Hello lovelies,
HAPPY BLOGMAS DAY 4!
Obviously it wouldn’t be a #blogmaswithelle if I didn’t add a few christmas bakes into the mix, would it?
As you’ll know if you’ve been reading my blog since the beginning, i’ve done blogmas in both 2016 and 2017, which meant finding a bake that I hadn’t done before, you guys will love and would love to bake with your families, a very difficult task. Though, I do believe this years christmas bakes will get you in that kitchen, blaring the christmas songs and getting yourself into the festive spirit in no time!
I decided that I didn’t want to make a big christmas cake this year, as my Nan makes them every year without doubt so I know my family wouldn’t want two. Therefore, I made cupcakes which had all the same ingredients (give or take) and tasted what I can only imagine christmas to taste like! Festive and Delicious.
Ingredients To Make Mixed Spice Cupcakes:
- 8oz / 225g Of Unsalted Butter / Stork
- 8oz / 225g Of Self Raising Flour
- 4 Large Eggs
- 8oz / 225g Of White Caster Sugar
- 3-4oz / 113g Of Mixed Fruit
- 3 Teaspoons Of Mixed Spice
Ingredients To Decorate Mixed Spice Cupcakes:
- 7oz / 200g Of Unsalted Butter (Room Temperature)
- 14oz / 400g Of Icing Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Of Vanilla Icing
- Fondant Icing (To Make Christmas Characters)
How To Make Mixed Spice Cupcakes:
- Firstly, gather together your equipment, ingredients, line a 12 hole cupcake tin with Christmas cupcake cases and preheat your oven to 180C / 160oC Fan / Gas Mark 4.
- Secondly, in a large bowl, beat together the 8oz of unsalted butter and caster sugar together until it’s light, fluffy and lighter in colour.
- Once you’ve beaten together your butter and sugar, add in the 4 large eggs and 8oz of self raising flour and mix/fold together until smooth.
- Now that all the main ingredients of the cupcakes are mixed together, you can now add in the 3-4oz (I used 4oz) of mixed fruit and 3 teaspoons of mixed spice, then fold them into the cupcake mixture.
- Spoon the finished cupcake mixture into the cupcake cases, because of the mixed fruit your more likely to get more then 12 cupcakes… added bonus, yas!
- Now, you’ve finished your cupcakes, put them in the oven to bake for around 20-25 minutes or until you believe there baked through.
How To Decorate The Mixed Spice Cupcakes:
- Furthermore, once the cupcakes have baked through, transfer them onto a wire rack to cool down completely.
- Beat the 7oz of unsalted butter for around two minutes, or until it’s significantly lighter in colour and supple.
- Then, add in the 14oz of icing sugar a little at a time and beat fully after each incorporation.
- Once you’ve added all the icing sugar and beaten that together, add in the 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and beat for a further 2-3 minutes, until it’s mixed together completely.
- Usually, I’d pipe the icing onto my cakes with a 2D Star piping tip and bag, but I’ve decided this time that I’m just going to place the icing on with ice cream scope.
- With the fondant icing – I spent a fair amount of hours moulding the Christmas characters that I’ve done (reindeers, snowmen, penguins, christmas tree etc) but if your not wanting to mould your own, then Hobby Craft have an amazing selection of christmas sprinkles, royal icing decorations and glitter.
- Finally, once you’ve finished moulding, or choosing your decorations, you can arrange them on top of your buttercream.
That’s your mixed spice cupcakes prepared, baked and decorated!
FYI: These cupcakes are quick, easy and can easily be made with your family members to get you all into that festive mood. Admittedly, the fondant took me a few hours (as I’m a perfectionist, which is the bane of my life) yet nothing has to be perfect when making these figures yourself!
I hope today’s first Blogmas Bake gave you some inspiration, wether that’s to get your bake on for a cosy night in or to bake for a party – I hope these cupcakes have given you an insight into how easy it can be to bake and still look cute.
Let me know in the comments below or on any of my social media platforms if you gave these cupcakes a go yourself – if so, did you enjoy them? Also, let me know what festive bakes your doing on the lead up to christmas, I’d love to know.
Sending you all tons of love & hugs as always,
Elle xo
