I’m rather excited this week for three reasons: 1) it’s almost Christmas, 2) it’s the second time this week I’ve published a Christmas cupcake recipe and 3) as part of the ‘A Mummy Too cooks with series‘, I’m bringing you a recipe sent in by the amazing Helen from The Crazy Kitchen.
So why did Helen choose this recipe?
It’s coming up to Xmas so I wanted to choose a festive one… and you take amazing photos of your food so I want to see an amazing photo of one of my recipes too.
Feeling the pressure, but warmed by a little rum, I mixed, I baked, I whisked, I piped. And the result? Lovely muffiny-cakes that are wonderfully fruity and just a little bit naughty.
Here’s what to do to make 12.
Christmas pudding muffins with spiced rum frosting
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 12
Christmas pudding muffins are a great treat to get you in the Christmas spirit, with plenty of fruit in the muffin and top with and spiced rum frosting.
Ingredients
For the sponge:
- 1 large cooking apple, grated (approx 200g (7 oz) of grated apple)
- 3 tbsp dark rum
- 150g (5 oz) dark soft brown sugar
- 150ml Sunflower oil
- 3 Eggs
- Grated zest of 1 orange
- Grated zest of 1 lemon
- 50g (2 oz) dried cherries (we couldn't find any so used chopped glace instead)
- 50g (2 oz) sultanas
- 50g (2 oz) raisins
- 150g (5 oz) self raising flour
- 50g (2 oz) ground almonds
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
For the frosting:
- 130g (4.5 oz) butter, softened
- 220g (8 oz) icing Sugar
- 3 tbsp dark rum
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of mixed spice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/355F (160C/320F fan
- Line a 12 hole muffin pan with muffin cases
- Mix the apple, rum, dark brown sugar, oil, eggs, zests, cherries, sultanas and raisins together until well combined
- Mix the flour, almonds, bicarbonate of soda, mixed spice and cinnamon together, then stir into the wet ingredients, mixing well
- Spoon into the muffin cases
- Bake for approx 20 minutes, until spongy to touch
- Turn out onto a wire rack and allow to cool completely
- Meanwhile, beat the butter, half the icing sugar, rum, cinnamon, vanilla and mixed spice together until pale, smooth and creamy
- Add the rest of the icing sugar and beat again until smooth
- Pipe onto the cupcakes and finish off with a sprinkling of cinnamon
Courses Festive makes
And that’s what we did! So what does Helen make of our efforts?
Thanks so much for trying out my recipe – I’m glad they turned out well, they look great! Looking at these has made me want to make some more and I definitely need to make some for Xmas…be nice with a Calypso coffee!
I’m off to eat some more – purely for research purposes, you understand.
I actually had these cupcakes at a Church fair last weekend and they were the most delicious thing ever, so I’m delighted you have not only named them, but also shared the recipe! Thank you to you both – they are absolutely gorgeous and will certainly be on my table for my Christmas party in 2 weeks. I hope I do you proud… :)
ooooh they look very yummy. x
ahh thanks Emily…they look great & I’m glad you enjoyed them….now you need to drink the rest of that rum!
x