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Festive Flavours from Sub-Zero & Wolf UK: Mulled Wine Cake & Turkey Brine

The festive season is all about indulgence, warmth, and sharing delicious food with family and friends. This year, we’ve partnered with Olivia Burt, Sub-Zero & Wolf UK Chef Ambassador, to bring you two recipes that combine traditional holiday flavours with professional kitchen know-how, from a fragrant, spiced Mulled Wine Cake to the perfect turkey brine.

Mulled Wine Cake

Richly spiced and bursting with citrus, cranberries, and a subtle tea infusion, this cake makes a stunning centrepiece for afternoon treats or dessert.

Ingredients

125g Butter
125g Caster Sugar
4 Burford Brown Eggs
36g Rice Flour
125g Ground Almonds
10g Salt
2 Oranges Zested
10g Earl Grey Tea Loose
2g Cinnamon Powder
2g Cloves Ground
2g Nutmeg
25g Cranberries

Method

  1. Beat the butter and sugar in a mixer until soft and pale.
  2. Blend the spices into a fine powder and add to the butter-sugar mixture.
    Zest the oranges and mix in.
  3. Slowly add the eggs, ground almonds, and rice flour. Season with salt.
  4. Place mixture into a piping bag and pipe into oiled moulds.
  5. Bake at 160°C on steam combi for approximately 20 minutes.

Turkey Brine

Olivia calls this “simple gold dust for never having a dry turkey ever again.” Brining is the first step toward a perfectly succulent Christmas turkey.

Preparation Time: 40 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

5 litres of water
180g kosher salt
180g caster sugar
2 thyme sprigs
2 bulbs of garlic, cut in half
2 oranges, zested and juiced
2 lemons, zested and juiced

Method

  1. Mix water, salt, and sugar in a saucepan. Whisk to combine.
  2. Bring to a boil, then add thyme, garlic, zest, and juice. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Leave to cool naturally (best to leave at room temperature overnight).
  4. Store in the fridge until ready to use.

Brining Timing: Turkey: 6 hours per kg

These recipes are perfect for hosts looking to combine tradition with a touch of expert technique, making festive cooking less stressful and more joyful.

Discover more tips on creating a calm, well-organised Christmas kitchen here.