and grate in the zest of 2 limes. Add the butter, rum and eggs and mix in well. Pour into your prepared cake tin and shake to level the top. Bake for around 35mins.


Make your syrup, add the water and sugar to a saucepan and simmer over a low heat for 5mins. Take off the heat and squeeze in the lime juice and then add the rum.


Take the cake out of the oven and allow to cool completely.

Make your icing, Sift the icing sugar into a bowl. Add the butter and squeeze in the lime juice.
Cut the mint leaves into very small pieces or blitz in a food processor, then add to the icing.



Create your cake! Take your cake and skewer small holes into the top. Spoon over the syrup and allow it to soak into the cake for a few minutes and then repeat.
Spread the icing all over the cake. Decorate with limes slices and mint leaves.


 Baked with my Woodland collection exclusively at Debenhams.
Owl Trivet £8
Oven gloves £15
Apron £ 16
Cake Tins £24
Measuring spoons £12
Measuring cups £14 
Wire Trivet £8

New Gift Toiletries

Ashley Thomas at home

Soon to launch at Debenhams is my new toiletries range. From hand creams to bath fizzers, a pocket mirror and even scotty dog lip balms. This giftable range comes beautifully boxed in my hand drawn floral patterns. Exclusively at Debenhams, shop the full range now by clicking here.

 
Hand Wash Duo £12
Item No. 1720107169

Hand Cream Trio £10
Item No. 1720107170


Scotty Dog Lip Balm Duo £8
Item No. 1720107473

 

Bath Fizzers Eggbox £10
Item No. 1720107168


Compact Mirror £6
Item No. 1720107466

Please click the links to shop the full range or please get in touch with the Debenhams customer services on 0844 800 8877 quote the item number I've mentioned above to order directly. The collection is available for a few months only as it is a special commission I've done for them. 

Homemade Bakewell Tarts

baking
These Bakewell tarts are fairly easy to make but are made up of lots of fiddly parts. They taste amazing so are worth the effort but take a little time. They are made up of four layers, shortcrust pastry, raspberry jam, frangipane, icing and of course a cherry on top.


You’ll need…

For the pastry…
250g plain four
60g icing sugar
120g butter
2 egg yolks

Raspberry jam

For the frangipane…
150g butter
150g light muscovado sugar
150g ground almonds
1tbsp plain flour
1tsp almond extract
zest of 1 lemon
2 eggs

For the icing
200g icing sugar
1 tsp almond extract
glace cherries

 
To make…
Place the flour, sugar and butter into a large mixing bowl and rub in the butter until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Add the egg and 2 tbsp of cold water and mix until it forms a dough.
Wrap in cling film and chill for 30mins.

Meanwhile make your frangipane, mix the sugar and butter together until creamy and then add the other ingredients and mix well.
Make your icing too, by adding the icing to a bowl and add a few tbsp. of water until the constancy is smooth, runs off a spoon but in a slow, steady flow. Add the almond extract


Preheat the oven to 180oC, grease some mini tart tins (I used 10cm/4inch ones)
Cut the dough into 8 -10 pieces and roll each piece out on a floured surface.  To around the thickness of a pound coin. Transfer the rolled dough to the tart tins, squash the dough into all the edges and trim the excess with a knife.
Bake for 7mins.

Remove the tarts from the oven and spread a spoonful of jam onto the bottom of the pastry case. Add your frangipane to a piping bag and pipe the mixture into the tart case on top of the jam. Bake the tart again for 20-25mins.


Allow to cool completely. Add your icing to a piping bag with a small nozzle and pipe the icing onto the top of the baked frangipane in a spiral shape.
Top with a cherry and Voilà!

Baked with my Country Ducks collection exclusively at Debenhams.
Trivet £8
Oven gloves £15
Tea towels £14
Measuring cups £14
Glass worktop saver £12
 

Debenhams Gift Collection

Ashley Thomas at home
My gift collection for Debenhams has started to appear online now. You can shop this exclusive, limited edition range on their website... Debenhams.com or please get in touch with the Debenhams customer services on 0844 800 8877 quote the item number I've mentioned below to order directly. The collection is available for a few months only as it is a special commission I've done for them.

Scotty Dog Keyring, £8
Item Number: 1720107468

Mug With Cosy, £8
Item Number: 1720107459


Wooden Sign, £8
Item Number: 1720107456

Exclusive Preview: New Gift Food Collection

Ashley Thomas at home
I'm really excited to announce the arrival of my new gift food collection for Debenhams. I've been busy working away on this new commission for them and I'm so pleased with the results. We've called it the Time for Tea collection, there are a gorgeous range of products based around the tradition of British afternoon tea. From a thatched cottage biscuit barrel to a caravan teapot, Chocolate spoons, tea selections and stacking mugs. I've featured some of my favourites below but this is only half the range. There are 11 products in the collection launch so stay tuned for more info.
Debenhams are launching the range on 19th September. All the products are limited edition and will be on sale for just a few months (due to the nature of the products, biscuits etc.) They will be available on their website shortly Debenhams.com or please get in touch with the Debenhams customer services on 0844 800 8877 quote the item number I've mentioned below to order directly. 


