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Recipe: Raspberry Blancmange

Based on a retro classic, this blancmange is a far cry from its wobbly 1970s reputation – instead, this is a light and creamy raspberry and almond dessert

INGREDIENTS

8 gelatine leaves
750g (26oz) raspberries 50ml (11⁄2fl oz) raspberry liqueur
25g (1oz) cornflour 300ml (10fl oz) whole milk
150g (5oz) caster sugar 40g (11⁄2oz) ground almonds
1 tsp almond extract 450ml (15fl oz) double cream
Crystallised rose petals

 

METHOD

1. Soak the gelatine leaves in a bowl of chilled water for 5 minutes, use a blender to blitz the raspberries to a fine purée. Pass through a sieve into a clean bowl, discarding the pips, then stir in the raspberry liqueur.

2. Mix the cornflour with a little of the milk in a pan. Stir in the remaining milk, along with the sugar and ground almonds. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 3–5 minutes, while stirring to thicken. Remove the pan from the heat.

3. Squeeze out any excess water from the gelatine leaves, then add them to the pan, stirring continuously until dissolved. Add the almond extract. Stir in 300ml of the double cream and all the raspberry purée, combine thoroughly, then pour into the mould. Leave to set for at least six hours, preferably overnight.

4. To serve, lightly whip the remaining 150ml of cream to soft peaks, then spoon into a medium piping bag fitted with a medium star nozzle.

5. Remove the mould from the fridge and quickly dip it into a bowl of hot water to loosen the blancmange. Invert the mould onto a serving plate to turn out the blancmange.

6. Finally, pipe the cream around the base of the blancmange, then decorate with crystallised rose petals.

 

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