Best 5 Hedgehog Meat Loaves Recipes

HEDGEHOG BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and spray with nonstick spray.
• For the ears and tail: Pinch off a large marble-size piece of dough and set aside.
• For the head and body: Form the remaining dough into an 8-inch-long teardrop shape on the prepared baking sheet. Pull the narrow end out to form a snout. Lay the tip of the snout on an overturned spoon so that it points up slightly. Coat the dough with cooking spray and let rise in a warm place until slightly puffed, about 45 minutes.
• Add the baking soda to 1/4 cup boiling water and stir until dissolved.
• With the snout facing you, visualize a widow's peak (or heart shape) a third of the way up to frame the hedgehog's face. Brush the outline of the widow's peak. Brush behind the widow's peak and the remaining dough, leaving the face unbrushed. Brush a little plain water on the end of the snout and press in a cherry for a nose. Cut two small slits in the face on either side and press in dried cherries for eyes. Divide the reserved marble-size piece of dough in thirds and roll into balls. Attach two pieces to the top of the head (on either side of the widow's peak) with plain water and press with your thumb and finger to make a concave ear shape. Attach the last ball to the back at the base for a tail. Stick the pecans under his body for feet.
• Starting at the top of the widow's peak, use sharp scissors to cut spikes in rows all down the back of the hedgehog.
• Bake until the hedgehog is risen and the back is well browned, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool on a rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

HEDGEHOG ROLLS

Steps:

• Make the bread mixture with the butter following pack instructions. It's easiest to use a stand mixer but not difficult to do by hand. Leave the dough to rest for 5 mins, then knead for 5 mins.
• Cut the dough into six pieces. Dust the surface with a little flour and shape each piece into a ball by rolling it between your hand. Now make it hedgehog-shaped by pulling one side out a little and squeezing it gently into a snout. Be quite firm or it will bounce back.
• Put the hedgehogs on a baking sheet, cover with a damp tea towel and leave to rise for 1 hr.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Using kitchen scissors (supervise younger children), carefully snip into the dough to make the spikes on the backs of the hedgehogs. Press raisins in for the eyes and push a flaked almond into the end of each snout.
• Bake for 15 mins or until the rolls are risen and golden. Will keep for two days in an airtight container.

ROAST MEAT LOAF OR "HEDGEHOG"

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Saute the mushrooms in butter until the juices run, then season with salt and pepper and nutmeg. Reserve.
• Remove the sinews from the livers and slice. In a large bowl combine all the ground meats, sausage, livers, onion, garlic, and juniper berries. Add the allspice and thyme leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Beat the eggs and add to the mixture together with the mushrooms. Mix with your hands thoroughly.
• Oil a roasting pan and place all the mixture in it, molding it into an oval shape. Adorn with the bacon slices, criss-crossed, tucking the ends under the meat. Strew some bay leaves and branches of rosemary on the top and sides. Cook in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then lower the heat to 350 degrees and cook for 1 1/2 hours.
• When cooked, there will be lots of lovely juices in the bottom of the pan. Save them to flavor soup, stocks, or eggs. Remove the loaf and place on a serving dish. Serve hot or cold with a tomato sauce.
• For children, you might like to turn it into a hedgehog by pressing almonds into the meat to create prickles and placing 3 olives to form eyes and a nose. This should be done before the meat goes into the oven.

HEDGEHOG MEAT LOAVES

Steps:

• Mix the ground beef or turkey, rice and onion together-- salt and pepper as you wish.
• Form into 8 "hedgehog" shapes, and line the hedgehogs up in a casserole dish.
• Mix the soup, water and Worcestershire sauce together and pour it over the hedgehogs.
• Cover the casserole dish with foil.
• Bake at 350°F for 1 hour and 15 minutes, occasionally spooning sauce over the hedgehogs.
• Eat.

HEDGEHOG CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease and base line a 1 litre heatproof glass pudding basin and a 450g loaf tin with baking parchment.
• Put the butter and chocolate into a saucepan and melt over a low heat, stirring. When the chocolate has all melted remove from the heat.
• In a large bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and muscovado sugar. In another bowl beat together the eggs, soured cream and vanilla extract. Pour the egg and chocolate mixtures into the flour and mix thoroughly together.
• Weigh 250g into the loaf tin, then spoon the rest of the mixture into the pudding basin.
• Cook both cakes side by side in the oven. The loaf cake will cook in about 30 mins and the basin cake in about 1 hour. Take the loaf cake out of the oven and close the oven door quickly so as not to allow the heat out. Test with a skewer inserted into the centre, it should come out clean. If not return to the oven for another five mins. Repeat with the basin cake after about another half an hour. Once each cake is cooked, allow to cool completely before turning out.
• To make the icing, mix together the cocoa and water to make a smooth paste. Beat the butter until soft and gradually beat in the icing sugar. Add the cocoa paste and beat until smooth.
• To assemble the cake, trim the top of the basin cake so it is flat. Turn cut side down onto a board and cut in half vertically. Spread a little butter icing on each of the flat bases and sandwich these two buttercreamed surfaces together to make a rugby ball shape for the hedgehog body. Place onto a 30cm cake board or wooden board. Cut the loaf cake in half vertically. Take one half and trim the short end to a v shape to make the pointy head. Use a little icing to attach to the body. Cut pieces from the remaining loaf cake to fill any gaps. Cover the whole cake in butter icing.
• Cut the flake bars into pieces ranging from 2.5cm to 5cm. The spikes do not have to be regular or even in shape. Starting at the front push the spikes into the body of the hedgehog at a slight angle. Start with the small pieces gradually using larger ones as you go towards the back. Press a round chocolate into the tip of the head to represent the nose and use chocolate chips for the eyes. Using a tiny bit of butter icing attach sliver or gold balls to the eyes.
• The cake is best made the day before cutting and icing and will keep well for 3-4 days.