This Little Box Cafe, splits into a trio of boxes containing, English breakfast tea, earl grey tea, chocolate chip cookies, hot chocolate, vanilla flavour hot chocolate, orange flavour hot chocolate coffee. Phew! It's jam packed! It would make such a gorgeous gift for someone special. Limited edition available from 19th September until stocks last.

Box of Beverages, £12.50
Item No. 3111007594

 
Next is this gorgeous floral patterned mug which comes with hot chocolate, mini marshmallows and the cutest mini whisk! So adorable. Exclusively at Debenhams, for a few months only.

Cosy Hot Chocolate Mug, £8.50
Item No. 3111007587

 
My favourite product is this little sweet shop, with afternoon tea flavoured sweets, cherry bakewell and lemon meringue. Super sweet and a bargain at £5. I think this will be very popular! As with all the gift food collection it is limited edition available from 19th September until stocks last.

House of Afternoon Tea Sweets, £5
Item No. 3111007595

 
Next is this village green tea shop, complete with bunting! With a selection of loose teas: English breakfast, Earl grey, peppermint loose tea and tea infuser. Exclusively at Debenhams, for a few months only.

Tea House, £15
Item No. 3111007582

 
One of the cutest products from my collection is this beautiful thatched cottage biscuit barrel. Which comes with delicious fruit and lemon biscuits. As mentioned before all these products are a special commission for Debenhams and are limited edition available for the festive shopping season from 19th September until stocks last.When they are gone they are gone! Please get in touch with the Debenhams customer services on 0844 800 8877 quote the item number to order yours. Or you can shop the range in selected stores across the country or shop online, just copy the item number and type it into the search bar on the website. debenhams.com

House Biscuit Barrel, £16
Item No. 3111007583

Proper Yorkshire Puds

baking
It was batter week on the British bake off for the first time! Batter is wonderfully easy to bake & make as well as gloriously cheap and cheerful! This classic recipe for proper Yorkshire Puds never ever fails! Crispy on the outside fluffy on the inside and a crazy, wibbly-wobbly shape, that is never the same everytime.

Top tips: Make your batter for at least 30mins before you bake them to let the batter rest. You can make the batter the night before too.

Turn the oven up as high as it goes (at least 240oC)

Don't open the oven door, or they will sink and not rise!


You'll need..
285ml milk
115g plain flour
3 large eggs
Salt
cooking oil

To Make...
Add the milk, flour, and egg to a large bowl, whisk together until smooth (preferably with an electric whisk, but you can do it with a hand whisk, it's great for bingo wings!)
Turn the oven on and turn it up to it's highest temperature, make a cuppa and let the oven preheat for 10mins. Take a 12 hole muffin tray, add a tablespoon of oil to each muffin hole. Add the baking tray to the oven for about 5mins to heat the oil. Transfer the batter into a pouring jug. Speed is of the essence with the next part, take the muffin tray out of the oven pour the batter into the hot oil in each muffin hole filling ¾ of the way. Put the tray straight back into the oven and shut the door quickly. DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR FOR 15% MINS! After 15mins you can check your Yorkshire’s they may need 5-10 more mins to brown.
Ta da! Works every time, once you've made your own Yorkshire Puds you'll never accept Aunt Bessie's ever again!



Debenhams Gift Collection

Ashley Thomas at home

I have some exciting news about a new collection launch coming soon to Debenhams. I've designed a gift range for the department store. The collection is full of gorgeous products perfect for the gifting season, which is coming up rapidly! There are diverse collection of products such as keyrings, stationary sets, planter kits, bath fizzers and even a sewing box. Here's a sneaky peek at some of the products close up. The range launches on 3rd October and is exclusive to Debenhams stores and they will be available on their website too. www.debenhams.com 

Swallow Keying, £8
Item no. 1720107467

Home Sweet Home Glass Sign, £8
Item no. 1720107471


Knitted Handwarmers, £10
Item no. 1720107464


Hot Water Bottle & Eyemask Set, £15
Item no. 1720107462


Manicure Set, £8
Item no. 1720107469

Chocolate & Hazelnut Twists

baking

You'll need...
For the dough...
½ cup milk, tepid
½ cup water, tepid
2 eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons butter
3 ½ cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt

For the filling...
Chocolate spread
100g Chopped Hazelnuts


To make...
Get all your butter, eggs and milk out of the fridge before you make the dough to make sure they are room temperature. Mix all the ingredients together using a electric mixer (dough hook/low speed) or add them to a bread maker and set to dough and skip to the next step. Knead the dough for a couple of minutes and rest for 30mins somewhere warm.

Spilt the dough into eight equal sections using a pizza cutter. Take one section roll into a ball and roll out on a floured surface until a long oblong shape. Spread the chocolate on the top of the dough, leaving a 1cm uncovered around the edges. Sprinkle a handful of hazelnuts on top of the chocolate.


Starting from one of the long sides, roll up the dough and pinch the edges together to seal it shut.
Take your pizza cutter and cut down the middle of the roll, leaving 2cm at the top edge. Plait the two pieces together and bend into a circle push the two edges together. Repeat for the other pieces of dough until you have 8 twists.

Add to a greased baking tray and leave to prove for 20mins.
Preheat the oven to 200oC and bake the twists for 20mins or until they are golden. Transfer to a wire rack, to allow to cool but they are best eaten warm.