Whether you choose to cook your entire Christmas meal using your air fryer, or just pick a few elements, these recipes will help.
Little twist on classic dishes, made to taste just as good, but cooked in a fraction of the time.
Of course, if you don’t have an Air fryer, they all can be cooked conventionally using the chart at the bottom of the page.
Scrumptious Starters
Chilli & honey baked ricotta & grapes with prosciutto
Serves 6 – 8, kcal 344, fibre 1g
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3 x 250g tubs ricotta
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2 tbsp honey
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2 tbsp olive oil
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½ tsp chilli flakes
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1 tsp chopped thyme leaves
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1 lemon zested
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500g red grapes
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in small bunches
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1 rustic baguette thinly sliced at an angle
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100g prosciutto
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(8 slices), roughly torn
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Turn the ricotta out of the tubs and put in a baking dish that will fit your Air fryer. Drizzle over the honey and 1 tbsp olive oil, then scatter over the chilli flakes, thyme and lemon zest. Arrange the grapes around the cheese.
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Keep the dish covered and chilled until you’re ready to bake. Will keep chilled for a day. Season generously with sea salt flakes before baking.
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Heat Air frier to 180C and brush the bread with a little olive oil and season well with salt and pepper.
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bake the slices of baguette for 6-8 mins, until crisp, turning halfway.
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Remove the bread and put the baking dish in the basket. Bake for 10-15 mins, or until the ricotta is lightly golden at the edges.
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Put the baking dish in the middle of a heatproof board, and serve with the crisp baguette slices around it, along with the slices of prosciutto, letting everyone build their own crostini’s.
Coconut king prawns with chilli mango mayo
Serves 4-6, kcal 273, fibre 4g
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5 tbsp desiccated coconut
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5 tbsp panko breadcrumbs
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1-2 tbsp rapeseed or sunflower oil
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3 tbsp plain flour
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1 tsp smoked paprika
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200g raw extra-large king prawns thawed if frozen
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1 egg beaten
For the chilli mango mayo
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100g fresh mango chunks
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1 mild red chilli deseeded and roughly chopped
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3 tbsp mayonnaise
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1 lime plus, extra wedges to serve
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Begin with the mayo. Blend the mango and chilli together until smooth, then stir into the mayonnaise. Season and add a squeeze of lime to taste.
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Stir the coconut and breadcrumbs together, then gradually add the oil, using your fingertips to rub the crumbs. Make sure you add enough oil to coat evenly, without causing any clumping. Set the coconut crumbs aside.
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Heat the air fryer to 200C. Dip the prawns into the seasoned flour, then the beaten egg and finally the coconut crumbs. Shake off any excess, then cook directly in the air fryer basket for 6-8 mins, turning halfway, until crunchy and lightly golden.
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Serve with the mayo and extra lime wedges.
Main Event
Whole roasted cauliflower (V)
Serves 4 – 6 kcals 120, Fibre 2g
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1 medium cauliflower
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leaves removed and stalk trimmed
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3 tbsp vegetable oil
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2 tsp dried mixed herbs
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2 tsp sweet smoked paprika
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2 tsp garlic granules
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½ lemon juiced
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6 tbsp thick yogurt
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small handful of parsley chopped,
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pomegranate seeds
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Fill a large, lidded saucepan that’s big enough to fit the whole cauliflower with at least 3cm of salted water, and bring to the boil over a medium heat. Carefully lower the cauliflower into the pan, cover and cook for 3 mins. Remove from the pan and leave to steam-dry for 5-10 mins. Pat any excess water off using a sheet of kitchen paper.
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Meanwhile, heat the air fryer to 180c and combine the oil, herbs, paprika, garlic granules and a good pinch each of salt and pepper.
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Put the cauliflower in a deep roasting tin that will fit into your air fryer basket. Brush all over with the oil mixture, making sure you cover the bottom, too. Pour over any excess.
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Roast for 15mins in your air fryer.
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Meanwhile, mix together the lemon juice, yogurt and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Chill until needed.
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Remove the cauliflower from the air fryer and baste with the oil in the tin. Roast for a further 10-15 mins until the cauliflower is golden and crisp in places and tender all the way through. Check at min intervals
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Drizzle with the yogurt sauce and scatter with the parsley and pomegranate seeds. Carve into wedges or slices to serve.
