4 hours ago
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One of the delights that Christmas brings is the myriad of festive recipes it ushers in.
It's nearly impossible is it to step into a cafe, restaurant or supermarket without encountering an assortment of festive munchies.
But one enthusiast went above and beyond by creating a homemade version of the cult favourite Greggs Festive Bake.
Nutritionist Molly Cunningham has whipped up a healthier rendition of this festive classic, packing it with a massive 65g of protein.
And the cherry on top? The recipe is tailored for the slow cooker, meaning you can set it and forget it whilst you tackle the rest of your Christmas chores.
Greggs has laid out its seasonal spread this year which includes their iconic Festive Bake, brimming with chicken, sage and onion stuffing, sweetcure bacon all ensconced in a creamy sage and cranberry sauce; a Christmas Lunch Baguette, a Spicy Veg Bake Pie, a Vegan Turkey-Free Baguette, and Festive Soup.
Molly's health-conscious take retains all the Yuletide charm of Greggs' star attraction, reports the Daily Record.
Yet if one Festive Bake simply isn't enough, Molly magnifies it into a grand feast to be shared and relished.
Reflecting earlier in the year, she said: "Yesterday the festive bakes were back at Greggs so I had to pick one up for Liam as they're his favourite! I wanted to create a bigger version we could enjoy for dinner to get us feeling festive!"
Molly enthused: "The Greggs Festive Bake was finally back yesterday, so to celebrate, I decided to create a giant version completely in the slow cooker.
"I tried to keep in all the flavours and consistency of a normal Festive Bake with the addition of a sneaky vegetable and over 50 grams of protein."
Greggs aficionados were bowled over by Molly's ingenious concoction, as one person gushed: "I urge everyone to make this I made it last Sunday and it served me Sunday and my lunches until Thursday it was yummmmmy."
Rachael was equally impressed, stating: "Made this last night!! YUMMM! And easy to do. I swapped the pastry for a hotpot style slice potato top, will be making again!"
Another shared, "My husband is going to LOVE this," while @emmybeany wrote, "I've made this today. It was delicious and I'll be making it again for sure."
Yet another concurred: "10/10! I can't believe how amazing this is! It's going to feed both me and @thewitchtree for three days, and tastes absolutely out of this world! I can't wait to make it again."
Greggs Inspired Festive Bake Pie
Ingredients
- Two large chicken breast
- Four bacon medallions
- 100g dry stuffing mix
- One large leek, chopped
- Two tbsp garlic granules
- Two tbsp mixed herbs, plus extra to sprinkle on top of pastry
- 260ml chicken stock
- Water
- Puff pastry
- Two tbsp crème fraiche
- Cranberry sauce
Method
Dice your chicken and add this to the slow cooker with your bacon, dry stuffing mix, leeks, garlic granules, mixed herbs and chicken stock and mix well.
Leave on high for three hours or low for six to seven. Try to stir halfway through to prevent the stuffing from clumping. If your stuffing mix starts to become really thick, just add a little bit of water and give it a stir to loosen, but not too much as you will be adding the crème fraiche after and don’t want a loose consistency.
When it is ready to serve, stir through your light crème fraiche and add in around six little teaspoons of cranberry sauce and distribute it evenly.
Use the slow cooker lid to cut around the pastry and add this on top of your slow cooker, brush with some egg wash and some mixed herbs
Pop it in the oven at 200 degrees for around 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve and enjoy!
English (US) ·