• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • about Dom in the Kitchen
  • contact me
  • pr & demo’s
  • Private Dining

Dom in the Kitchen Homepage

Recipes from my Lincolnshire kitchen

  • Home
  • Chicken Thighs
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Eggs
  • Vegetarian
  • Everything else

cinnamon balls – let's make christmas

3 November 2011 by Dominic Franks

oy gevalt..!

… for a nice Jewish boy from North London you’d have thought that the very idea of Christmas would turn my stomach… or at the very least boil my skin or something medieval like that… but as you probably know, dear reader, I just love it… always have… always will… and it’s not like we were deprived as children, we all celebrated Christmas, like most good Jewish families I knew, in style, with plenty of food!

… what I am really bad at is food as gifts… I know I should be better, particularly as food is my thing, it’s just that all that preserving and jar filling seems to slip me by… I have tried this year buy purchasing some lovely Kilner jars… that was a month ago and as yet, even though the lovely Karen from Lavender and Lovage has been kind enough to send me a dozen recipes for preserving, I have done nothing…. they sit empty on a shelf… (fabulous new bamboo shelf mind you…)

… this year, dear Vanessa from Prepped has created a very sweet blogger challenge called Let’s Make Christmas where she has invited fellow bloggers to create gifts for Christmas, she is even hosting a wonderful ‘real-time’ event at my favourite shop in the world, Fortnum and Mason’s in London, which I have been privileged to be invited to and produce an item for… the idea is that we all bring at least one item which we swap for someone else’s at the end of the event… like a kind of giant ‘bring and buy’ swap sale… such fun… and Fortnum’s is THE place for that Christmas spirit… if ever you’re feeling down or in anyway un-Christmassy then one second in this glorious store and your faith in Christmas will be restored!

… but what to make…?

well, I wanted it to be something that was different and not quite run-of-the-mill and that perhaps reflects my heritage in some way… and so I thought of Cinnamon Balls, which are a traditional Jewish biscuit served at Passover, due to their lack of flour… but I think the shape, cinnamon and icing sugar are the very definition of edible Christmas… they truly are tasty little treats and will keep the young and young at heart happy for the entire festive season…

Cinnamon Balls
this recipe is adapted from Evelyn Rose, the doyen of Jewish cooking, the recipe says it should make 24 but I got 16 out of it…?

2 Egg Whites
4 oz Caster Sugar
1/2lb Ground Almonds
1 Level Tablespoon Cinnamon

– beat the egg whites till stiff 


– gently fold in all other ingredients


– make into small, walnut-sized balls with very wet hands!


– lay on a baking sheet in the oven and bake on 160C for 25 mins or until just firm and beginning to crack


– roll in icing sugar whilst still warm



… i’m planning to find some small white chocolate boxes for these to go in, perhaps 6 per box… adorable!… eat and of course, enjoy!

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on E-mail

Filed Under: Everything else Tagged With: let's make christmas

Previous Post: « Random Recipes #10 – Random Recipes does No Crouton's Required
Next Post: chunky vegetable soup »

Reader Interactions

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Comments

  1. Gin and Crumpets says

    3 November 2011 at 8:10 am

    These sound fantastic. Planning a very home-made Christmas this year – these are going on the list.

  2. little macaroon. says

    3 November 2011 at 8:18 am

    wow – that is going to be an AMAZING afternoon (and a normal afternoon in F&M is pretty amazing!). My Dad told me a few years ago that a scandal involving a reckless cad of a cousin and the F&M foodcourt was the downfall of the family's West Highland business way back in the early 70s (true life is always so much better than fiction). Which makes me love the place even more!

    Have a super time at your fancy bring & buy!

  3. Pear Tree Log says

    3 November 2011 at 9:30 am

    Will definitely try these. The recipe sounds nice and easy to do – which is a bonus at Christmas time!

    F&M sounds fun! I just love all their fabulous foods and treats, it would cost me a fortune to get out again.

