This competition is now closed

Cranberry and orange rum babas

Name: Cranberry and orange rum babas
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Ingredients: fresh yeast or dried yeast 1 tsp; milk 90ml, warmed until tepid; strong white flour 225g; salt ½ tsp; golden caster sugar 2 tbsp; eggs 4, beaten; butter 100g, very soft; dried cranberries 75g; golden caster sugar 250g; orange 1 small, finely grated zest and juice; dark rum 4 tbsp, or more if you like; dried cranberries 75g; whipped cream or crème fraîche or ice cream, to serve

1 hour 25 minutes + at least 30 minutes steeping
makes 6
Easy

These Christmassy babas will make your house smell like heaven as they bake. Make extra syrup if you like and warm through before serving with the soaked babas.

Published: March 25, 2015 at 3:05 pm

Make these cranberry and orange rum babas, then check out our rum cake, rum babas with caramelised apples and more showstopping Christmas desserts.

Ingredients

babas

fresh yeast or dried yeast 1 tsp
milk 90ml, warmed until tepid
strong white flour 225g
salt ½ tsp
golden caster sugar 2 tbsp
eggs 4, beaten
butter 100g, very soft
dried cranberries 75g

rum syrup

golden caster sugar 250g
orange 1 small, finely grated zest and juice
dark rum 4 tbsp, or more if you like
dried cranberries 75g
whipped cream or crème fraîche or ice cream to serve

Method

Step 1

Lightly butter 6 × 150ml pudding moulds. Put the yeast, milk and 50g of the flour in a bowl and blend until smooth.

Stand in a warm place for 15 mins until it starts to bubble. Add the remaining flour, salt, sugar, eggs and butter to make a soft dough and beat well for 3 minutes.

Add the cranberries, then half-fill the moulds with the dough and allow to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes.
Step 2

Heat the oven to 190c/fan170c/gas 5. Put the babas on a baking sheet then bake for 20-25 minutes or until puffed and golden.
Step 3

Meanwhile, make the rum syrup. Put the sugar in a saucepan with 300ml water and heat gently until dissolved.

Bring to the boil and simmer for a few minutes until thickened a little. Remove from the heat and add the orange zest and juice, rum and cranberries.
Step 4

Turn the babas out into a large, deep dish and pour the syrup over. Leave to soak at room temperature, turning occasionally, for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.

Serve with whipped cream, with a little extra rum whipped in if you like, crème fraîche or ice cream.