Recipe: Cranberry Crumble Bites
Fridge bits n' bops transformed into a tasty seasonal bite {v, nf}
Like a cat with its nine lives, I've lived through about 99 different career incarnations before finding my current path. One particularly memorable chapter was spending three consecutive Christmas seasons in my late twenties at what I can only describe as a Volkswagen wonderland - the company's headquarters in East Germany. Picture Disneyland, but swap out Mickey Mouse for VW Beetles. The sprawling complex featured museums celebrating automotive history, diverse restaurants, and during the holiday season, transformed into a magical Christmas market. I worked from a cosy chalet while watching visitors glide across the ice rink and enjoy professional skating shows amidst the festive atmosphere.
It must have been quite a sight: a pink J-Lo puffer jacket layered over chocolate brown ski dungarees, topped with a candy pink and white striped apron, and crowned with a pink pom-pom woolly hat. Quite possibly the most bizarre outfit I've ever worn while baking – and definitely the antithesis of the Naked Chef! But thank goodness for all those layers, as I was often baking in temperatures that plunged to -17°C. This was the late noughties and fortunately for me, there is no social media evidence that can haunt me.
Christmas Eve meant solitude and an unconventional feast: pot noodles paired with chocolate lebkuchen (traditional German Christmas spiced cake), since everything – even the hotel restaurant – was firmly shut. But before you reach for the violins, know that the pay made it all worthwhile. Those winter months funded blissful January and February adventures running pop-up restaurants in Australia and Argentina.
These experiences shaped my approach to Christmas entertaining. I'm always on the hunt for easy canapé ideas that transform those random fridge ingredients into something special. This recipe is a perfect example: it cleverly repurposes leftover cheese and that half-used jar of cranberry jam (or chutney) into elegant bites. The result? A soft, tender cake base crowned with a satisfyingly buttery crumble topping.
Recipe and full recipe video behind the paywall.
This week’s petit pleasure - I totally devoured this show – it hits that sweet spot between impressive architecture and clever living solutions. Right up my alley!