Jam Doughnut Bundt

This month's obsession is currently doughnuts. Particularly every single flavour Crosstown sells, all of the chocolate filled ones from Bread Ahead and, you know what, even a regular supermarket's jam filled when needs must. If you've never had any of these then you are missing you, I'm telling you.

There's certain things, like doughnuts, that I know will cause me more frustration than joy if I attempt to master them in my very own kitchen. Whilst I may be an avid baker, I am more than keen to leave certain things to the professionals.

Everything except combining my love of a simple one bowl bundt cake mix with all the joys of a doughnut, in one giant form.

And so here I present to you, a jam doughnut cake, or a giant doughnut if you will. Because I doubt very much I could replicate something as good as my market favourites.

Of course this is very much a cake and not made from dough, but all prep can be done in one bowl within 10 minutes. Forget making dough, kneading and proving, this guy is super easy going. Filled with your favourite jam, mine is always raspberry, and smothered in cinnamon sugar once baked.

Just remember to thoroughly grease your bundt tin for ultimate upturning and bob's your bundt uncle, a stress free bake!

J A M   D O U G H N U T   B U N D T
(Serves 8-10)

400g plain flour

2tsp baking powder

225g golden caster sugar, plus extra for topping

175g butter, melted, plus extra for topping

250ml full fat milk

2 eggs

half jar of raspberry jam

1tbsp ground cinnamon

• Heat the oven to 180 degrees and grease a bundt tin.
• Add the flour, baking powder and caster sugar to a large mixing bowl.
• Whisk together the butter, milk and eggs in a jug before pouring into the dry ingredients. Gently mix until everything is just incorporated.
• Pour half the batter into the prepared bundt tin. Use a small spoon to smooth some of the mixture up the walls of the bundt tin in order for the jam to be fully enveloped during baking. Dollop the jam evenly around the middle of the bundt ensuring not to touch any sides. Pour over the remaining batter, smooth the top and bake for 45-50 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
• Remove from the oven and leave to cool before upturning onto a wire rack to cool fully.
• As the bundt is cooling, brush with a little melted butter and scatter over cinnamon sugar to coat each side.

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Better with Comté Masterclass

Everything is better with cheese, in fact everything is better with Comté. And that was exactly the premise of a night in Cactus Kitchens trying our hand at incorporating one of my favourite cheeses into a selection of seasonal dishes.

First up, cheese tasting. All milk to make Comté comes from Montbéliarde and French Simmental cows who have 2 acres of land each in the Jura Massif to roam free and work their magic. What a life! They eat grass and flowers in the summer and hay in the winter. Each day small village dairies transform the cows milk into wheels of Comté who in turn age the cheese in house, regularly turning the wheels, salting and brining for up to 24 months.

Not only does seasonal changes in the cows diet change the flavour profile of the finished Comté wheel, but also the age of the wheel. There's such a vast difference between a young Comté and a mature. When young, its elastic, lactic, pale and fruity. When mature, more nutty, deeper in colour and crumbly due to the break down of amino acids. 

These both lend a great flavour to varying seasonal dishes as we went on to explore and try for ourselves in the kitchen. 

To start, a watercress, beetroot and fennel salad with Comté, basil and walnut crostinis. Here the 18 month is used in place of parmesan and pine nuts to give a deep nutty flavour in both the pesto and in the generous shavings on top...part of the perks of working with Flick - there's no scrimping on the cheese! Our starter was paired with, Grüner Veltliner, Reiden Selection, one of my favourite wines of the evening. From Austria's signature grape, its dry, fresh, citrusy and the perfect balance to the 18 month Comté and balsamic beetroot.

Next up, a butternut squash, sage and Comté risotto where a young cheese is used for creaminess to the earthiness of the squash. Of course, once again this is also topped with generous shavings of the mature because this is a cheese night after all! Paired with Tierra Alta Sauvignon, again dry and citrusy but more acidic - perfect for the younger, creamier 8 month Comté.

And of course, the Comté chefs worked their magic on a Comté, banana and vanilla tarte tatin. Yes, there's cheese in this dessert. The use of a young Comté, between 8-12 months, as we learnt in making the risotto gives a creaminess to the puff pastry and trust me, it was delicate and totally delicious. Served alongside a Petit Védrines Sauternes gave the perfect nutty, caramelised balance to the finale dish.

Armed with some new know-how I'm very excited to give some new Comté dishes a try at home. I've also decided that it would be a pretty great life being a Comté cow being free to roam in your 2 acres all day and graze non stop.

Thanks for having me Comté and Cactus Kitchens!

I was invited to attend the masterclass, was not paid and all opinions are my own...who doesn't love cheese this much?

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