  4. Karen S Booth says

    3 November 2011 at 10:40 am

    I will let you off Dom, but only beacause you have nice bamboo shelves!
    As for your cinnamon balls, ahem, that sounds rude, they look amazing and I love that fact that you have managed to meld two cultures and festive traditions into one…..I am MORE than excited about the forthcoming event and Fortnum and Masons and am looking forward to seeing you there!
    Karen
    XX

  5. Magnolia Verandah says

    3 November 2011 at 11:35 am

    These are the perfect gluten free gift or after dinner table adornment. We have several gluten free visitors at our Christmas table every year, this could be a little treat just for them. How wonderful to be invited to Fortnum & Masons, my sister at L'heure du the is dying for an invite.

  6. Choclette says

    3 November 2011 at 11:49 am

    Oh Dom – hope I get to pick yours at F&M – they sound wonderful and would make excellent Christmas gifts. Love cinnamon, love almonds, love Christmas, love you. I'm still faffing around wondering what to make – keep coming up with a good idea and then rejecting it. Bamboo shelves sounding good too 🙂

  7. Dom at Belleau Kitchen says

    3 November 2011 at 12:39 pm

    @ choclette… can't wait to meet everyone!… I really struggled with what to bake but I think i've found something nice and simple but extra yummy with my balls (ooh err!)… oh and I love you too x

  8. How To Be Perfect says

    3 November 2011 at 12:48 pm

    I love that you love Christmas and I'm glad you have started Christmas baking, I'm starting next week. These look so yummy! I will definitely be baking your balls this Christmas lol.

    By the way if you commented on one of my posts and didn't include the odd F word, I would be very disapointed and I'd know you weren't really that impressed. Also I think my blog needs the odd rude word to even out all the sickly sweetness. x

  9. Anne says

    3 November 2011 at 12:52 pm

    Oooh what a lovely idea, never really had anything similar but love cinnamon so can't go wrong really!

  10. StephenC says

    3 November 2011 at 1:23 pm

    You Brits have SUCH fun!

  11. Please Do Not Feed The Animals. says

    3 November 2011 at 3:16 pm

    Love the small ingredients list and even smaller method – my kind of recipe. Do they taste a bit marzipan-y with those almonds? If so, I'm definitely in.

  12. A Trifle Rushed says

    3 November 2011 at 4:19 pm

    Fab! And like you I love multi-faith celebrations. I'm Roman Catholic, but have a beautiful Menorah which I put beside my Crib, every year. I'll be making these delights very soon.

  13. At Anna's kitchen table says

    3 November 2011 at 4:42 pm

    I love Fortnums too- hope you have a great time at the event!!
    Your balls look great too!
    ;-))

  14. Sarah, Maison Cupcake says

    3 November 2011 at 4:47 pm

    Well, when you tweeted you were showing your balls off I couldn't resist a peep. Jolly nice!

  15. Mummy says

    3 November 2011 at 5:55 pm

    Your cinnamon balls look exactly how they should be – I am sure no-one else will have made them for the Fortnum's event.
    LoL mummyx

  16. Chele says

    3 November 2011 at 6:24 pm

    Nice balls Dom!

  17. Janice says

    3 November 2011 at 7:02 pm

    Oh Dom is that from Evelyn Rose's Jewish Cookbook? I have had that book since about 1977, I loved it to bits but haven't visited it for years. You have reminded me what a fab book it is, will have another look.

  18. From Beyond My Kitchen Window says

    3 November 2011 at 7:17 pm

    Oh Dom, They scream Christmas and talk about easy to put together. They will be a hit for sure. BTW, the whole exchanging of the goodies sounds fun.

  19. Malli says

    3 November 2011 at 7:58 pm

    Dom,
    I feel the same way about Christmas:) and I am a Hindu. I love celebrating it with food and gifts and partake in all the joy!! Lovely cinnamon balls.Yum

  20. MissCakeBaker says

    3 November 2011 at 8:47 pm

    My what perfect balls you have there Dom. F&M event sounds fab!

  21. Brownieville Girl says

    3 November 2011 at 9:31 pm

    They look and sound delicious – what I particularly love is that there is no fruit in there – yummm!

    I'm so envious of you guys meeting up at F&M – I'm actually flying into London the next day, how unlucky is that!!!!!