Air fryer turkey crown
Serves 6, kcal 424, fibre 2g
Cook this turkey crown in an air fryer to free up oven space and speed up the cooking process. Before cooking, be sure to check that your air fryer will fit the whole crown
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1.7kg turkey crown
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1 tsp vegetable oil
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1 tsp dried mixed herbs
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1 clementine halved
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1 shallot halved
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2 garlic cloves bashed
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a few fresh herb sprigs such as sage, thyme or oregano
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Heat the air fryer using the preheat function, or set to 180C for 2 mins. Pat the turkey crown dry using kitchen paper, then rub all over with the oil. Season well, then scatter the dried herbs over the skin.
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If the crown allows, stuff the clementine halves, shallot, garlic cloves and fresh herb sprigs into the cavity. If this is not possible, tuck them around the crown in the air-fryer basket instead. Either way, ensure the turkey crown is skin-side down in the air-fryer basket.
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Cook for 30 mins, then turn the crown over and cook for a further 20-30 mins, or until the juices run clear when pierced with a knife in the thickest part, or a meat thermometer stuck reads 65C. Carve into slices to serve.
Air fryer beef joint
Serves 6 – 8, kcal255, fibre 0.2g
Cook a beef joint in the air-fryer and achieve tender meat with a seared finish. Whether you prefer medium-rare or closer to well done, simply adjust the cooking time to suit
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1.2kg beef roasting joint
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1-2 tbsp neutral-flavoured oil
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1 tsp dried thyme
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1 tsp onion granules
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1 tsp mustard powder
​
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Take the beef out of the fridge and bring it up to room temperature before cooking (20-30 mins should do it).
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Heat the air-fryer to 220C. Rub the beef all over with the oil, then combine the thyme, onion granules and mustard powder with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp ground black pepper in a bowl. Rub this all over the beef joint, then put the beef in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 mins.
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Reduce the temperature to 170C, then cook for a further 30-40 mins (30 mins for medium-rare and 40 mins for medium-well done). Transfer the meat to a board, cover loosely with foil, and leave to rest for up to 30 mins before carving and serving.
Super Sides
Red cabbage wedges (V)
Serves 4, kcal 134, fibre 4g
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1 small red cabbage any bruised leaves removed
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3 tbsp vegetable oil
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4 tbsp cranberry sauce
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2 tbsp red wine vinegar
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2 tsp thyme leaves
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Trim the base of the cabbage, then cut in half through the core. Using the core to keep the wedges intact, cut each half into 3-4 thin wedges. Use 2 tbsp of the oil to brush the wedges on each side and season well.
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Transfer to the air fryer, in a single layer if they’ll fit, or with the thinner middle parts overlapping rather than the thicker outside parts if not. Roast at 190C for 30-40 mins until the cores are tender when pierced with a fork.
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In a small bowl, whisk the remaining oil with the cranberry sauce and vinegar until combined. Brush the wedges with the glaze, flip over and glaze the other side.
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Drizzle the rest of the glaze over the top. Roast for another 5-10 mins until sticky. Scatter with the thyme to serve.
Chestnut & apricot festive stuffing
Serves 6, kcal 615, fibre 9g
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vegetable oil for greasing
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handful of sage finely chopped
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handful of thyme leaves picked
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500g sausagemeat
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100g soft white breadcrumbs
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2 tbsp sherry (or any sweet wine)
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100g chopped dried apricots
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150g cooked chestnuts (from a pouch), chopped
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2 tbsp caramelised red onion chutney
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grating of nutmeg
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pinch of mixed spice
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If your air fryer has a mesh basket or one with holes, use an enamel dish or baking dish that will fit into the air fryer. Oil the dish well. If your air fryer has a flat-sided basket, oil the base and sides.
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Tip all the ingredients into a large bowl and mash well with your hands. Season with salt and lots of pepper. Pack the mixture into the dish or air fryer and smooth out the top.
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Roast at 180C for 25-35 mins (depending on how deep the mixture is) until a metal skewer comes out piping hot when inserted into the middle, or when a cook’s thermometer reaches 70C, and the top is golden. Cover with foil for the last 15 mins if the top is browning too much.
Air fryer Root vegetables (V)
Serves 4-6, kcal 278, Fibre 7.7g
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500 grams raw beetroot, peeled and cut into wedges
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500 grams parsnips, peeled and cut into half's/quarters lengthwise
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1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
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3 Dry Bay Leaves 3g
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2 tablespoons maple syrup
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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50 grams unsalted butter, very soft or melted
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50 grams blanched hazelnuts, roughly chopped, leave some whole
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Sea salt & pepper
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In a large bowl, combine everything apart from the hazelnuts, mix well until everything is combined and coated.
