Sweet success

“DURING Edmund’s first visit to Narnia, he finds himself wrapped in furs on the White Witch’s sleigh. At this point in the story, it is still always winter, but never Christmas. Yet, in spite of this, the squidgy pink squares of Turkish delight that she plies him with make sense as a festive treat,” says Kate. “To abandon your siblings in hopes of a kingship takes something pretty memorable; happily, Turkish delight delivers.”

INGREDIENTS

(Makes around 30 squares) 450g cups granulated sugar 1tbsp lemon juice

475ml water

90g cornflour/cornstarch ½tsp cream of tartar

1tbsp rosewater

Pink food colouring (ideally paste) To Decorate:

40g cornflour/cornstarch

40g icing/confectioners’ sugar Edible glitter (optional)

METHOD:

1. Place the sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan with 175ml of water. Put the pan over a medium-low heat and stir until sugar has dissolved. Once liquid is clear, stop stirring and heat until the syrup reaches 118°C/245°F (about 15 mins).

2. Line baking pan with plastic wrap. Sift cornflour and cream of tartar into a saucepan, add 300ml of water. Place over a low heat and stir continuously. The mixture will start to thicken. Keep cooking it until it resembles hair gel.

3. Stirring constantly, slowly pour in the hot sugar syrup. Continue to stir over a low heat for around an hour. The mixture will look strange at first, but it will come together. When done, it will have a golden tinge and be very thick and difficult to stir

4. Remove from heat and beat in rosewater and food colouring. Scoop the Turkish delight into the lined baking pan. Smooth the top with a wet spatula and push down. Cover with a tea towel and set overnight in a cool room.

5. The next day, turn the Turkish delight out of the pan and peel off the plastic wrap. Wet a knife with hot water and slice into squares. To decorate, sift the cornflour and icing sugar into a shallow bowl (along with the edible glitter if you’re using it). Drop in each piece to coat and store in a cool, dry place.