  22. Laura@howtocookgoodfood says

    3 November 2011 at 11:32 pm

    Wow these must taste good, great idea for a gift swap. I love anything cinnamonny! 🙂

  23. Baking Addict says

    3 November 2011 at 11:55 pm

    These look like little balls of Christmassy Heaven! I love, love, love F&M – sounds like its going to be a really fun event, cant wait to hear all about it from everyone.

  24. Northern Snippet says

    4 November 2011 at 9:57 am

    Your balls are *magnificent*

  25. Anonymous says

    6 November 2011 at 2:49 pm

    🙂 How long do they keep?

  26. Dom at Belleau Kitchen says

    6 November 2011 at 4:57 pm

    hi Anonymous… they keep for about 4 or 5 days in a air tight container, they can go slightly hard, but I like them that way… to be honest, nothing stays for long in our house anyway, so it's never a worry!

  27. Jenn says

    8 November 2011 at 12:55 pm

    A good friend of mines mom used to make these and send them to her all the time.. we would be almost sick after eating them all, but they were oh so good!!

  28. jaynerly says

    16 November 2011 at 1:41 pm

    These look so delicious!!

  29. Choclette says

    15 December 2011 at 6:08 pm

    Toss up today whether to make your balls or Claire's winning amaretti. Hers won in the end, but it was a very close call.

Primary Sidebar

About Dom In The Kitchen

My name is Dominic, I am a cook, food writer and creative event producer. I write the food blog Dom In The Kitchen and also write a monthly recipe column for Lincolnshire Life Magazine and Good Taste Magazine. I also run creative event production company The Persuaders, producing global events for brands since 1997. I am based both in the small village of Belleau in Lincolnshire and the smaller village of London! Read More…

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe

Archives

Tweets by @DomInTheKitchen

as featured in Lincolnshire Life Magazine

Lincolnshire Life

creatively managed by

The Persuagers
Belleau Cottage

Footer

dominthekitchen

GIVEAWAY!!! - Win a @charbroil_uk BBQ and 2 cases GIVEAWAY!!! - Win a @charbroil_uk BBQ and 2 cases of wine for BBQ food-pairing from @beefsteakclubwines 

I’ve teamed up with barbecue expert, Char-Broil, and Beefsteak Club wines to provide one lucky winner with a BBQ party package of the Char-Broil Performance Pro 2-Burner compact gas barbecue (RRP: £449.99) plus two cases of Beefsteak Club wines!!

To be in with a chance of winning this mega BBQ prize, simply:

1) Follow @dominthekitchen @charbroil_uk and @beefsteakclubwines 

2) Like this post

3) Share this post

4) tag friends in the comments. One tag = one entry, so get tagging - the more the merrier!

Ts&Cs: Winner will be chosen at random and announced via my IG Stories once the competition has closed on Sunday 12th June at 11pm GMT.  Prize to be posted to a UK address only. This competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram. No purchase necessary. Multiple entries allowed per person. Open to UK entrants aged 18 or over. 

#PRSample #competition #prize #giveaway #entertowin #bbq #wine #foodpairing #gift #food #foodie #foodiesofinstagram
#ad Jubilee Cakewiches with @guylian.uk Still sl #ad Jubilee Cakewiches with @guylian.uk 

Still slightly obsessed with these cakewiches which are basically cakes made into sandwiches and all topped off with the ultimate finishing touch - a beautiful Guylian SeaShell. 

#cakes #cake #cakesofinstagram #picnic #jubilee #celebration #party #partyfood #food #foodies #platinumjubilee
Tomato, Feta and Strawberry Salad with my Slightly Tomato, Feta and Strawberry Salad with my Slightly Pickled Pink Onions

I wanted to share the pics of this salad the moment I made it cos it’s just so vibrant and summery. 

The real star of the show are the amazing slightly pickled pink onions… but… (and I hate to be a tease) you’ll have to wait till next week for the recipe!

