Ingredients
Golden Parfait
- ¾ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup water
- 3 egg yolks
- 300 ml cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- pinch salt
Citrus Fruit
- 2 oranges, juiced
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 50 grams sugar
- ¼ teaspoon mixed spice
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch nutmeg
- 4 peaches, sliced
To Serve
- ¼ cup coconut flakes
Instructions
Golden Parfait
- Add the sugar and water to a medium saucepan. Place over a medium-low heat and cook until thick and syrupy. This will take about 15-20 minutes.
- In a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks and sugar. Add the hot syrup and continue to stir for 5 minutes. Cool completely
- Whip the cream and vanilla. Fold the cream mixture into the egg mixture.
- Pipe into 4 glasses and freeze until firm.
Citrus Peach
- In a medium saucepan, add the orange and lemon juice, sugar and spices.
- Bring to the boil and then simmer for 8 minutes. Strain the mixture and cool.
- Once cool add the citrus mix to a container with the sliced peaches and cover to marinade overnight
Coconut Flakes
- Line a tray with baking paper and scatter the coconut flakes over the tray.
- Bake in the oven at 160 °C for about 10-15 minutes, until the coconut flakes are a golden brown colour
To Serve
- Remove the parfait from the freezer. Top each glass with several slices of peaches. Scatter a small amount of the toasted coconut flakes on to the top of each glass.
- Serve immediately.
What is a parfait?
A parfait is a frozen dessert made using a sugar syrup base, and eggs and cream. If you were making regular ice-cream, you would stop the formation of ice crystals through frequent agitation during the freezing process. The levels of fats and sugar in a parfait means it doesn’t need a great deal of stirring as it freezes. This makes it an ideal dessert to make at home.
Parfait is often layered with fruits and icecream and is typically served in tall glassware. By serving it in a clear glass, you allow your guests to see the layers, making for a dessert that can be amazing to look at. A long spoon, known as a parfait spoon, is typically served alongside the dessert.
In recent times, with people becoming more health conscious, parfaits can often now be found made with yoghurt and granola instead.
Tips to making the parfait
The parfait is actually really easy to make, it also looks spectacular when served right.
The hardest part to the dish is probably the sugar syrup. It’s very easy to fall for the mistake of not simmering the syrup long enough, doing this and the syrup will come out too thin. Simmer for too long and you will start to make a sort of caramel type mixture. Take your time and be patient with the syrup. It doesn’t need a lot of stirring as it thickens, and its best made not over a heat that is too high. Look for a pale golden color and a thick and syrupy consistency.
The dessert will look more appealing if you pipe the mixture into the glasses. Spooning the parfait mixture in will also work.
The toasted coconut is not necessarily needed, however, it does create an awesome crunchy texture for the dish.
Serving Variations
If you are not a fan of peaches, try serving the parfait with fruit salad or other stewed fruits instead.
The citrus peaches make a lovely snack served on their own, best served chilled.
