White Christmas

An easy treat that you can make for Christmas is White Christmas. It's like an albino chocolate crackle without the chocolate and containing fruit. Kids like it because it is easy to make, looks pretty and is sweet. Adults with a sweet tooth like it because - well, they just do. White Christmas is not one of my favourite treats any more, but I can remember loving it as a child.


The recipe for White Christmas is usually printed on the side of the Rice Bubbles packet. However, in case you don't have access to that recipe, here is Margaret Fulton's version from Margaret Fulton's Christmas, which sounds pretty much like the original:


2 cups rice puff cereal (eg Rice Bubbles)
1 cup dessicated coconut
1 cup dried milk powder
1 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup currants (I substituted sultanas)
1/2 cup halved glace cherries
250g vegetable shortening (eg Copha)


Line a 18 x 28cm slice pan with baking paper.


In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients except the Copha.


Melt the vegetable shortening in a saucepan over low heat, then pour onto the other ingredients and stir well to combine. Spread the mixture evenly in the slice pan, and press down the top with a spoon. Refrigerate the White Christmas for 2 hours until set, then cut into squares of the desired size.


If you don't like the dried fruits suggested, you can leave them out or substitute other dried fruits. Just have fun with it!