#salad #salads #tomatoes #feta #healthy #healthyfood #healthyeating #food #foodblogger #foodie #foodiesofinstagram #britainsbesthomecooks_
I love my garden for many reasons… #worldnakedg I love my garden for many reasons…

#worldnakedgardeningday2022 #garden #gardeninspiration #gardening #nakedgardeningday2022 #summer #muscles #gym
Apricot & Strawberry Frangipani Pudding (recipe be Apricot & Strawberry Frangipani Pudding (recipe below)

This pudding is like a bowlful of summer. It’s light and fruity and sweet and so easy to put together.  I think it’s also quite unexpected to serve a pudding when fresh fruit is in abundance and a simple fruit salad would suffice but that’s what I adore about this.  Plus, this pudding makes very good use of those punnet’s of strawberries that look great in the supermarket but in fact taste all spongy and gloopy when you get them home.

Here’s the #recipe:

🍓 200g butter
🍓 200g golden caster sugar
🍓 3 large free-range eggs
🍓 200g ground almonds
🍓 100g strawberries – quartered
🍓 4 apricots – sliced into wedges
🍓 the finely grated zest and juice of half a lemon
🍓 2 tablespoons @fage_uk Greek Yoghurt
🍓 1 teaspoon @little_pod Vanilla Bean Paste

I greased a 20cm fluted ceramic pie dish and pre-heated the oven to 160C

beat the sugar and butter together in a large bowl until light and creamy… a stand mixer will do this in 4 minutes, a hand held electric whisk will do it in 6 minutes and a wooden spoon will do it in 8 minutes.

add the eggs and 1 tablespoon of ground almonds and beat in, then add the rest of the ground almonds and gently beat in, followed by the Greek Yoghurt, lemon zest and juice, vanilla and half the strawberries and beat in – the strawberries will become mush – which is exactly what you want.

lay half the remaining fruit into the bottom of your dish and cover with the frangipane batter, then scatter the remaining fruit on top

bake for 45 mins or until darkly golden brown, then remove from the oven and let it cool to set

#pudding #summerfood #summer #strawberry #strawberries #apricot #frangipani #cake #cakesofinstagram #cakes #food #foodie #britainsbesthomecooks_
Potato Kugel Traybake with Poached Eggs and Mushro Potato Kugel Traybake with Poached Eggs and Mushrooms

Is there anything more ‘Sunday Brunch’ than a crispy rosti with a delicately fragile poached egg on top? This Traybake rosti is a twist on a Jewish potato cake made with potatoes, carrots and onion. It’s amazing and really does make the perfect brunch. 

What are you having for brunch today?

for the kugel:
🍳 5 medium potatoes
🍳 2 large onions
🍳 2 large carrots – roughly grated
🍳 2 eggs – beaten
🍳 2 tablespoons flour
🍳 salt and pepper
🍳 a large handful of fresh rosemary
🍳 2 tablespoons of olive oil

for the poached eggs:
🥚 2 eggs per person
🥚 water
🥚 salt
🥚 a ramekin or similar

pre-heat the oven to 180C and butter your baking tin… i’m using an oblong swiss roll tin but any metal pan will do, a quiche or tarte tin is good.  Earthenware will work too but there’s something about the metal tin that makes it more ‘roasty’

Cut the potatoes and carrots into large chunks and par-boil till just beginning to yeald, drain and place in the fridge for one hour.  I usually do mine the night before.

Once the potatoes and carrots are cold, grate them and add them with the rest if the ingredients to a large bowl and mix together well.

Tip into your cake tin or roasting tray and roast in the oven on 190C till golden and grisp around the edges, roughly 40 mins

To make the poached eggs I prefer to use my large shallow cast-iron casserole dish.  There’s something about the cast-iron that holds the heat and cooks them evenly.  Fill the pan with water and heat it till it’s rapidly boiling, then turn down the heat until it is just steaming. 

Once it’s steadily hot with no bubbles lower the eggs into the hot water and leave them alone at this exact heat.  They should take about 5 minutes to become perfect with soft yolks but feel free to go until you like them.

#rosti #breakfast #brunch #sunday #eggs #poachedeggs #food #foodie #foodiesofinstagram #breakfastideas #britainsbesthomecooks_
Load More… Follow on Instagram

&copy 2010 - 2021 | All rights reserved | Website by Peckish Digital