Russian Squares
Every recipe book needs something like these delicious Russian Squares as a teatime treat on standby. I remember visiting my Aunty Heather for one of her famous afternoon tea parties. Usually there weren’t enough chairs for everyone. We would gather around the table, pulling up stools from anywhere. We would enjoy lots of hot tea (poured from her china teapot) and whatever treats she had baked that day.
Often the treats were scones, jam and cream but sometimes we ate Russian Squares served on a special glass plate. I am not even sure where Aunty Heather got the recipe but she gave it to me and I have made it so many times since. One pot of tea was never enough at Aunty Heather’s table. The kettle would boil away merrily to replenish our cups. Perhaps that’s where I learnt to love tea so much but somehow I never really took to coffee. Those were happy times and every time I make this recipe I am reminded of my Aunty Heather.
Forward wind to today
On Sunday, trying to keep up with the huge demand for study snacks in my house at this time of the year I made the recipe again.
My son came to me this morning to show me his breakfast – a bowl of cereal and 2 sizeable chunks of Russian Squares. With a grin on his face he told me he wanted to make sure he didn’t lose out. I took this to mean he was scared that his older sister would finish them. Could I really be cross with his daring approach to breakfast? As a mom I get really irritated when the kids take more than they can finish so I checked up a little later. Needless to say he had finished both bowls. he didn’t leave a crumb. Joshua had started his day of study with a full tummy.
Point 1 to mommy. Game set and match to Joshua.
Make Russian Squares teatime treat and make your own happy memories.
Russian Squares
Equipment
- 1 Large Saucepan
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- 1 Bowl
- Kitchen scale
- Wooden spoon
- Whisk or electric beaters
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 250 g baking margarine
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp golden syrup
- 2 cups dried fruit cake mix
- 2 beaten eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 cups icing sugar
- 2 tbsp hot water
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
Instructions
- Melt margarine, sugar and syrup in the saucepan on the stove
- Stir well until the mixture thickens. Rather do this slowly.
- Allow to cool.
- Add cake mix and stir well.
- Add 2 beaten eggs, flour and baking powder and mix well
- Pour into a greased pan and bake at 180°C for 20 minutes or until golden.
- Make icing from icing sugar, hot water and vanilla essence.
- Pour over the pan when it comes out of the oven and allow icing to set before cutting into squares.
Notes
- This time when I made the squares I swopped out some 1/2 cup of the cake mix and added in cranberries. Dare I say divine.
Please also have a look at the Recipes section on my blog page for my other recipes.
