nourish team 
Our columnist Anne Falgate of Cupcake & Co in Norwich is channelling her inner Mariah this year while she prepares her Christmas bakes.
Christmas is a very busy time for us at the shop. We are currently up to our eyeballs in mince pies, sausage rolls and gingerbread while the Christmas cakes are aging nicely ready for our customers to collect during Christmas week. This year is going to be extra special for so many; a chance to truly celebrate with loved ones after what has been a very difficult couple of years. The fact that Cupcake & Co will be playing a part in those gatherings is a privilege we don’t take for granted. As a family business, we were lucky to be together during lockdowns and other COVID restrictions, but we still have close relatives living abroad who we haven’t seen.
I love baking and cooking, as my ever-increasing waistline will confirm, and now is when I really feel heard. Sharing baked goods with friends and family is when I am in my element. Zesty clementines, warming spices and jewel-like dried fruit really bring the festive feeling to the kitchen. Add an alcoholic tipple and Mariah on full volume and that’s me sorted.
Anything that can be prepped ahead is the key to enjoying the celebrations. Our Bûche de Noël is a lighter alternative to Christmas pudding, contains no gluten, and will keep for a couple of days in the fridge.
Want to go fancy?
Add kirsch-soaked cherries with the cream and cover your roulade with a thin layer of cream and chocolate shards.
Melt the dark chocolate and spread it out on to parchment paper in a thin layer. Roll the paper and put into the fridge for 30 minutes. Slowly unroll the paper with the chocolate facing upwards toward you. The chocolate will break into shards, ready to decorate your Bûche de Noël.
Try Anne’s delicious Bûche de Noël
– don’t forget to share your photos with us @eatnourishdrink
- Visit www.cupcakeand.co • 83 Upper St. Giles Street Norwich, NR2 1AB
- Monday Closed, Open Tuesday – Saturday 8.30 – 15.00, Sunday closed
