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

Strawberry Chocolate Valentine Cupcakes Recipe

Strawberry Chocolate Cupcakes

Happe Valentines day! Whether you're single or coupled up this Valentines, the holiday of love is a great excuse for themed cakes! Using this simple strawberry and white chocolate flavoured recipe, you'll be sure to wow your other half and definately be worth that romantic candlelight dinner that is surely planned and prepared! This recipe uses a favourite flavour combination of mine.. inspired by the ultimate romantic dessert, chocolate and stawberries! 

Using a light and fluffy strawberry sponge, combined with white chocolate chips and a smooth strawberry buttercream, this melt in the mouth cupcake is perfect for that after dinner indulgence.



Makes 12 - 24

Ingredients

For the cakes:

120g Butter or Margarine

120g Caster Sugar (could also use granulated)

2 Eggs

160g Self-Raising Flour

2 to 3 Tbsp Milk

1/2 to 1 Tsp Strawberry Extract
5 to 6 Chopped Frozen or Dried Strawberries

For the buttericing:

140g Butter

340g Icing Sugar (+ more if necessary)

1 to 2 Tbsp Milk (+ more if necessary)
30g Melted White Chocolate
Pink Edible Spray
Gummy Heart Sweets
Chocolates from a Chocolate box
Edible Pink and Purple Crystals or Sprinkles

Directions

• Preheat an oven to 180°C.
• Line a muffin/cake tray (2 if you have them) with cake cases.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with a spoon until pale and fluffy.
• In a jug or cup, beat the eggs with a whisk and beat into the butter mixture.
• Add strawberry extract.
• Fold in the flour a little at a time, using a spoon. 
• Fold in chopped strawberries.
• Whisk the mixture and add some milk until the mixture is of a dropping consistency (take a spoonful and see if the mixture drops / droops off).
• Spoon the mixture into the cases until half full.
• Bake in the oven for approx. 10 to 15 minutes (until the tops are golden and firm and an inserted skewer / toothpick comes out clean).
• Allow the cakes to cool on a plate or wire rack.
• While the cakes are cooling, make the buttericing by beating the butter until smooth in a large bowl.
• Add icing sugar until the buttericing is a pale yellow / white colour (here is where I do a taste test to see if more icing sugar is needed!)
• Add milk until the icing is of a smooth and drooping consistency but not too liquid. (It should be thick but still a droopy mixture).
• Mix in strawberry extract.
• Place the buttericing mixture into a piping bag and pipe onto the cooled cakes. 
• Spray the cakes with edible pink glitter spray (hold can approx. 20cm from cake)
• Decorate with chocolate from a chocolate box or heart shapped sweets.
• Sprinkle some edible red and pink crystals.
• Dust with edible glitter if you wish!
• Allow to chill in a refrigerator.
• These will last for approx. 3 - 4 days.

Tips & Serving Ideas

• Serve with a large bouquet of fresh red roses...!
• Colour the buttericing with red or pink food colouring.

Cara X

Sweet Strawberry Valentine Cupcakes Recipe

Sweet Strawberry Valentine Cupcakes

It's that time of year again, where every couple feel couplier and everyone who's single feels singlier..? Either way, why not make some love themed cupcakes to show the one you love just how much you love them
(A'ww!). Contrary to last year, this year I happen to be one among the singletons, and therefore have undoubtedly given myself the title of a spinster that snarls at all of the happy-faced cuddly bears and ribbon wrapped chocolates on the Valentine themed shelves. Be that as it may, I have experienced the special feeling on Valentines when you are in love, and I still get excited for any holiday that gives a reason for themed cakes! Be it for yourself (self love is priority!) or for a significant other, these are a perfect homemade Valentine gift baked with love.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This recipe combines a sweet strawberry flavoured moist sponge with a pink rose water buttercream for an adorable and romantic little treat.


Makes 12 - 24

Ingredients

For the cakes:

120g Butter or Margarine

120g Caster Sugar (could also use granulated)

2 Eggs

140g Self-Raising Flour

A Splash of Milk

1/2 to 1 Tsp Strawberry Extract

For the buttericing:

140g Butter

340g Icing Sugar (+ more if necessary)

1 to 2 Tbsp Milk (+ more if necessary)
1/2 Tsp Rose Water (or Strawberry Extract)
Pink Food Colouring
Pink / White / Purple Edible Crystals

Edible Heart Decorations

Directions

• Preheat an oven to 180°C.
• Line a muffin/cake tray (2 if you have them) with cake cases.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with a spoon until pale and fluffy.
• In a jug or cup, beat the eggs with a whisk and beat into the butter mixture.
• Add vanilla extract.
• Fold in the flour a little at a time, using a spoon. Whisk the mixture and add some milk until the mixture is of a dropping consistency (take a spoonful and see if the mixture drops / droops off).
• Spoon the mixture into the cases until half full.
• Bake in the oven for approx. 10 to 15 minutes (until the tops are golden and firm and an inserted skewer / toothpick comes out clean).
• Allow the cakes to cool on a plate or wire rack.
• While the cakes are cooling, make the buttericing by beating the butter until smooth in a large bowl.
• Add icing sugar until the buttericing is a pale yellow / white colour (here is where I do a taste test to see if more icing sugar is needed!)
• Add milk until the icing is of a smooth and drooping consistency but not too liquid. (It should be thick but still a droopy mixture).
• Mix in vanilla or strawberry extract.
• Place the buttericing mixture into a piping bag and pipe onto the cooled cakes. (I used an open star nozzle!).
• Decorate with edible heart decorations, sprinkles and crystals in valentine colours!
• Allow to chill in a refrigerator.
• These will last for approx. 3 - 4 days.

Tips & Serving ideas

• Add dried, frozen or chopped fresh strawberries into the buttercream.
• Add a berry jam filling.
• Top with a meringue buttercream.
• Make some homemade mini fondant hearts to decorate!
  

Make a combination of cupcakes in each box!

Cara X