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Put your veg mix into the air fryer at 180 degrees for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, shake, add hazelnuts and cook for another 15 minutes.
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Once everything is cooked and the hazelnuts are toasted, remove and serve. Make sure you, use the melted butter that has collected in the bottom to drizzle over everything!
Air-fryer roast potatoes (V)
Serves 4 257kcal, Fibre 4g
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1kg King Edward potatoes, peeled and cut into 3cm
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2 sprigs of fresh rosemary (optional)
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2-3 whole garlic cloves, unpeeled
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2 tbsp rapeseed oil
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large pinch of flaky sea salt
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Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Add the potatoes, return to the boil and cook for 8 mins. Drain well and return to the dry pan.
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Preheat the air-fryer to 200°C.
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Shake the pan to roughen the edges of the potatoes, then add the rosemary and garlic. Drizzle over the oil and sprinkle with salt, then shake to coat.
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Tip into the air-fryer basket and cook for 18-20 mins, shaking after 10 mins, until golden brown at the edges. Serve hot.
Delicious Desserts
Mince pie brownies (V)
Combine two favourites in this clever mash-up of brownies and mince pies. These freezable
sweet treats will prove a big hit throughout the festive season
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185g unsalted butter cubed
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185g high-quality dark chocolate chopped
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85g plain flour
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40g cocoa powder
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3 large eggs
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275g golden caster sugar
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6 mince pies or 9-12 mini mince pies
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icing sugar for dusting
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Melt the butter and chocolate in a medium bowl, either in a microwave – cooking for 1 min on high, then stirring and continuing to heat in 20-second blasts – or by setting the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stirring occasionally. Once melted, leave the mixture to cool.
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Sieve the flour and cocoa into a medium bowl. Whisk the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer on maximum speed until thick and creamy, about 3-8 mins, or when the mixture runs off the beaters and leaves a trail for a second or two.
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Pour in the cooled chocolate mixture, then fold together with a rubber spatula in a figure of eight, moving the bowl round until the mixture is a mottled dark brown. Be gentle so you don’t knock out the air.
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Sift in the cocoa and flour mixture and continue gently folding. The mixture will look dry and dusty, then fudgy. Stop just before you feel you should, as you don’t want to overmix it.
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Line the base of a shallow square tin that fits into your air fryer basket with baking parchment. heat Air fryer to 160C
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Spoon a little mixture into the prepared tin, then add the mince pies, leaving them whole. Scrape over the rest of the mixture, gently easing it between and over the pies. Level the top. Put the air fryer for 25-30 mins. If the brownie mixture is very wobbly in the middle, it’s not quite done, so bake for another 5 -10 mins, or until the top has a shiny, papery crust and the sides are just beginning to come away from the tin. Take out and leave to cool in the tin. Dust with icing sugar. Cut into quarters, then cut each quarter into four squares. Will keep in an airtight container for a week and in the freezer for up to a month.
Brioche Bread and Butter Pudding (V)
Servings 4 kcals 439, fibre 1.66g
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25 grams (1 ounce) dried cranberries
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25 millilitres (1 ounce) brandy (optional)
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150 millilitres (5 fluid ounce) double cream
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50 grams (2 ounces) caster sugar
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1 teaspoon Mixed Spice
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1 orange, zest
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1 vanilla pod, scraped seeds
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1 large egg, room temperature
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25 grams (1 ounces) unsalted butter
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175 grams (6 ounces) brioche, sliced
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7 grams (1/4 ounce) demerara sugar
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Put cranberries and brandy (or 25ml water, if not using brandy) in a small saucepan, bring to simmering, take off heat and leave to soak for minimum 15 minutes.
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To a medium bowl add double cream, milk, egg, vanilla seeds, mixed spice, orange zest and caster sugar. Whisk well and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.
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Butter brioche on one side, cut into approx. 1cm cubes. Arrange in 4 individual ceramic air fryer proof dishes, not pressing down- you want texture and height.
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Sprinkle the soaked cranberries over the bread evenly along with any remaining brandy. Pour the custard evenly over the brioche, (pour a bit, wait and pour again) as it soaks up, and leave to stand for 5 minutes at room temperature.
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Set air fryer to 170 °C.
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Add demerara sugar to the top of your puddings and put in air fryer for 10 minutes. Check them, reduce the temperature to 140 °C and cook for another 10 minutes.
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Leave to stand for 5 minutes in the air fryer basket, remove the dishes and serve.