Aztec Fruit Bars Recipes

TOASTED COCONUT MANGO BARS

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and grease with vegetable oil.
• In a medium bowl, sift the flour, granulated sugar and salt. Add the butter to the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula or spoon. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until the crust is lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• For the filling: Blend the mango with 2 tablespoons water in a blender.
• Beat together the granulated sugar and eggs in a bowl until combined. Stir in the lemon zest and juice and mango puree. Stir in the flour.
• Pour the filling over the crust. Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and bake until the filling is set, about 25 minutes. Let cool, then refrigerate at least 1 hour before cutting the bars.
• For the topping: Dust the bars with powdered sugar, sprinkle with toasted coconut and enjoy!

ROSEMARY-INFUSED LEMONADE

Steps:

• Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from the heat and add the rosemary and a pinch of salt. Cover and steep, 30 minutes. Strain into a pitcher and cool to room temperature.
• Stir the lemon juice, agave nectar and 2 cups cold water into the pitcher. Add more lemon juice or agave nectar to taste. Serve over ice with more rosemary and/or lemon slices, if desired.

AZTEC HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• For the hot chocolate: Bring the milk to a simmer in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chocolate, guajillo chile, cinnamon stick and vanilla bean. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly to develop some froth and completely melt the chocolate. Remove the chile, vanilla bean and cinnamon stick from the hot mixture.
• For the whipped cream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or in a large glass mixing bowl with a hand mixer, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and beat to stiff peaks.
• Pour the hot chocolate into a mug. Dollop with the whipped cream and dust with cinnamon and chili powder. Serve immediately.

AZTEC FRUIT BARS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Prepare an 8-by-8-inch square baking pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ancho chile powder, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Stir in the almond, apricots, chocolate, cranberries, dates, figs, brown sugar and popped amaranth. Use your fingers to make sure that everything has been coated with the flour mixture evenly.
• In a separate bowl, using a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the honey, vanilla and egg until thick in texture, about 1 minute. Add the egg mixture to the fruit and flour mixture and mix using a spatula until everything is coated with the egg mixture. Spread onto the prepared baking pan, pressing to even out.
• Bake until the batter is golden brown and can pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes. Let cool before cutting.
• Lift the bar from the pan by the edges of the aluminum foil. Use a sharp knife to cut into 16 even squares.

ANZAC BISCUITS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Put the oats, coconut, flour and sugar in a bowl. Melt the butter in a small pan and stir in the golden syrup. Add the bicarbonate of soda to 2 tbsp boiling water, then stir into the golden syrup and butter mixture.
• Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in the butter and golden syrup mixture. Stir gently to incorporate the dry ingredients.
• Put dessertspoonfuls of the mixture on to buttered baking sheets, about 2.5cm/1in apart to allow room for spreading. Bake in batches for 8-10 mins until golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.