Simple Simnel Muffins Recipe

Simnel Muffins Recipe

Are you a dried fruit and spice lover like me? No? Try this muffin recipe and I expect a change of opinion. If you said yes then hooray! You're going to go absolutely head over heels for these super easy full of flavour muffins.
   As Easter is fast approaching, these Easter muffins are a great and flavourful Spring dessert recipe, guaranteed to impress your celebrating friends and family. What I love most about these muffins are how the flavours and spices used are reminiscent of the flavours used throughout fall and winter, but sweeter and not quite as heavy and dense.

Morning Baking at it's finest

Using simple ingredients you most likely already own, these are great for a fiber packed snack, breakfast or dessert.

This recipe uses 3 different spices and 4 different dried fruits, you may add or omit as you desire, this is a great chance to experiment!

Makes 12 - 20.

Ingredients

110g Butter

50g Granulated Sugar

60g Brown Demerara Sugar
2 Eggs
Zest and juice of an Orange

110g Self-Raising Flour

1/2 Tsp Baking Powder

1 and 1/2 Tsp Mixed Spice

1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

1/2 Tsp Ginger (Optional)
1 to 2 Tbsp Milk

Dried Fruit (I used Raisins, Sultanas, Dried apple chunks, Dried Cranberries)
90g Marzipan (Optional)

Optional; 

1 Tsp Glaze Icing (for each muffin)

Driedfruit, Nuts or Mini Chocolate Eggs to decorate

Directions

• Preheat an oven to 180C and line a muffin tray with muffin cases.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and both sugars until fluffy.
• Beat in the eggs and add the zest and juice.
• Fold in the flour, baking powder and spices until well combined, adding milk until the mixture is of dropping consistency.
• Fold in the dried fruit.
• Fill muffin cases to approx. 1/3 full and place a piece of marzipan in the centre before covering with more mixture until 3/4 full. (If omitting the marzipan, then simply fill until 3/4 full).
• Bake for approx. 20 - 25 mins. (Until golden brown and firm to the touch).
• Allow to cool and decorate with a tsp of glaze icing and decorations of choice.
• Best eaten within approx. 2 days of baking.
  
  

Tips & Serving Ideas

• Use the left over orange zest / juice to flavour the icing.
• For more of an Easter theme, make small easter fondant decorations such as mini rabbits, rabbit ears, ducklings or eggs!
• Candied orange peel also makes a great decoration.
  
  

Cara X

Traditional Welsh Bara Brith Fruit Cake Recipe

Bara Brith Recipe

Another traditional Welsh recipe I love making is Bara Brith. It is a very old traditional native dish, with recipes being passed down for generations. This is one such recipe! Unfortunately I did not get the chance to meet my grandmother, someone who I've been compared to on so many occasions. Even so, she has inspired me in many ways, from her delicious baking recipes to her classy ladylike ways of never going out without your face on! This recipe was given to me by my mother, on a small piece of paper written in my grandmother's lovely swirled writing, and I now wish to share with you to try for yourself! A sweet spongy loaf filled with warm spices and dried mixed fruits, this is a great comfort food and perfect for tea parties!

Wales at it's finest.

As with all traditional recipes, there are many variations to make Bara Brith. Some require soaking the dried fruit in tea for 30 minutes beforehand, while others use different sugars and spices. For me however, this recipe has produced the most traditional flavour and texture, and has earned the most compliments everytime I've baked it. (This recipe also happens to be the first baking order I received!). Using only 7 ingredients, it really is a simple but delicious treat, ready in approx. 1 1/2 hours (cooking time).

Fruit and cake have never been more well-acquainted!

Love cake? Love warm spices and fruits encased in a baked sweet spongy loaf?! Of course you do! This is definately my favourite dessert, served warm and smothered in butter with a nice hot mug of tea!
Being that a very important date in the Welsh calendar is coming up in less than a month (1st of March!), why not try baking some of this Welsh Bara Brith along with some Authentic Welsh Cakes to celebrate all that is Welsh on St David's Day!

Ingredients

For the Loaf:

4oz Butter or Margarine

1 cup Granulated Sugar

1 cup Milk

1 Egg

12oz Self-Raising Flour

1 packet Mixed Dried Fruits (e.g raisins, sultanas, cranberries, small dried apple, candied orange peel etc)

2 to 3 teaspoon Mixed Spice

For the Sugar Glaze:
2 to 3 Tsp Brown Sugar (I used Demerara, although any brown sugar would work)
Approx. 50 ml Hot Water

Additional Brown or Granulated Sugar to sprinkle on top (Optional)

Directions

• Preheat an oven to 190°C.
• Grease a loaf tin (alternatively, you may use a cake tin although this will make it more cake like and take less time to bake).
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and well mixed.
• Beat in the egg and add the milk.
• Mix in the flour with a spoon and add the mixed spices, stirring until well mixed.
• Mix in the dried fruit (don't worry about adding too much, it is meant to be very well packed with fruit).
• Bake for approx. 1 hour 30 min (until brown / slightly blackened and firm / crispy on top).
• In a small saucepan, combine 2 to 3 teaspoons of brown sugar with hot water and heat until the sugar is partially melted. Drizzle over the cake.
• Place back into the oven for approx. 5 to 10 mins (until the sugar is glazed on top).

Tips & Serving ideas

• Serve warm thick slices with a thick layer of good quality butter and a cup of tea!
• Sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg on top before baking.
• Add some nuts or orange zest/juice to the mixture.
• Serve with honey, jam or marmalade.

                


Cara X