Winter Baking: Date & Apple Scones
Sweet, spiced, and just a little bit unexpected. These Date & Apple Scones are a nostalgic winter bake with a gentle twist.
It feels like déjà vu sending out this newsletter once again to the sound of heavy rain on the roof. I hope you're keeping warm and dry, especially if you're in the Top of the South, where it's shaping up to be another wet weekend. Below, I’m sharing my favourite date scone recipe – a perfect treat for these rainy days – plus a round-up of nostalgic winter recipes to bring a little comfort to your kitchen.
Stay dry and warm, Nicola
Latest Recipe on Homegrown Kitchen / Winter 2025
Winter Baking: Date & Apple Scones
Lately, I’ve found myself drawn to recipes from earlier years. Dishes that bring a certain comfort and nostalgia with every bite. I suppose winter does that, inviting familiar flavours and the warmth of memory into the kitchen. For me, these moments often trace back to my Nana Ngaire, who shared her love of cooking and passed down a treasure trove of food memories.
This week’s recipe for Date & Apple Scones is a nod to those comforting, well-worn classics, with a little twist. I’ve added grated apple and a scattering of sweet medjool dates, along with an optional pinch of cayenne, an unexpected addition inspired by a happy accident years ago that turned out surprisingly delicious. I hope this recipe brings a bit of nostalgia to your table as well.
Recently… Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Sizzled Chickpeas
Roasting the pumpkin for this soup brings out a wonderful caramelised sweetness and depth of flavour that simple simmering can’t match. In this recipe, the soup is finished with crispy sizzled chickpeas for texture and protein, plus a sprinkle of creamy feta.
Cooking Workshop Update – Term 3
I’m looking forward to my trip to Marlborough next month, where I’ll be hosted by the wonderful Liz and Bradley at Arbour. Bookings will open next week – thank you for your patience, I know several of you have been waiting. Be sure to register your interest, as these classes tend to fill up quickly!
Blenheim: Sourdough & Ferments — Sunday 17 August, two separate 2-hour classes.
My Sourdough & Ferments class in Nelson is now full. The next Sourdough workshop will be held in August.
Nelson: Art of Sourdough — Wednesday in August, 6.30–8.45 pm (date to be confirmed soon). Follow the link for more details and to register your interest.
More Nostalgic Winter Recipes on Homegrown Kitchen
* Click/tap the recipe names below to go to the recipe.
Creamy Rice Pudding with Vanilla Poached Pear – A comfort-filled dessert that gently simmers creamy rice with warming spices until soft and luscious. Topped with delicate poached pear, it’s the kind of pudding that is deeply soothing.
Mid-Winter Fruit Cake – A dense, spiced fruit cake that brings warmth to the cooler months. Filled with dried fruit soaked in tea and hints of orange zest, this is a simple, no-fuss cake to enjoy with a hot cup of tea.
Sticky Date & Ginger Cakes with Tahini Caramel Sauce – These individual sticky date cakes are gently spiced with ginger and paired with a luscious tahini caramel sauce. A sweet treat favourite reimagined with a twist.
Butterscotch & Apple Self-Saucing Pudding – A cosy twist on the classic self-saucing pudding. Sweet apple pieces are baked in a rich butterscotch sauce that forms beneath the sponge. A warm, nostalgic dessert that’s ideal on rainy winter days. Plus, this Chocolate & Berry Self-Saucing Pudding.
Enjoy my recipes and cooking style? You can now support my work and access extra content by becoming a Homegrown Kitchen Member. Each month, I share a themed guide focused on foundational skills and recipes – from stocks and ferments to ghee, sourdough, and more.
This month – Winter Cooking – Warming meals, slow-cooked favourites, and nourishing ideas for the colder months.
Previously – Homemade Stocks & Broth - How to make flavourful stocks with tips for everyday use.
Membership includes bonus recipes, PDFs, and how-to videos.
Just $7/month or $70/year – cancel anytime.
My Latest Cookbook: The Homemade Table
With over 170 recipes for everyday, seasonal meals — from breakfast, vegetables, and dinners to desserts. You’ll also find comprehensive chapters on sourdough bread, preserves and ferments, and simple homemade dairy products. An all-in-one cookbook for the home kitchen.
A few extras to accompany the book:
Three bonus sourdough recipes using the 'master recipes' in the cookbook as a base. Download the PDF here.
Watch these short videos on shaping and baking the Rustic Sourdough Bread.Â
My favourite Lined Bannetons (bread-rising baskets) are available in two shapes – round and oval.
Fresh Sourdough Starter Packs are available again. Each pack includes a small container of fresh starter, flour for feeding, and instructions.
+ My Homegrown Kitchen cookbook is now available as a digital PDF (sadly, it won’t be reprinted) - Find more details here.
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I love to see what you are cooking from my cookbooks and website. Tag me on Instagram @nicolagallowayfood, or send me a good old-fashioned email :-)