Saturday, January 26, 2013

Arnotts Iced Vo Vo Tart for Australia Day


Today is Australia Day, and accordingly, I want to celebrate it in style.  And what better way to do so than to pay homage to an Australian icon, Arnotts Iced Vo Vo Biscuits.  If you have never come across the Iced Vo Vo before,  you can read about it on the Arnotts website.  Australia's former prime minister, Kevin Rudd, mentioned the Iced Vo Vo in his 2007 election victory speech, further cementing the Iced Vo Vo's place in Australian culture.

My tribute to the Iced Vo Vo comes courtesy of this month's Australian Good Taste magazine, which sports a rather eye-catching Arnotts Iced Vo Vo Tart on the cover.  I bought the magazine on the strength of that cover, and made the Arnotts Iced Vo Vo Tart - a celebration of the Iced Vo Vo comprising a crushed biscuit base (including crushed Iced Vo Vos), topped with marshmallow and raspberry jelly, and decorated with whipped cream and coconut: 



The recipe is available online here.

I undoubtedly had fun making the Arnotts Iced Vo Vo tart, and it looks stunning, but taste-wise, it wasn't my bag.  The whole thing was a tad too sweet for me, and I am not a fan of whipped cream.  However, others gave it a warmer reception than me, so you just need to consider - would I like to eat biscuit, marshmallow, jelly and cream or not? (Note that this tart tastes nothing like an Iced Vo Vo biscuit, which is comprised of biscuit, jam, icing and coconut, and is pretty tasty for a store-bought biscuit.) 

Regardless, it does look so pretty:



To my fellow Australians, Happy Australia Day!

16 comments:

Jill said...

It's really pretty! I love whipped cream, so it sounds pretty tasty to me (though I've never tried a Vo Vo).

Mardi Michels said...

LOVE this! I always loved a good Iced Vo-Vo growing up and made a version of my own:

http://www.eatlivetravelwrite.com/2011/01/frosting-for-the-cause-faux-vo-biscuits/

But yes - SO sweet! This is a beautiful creation though - well done!

Kari said...

This looks excellent! I will go so far as to say your version is better than Arnott's ;)

Happy Australia day - I hope you enjoyed whatever you got up to.

Andrea_TheKitchenLioness said...

Happy Australia Day! What a gorgeous celebratory cake you prepared! It looks and sounds delicious!

Jennifer said...

What an elegant looking dessert! I've never had a vo vo, but this looks very enticing!!!!

Lisa said...

This looks fabulous, Cakelaw. Oh how I would love an iced VoVo right now! I agree the cream might not be such a great idea and maybe marshmallow? Bit of a pilaver, though. Happy Australia Day to you too!

Elaine said...

Happy Belated Australia day! What a gorgeous treat you made! Your photos are beautiful.

Cakelaw said...

I think more marshmallow would have been better too.

Cakelaw said...

Thanks! It was a very wet Australia Day as I spent it with my family in Queensland.

Cakelaw said...

Thanks'

Cakelaw said...

Hi Kari, thanks - spent a peaceful day with my family.

Anonymous said...

How pretty!

Johanna GGG said...

belated happy australia day - hope you are enjoying the long weekend - this tart looks great - I saw the cover of the mag in the supermarket and was tempted for a moment but I know I would never do it - so glad you did - looks so impressive - I love iced vo vos but I suspect i would feel the same about the tart as you

Cindy said...

Wow, that looks amazing! Happy Australia Day. :-)

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Happy Australia Day! What a delicious looking tart :D I remember eating the tops off the Iced Vo Vos :P

Kayte said...

This is just beautifully styled and presented. So elegant and pretty. I wish I had a piece, it's a good thing I don't live near you or I would be dropping by your kitchen constantly begging to be a taste tester!!