The Christmas Posts: Recipe for Christmas Cupcakes

Holidays Are Coming! Who doesn't love the Coca Cola advert?! It is just too magical and nostalgic. One thing that I never understood as a child was who in their right mind would drink an ice cold drink in the Winter? Anyway, this time of year is so amazing because it means time to spend with family and friends, feeling like a kid again and being inspired by all the festive lights. It is a magical time full of optimism and glad tidings. Enjoy it while it is here, because as a month, 'January' sucks the most. It signifies the end of the the twinkling fairy lights and the beginning of all things bleak, grey and miserable. Merry Christmas, by the way! 

We've been busy baking and shopping for Secret Santa gifts. In the coming posts, we'll be sharing recipes for cupcakes, cake pops and biscuits.

Christmas Pudding Cake Pops, Festive Cinnamon Biscuits and Festive Cupcakes. 

Vanilla Flavoured Christmas Cupcakes

Makes 12

Equipment

12-hole muffin tin

12 muffin cases

Electric mixer (or there is no harm in the trusted 'wooden spoon and elbow grease')

Mixing Bowl

Wire Rack

Craft knife (or just a really sharp knife)

Chopping board (or a surface which you don't mind scratching)

Rolling Pin 

For the cakes

125g/4oz Self-Raising Flour

125g/4oz Caster Sugar

125g/4oz Unsalted Butter (must be room temperature) 

1 and a half teaspoon Baking Powder

2 medium eggs 

2 teaspoons Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract 

3 tablespoons Semi-Skimmed Milk

For the Icing/Decoration

Ready to Roll icing (festive colours)

Edible snowflakes/silver balls

White Writing Icing tubes

To make the Cakes

1) Pre-heat oven to 180c/350f/Gas Mark 4 and line the holes of the muffin tin with muffin cases

2) Add the butter, caste sugar and vanilla extract to the mixing bowl and mix together for 5-7 minutes until light in colour and creamy in texture. 

3) Add one egg and mix for 1 minute. Add the second egg and mix for another minute. 

4) In a seperate bowl and using a metal spoon mix the flour with the baking powder. Sieve into the mixing bowl and mix together until well incorporated. 

5) Add the milk a few tablespoons at a time and mix for a further minute. 

6) Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases (the mixture should drop softly from the spoon into the cases). Bake for 20-25 minutes or until springy to the touch. To check if the cakes are well baked, insert a knife or toothpick into the center of the cake. The knife/toothpick should be clean when removed from the cake. 

7) Remove the baked cupcakes and transfer them to a wire rack to cool. 

To make the Festive Shapes

1) Lightly dust a clean surface with icing sugar.

2) Roll out your desired Ready-to-Roll icing onto the dusted surface as flat as possible. 

3) Using the craft knife, create your desired festive shapes. 

4) Place any unused icing in cling film to prevent it drying out. 

And...here's some we made earlier...(The cupcakes were made by Savi and I, but the awesomely amazing icing skills was all crafted by our talented elder sister, Savi Grewal). 

Attention to detail: Check out Snowman's hat! It's got a little Holly Sprig on it made from icing sugar of course. 

Voila! Festive Cupcakes!! The Icing was all 'glued' into place with white writing icing to prevent the shapes from sliding off the cakes.

Here is Savi aka Santa's little helper getting into the festive spirit with hat, complete with real tinkling bell.       

In the next episode, we will show you how to make Christmas Pudding style Cake Pops. Stay tuned folks. In the meantime remember to wrap up warm, hold the doors open for those carrying bags or loads on their mind and don't ever forget that Santa Claus used to wear a green outfit!

Don't  just be inspired. Be Twinspired.

Sukhman aka Soni