Christmas cupcakes

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas
All around my place
'Tis the tempting smell of citrus and spice
With a golden glow that looks so nice
And they taste just ace!

Unlike my attempts at rhyming these cupcakes are 'da bomb! Truly, they smell just divine! I LOVE Australia, but I was so born in the wrong continent for celebrating Christmas. Although I've never had one (yet), I think a white christmas is just so magical (I"m sure the reality of soggy, cold, dark days will not even begin to match the romantic notion of white frosted windows and hot baked dinners around an open fire HOWEVER I dare to dream). One day I will experience it. Until then, I'll settle for a food proxy. Spicy, sticky gingerbread cupcakes with a hint of citrus. They smell just like Christmas.

deebee's Christmas cupcakes

Now, I"ll warn you in advance. I sort of just threw these together, an experiment of sorts, so I apologise if the measurements are not 100% accurate. I also threw convention out the window and just ended up dumping all the ingredients in together and then attacking them with the hand held beaters as I was super short on time (and patience). It worked fine, but as the old adage says - do as I say :-)

1 cup plain flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons ground ginger (or to taste - my theory with ginger is more is better, but this does make some pretty gingery cupcakes)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons golden syrup
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
4 tablespoons milk (I used oat milk)
3 tablespoons butter (I used dairy free spread)
finely grated zest of one orange
a squeeze of orange juice (to taste)
Whatever icing takes your fancy; I went the cheats way and dusted them with icing sugar but if I'd had more time I would have done something fancy like white icing with silver cachous or icing holly and ivy for a real christmassy treat.

Preheat an oven to 180 degrees C (350F).
Sift flour, baking soda and spices into a bowl.
Cream butter and sugar then add eggs, milk and softened golden syrup.
Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix well to combine.
Add the orange juice and zest and mix together.
Scoop into pretty christmas cupcake cases and bake until golden and a cake tester comes out clean (18 mins in my oven).
Serve warm with a fresh dusting of icing sugar and a cup of tea (Christmas tea would be good), or allow to cool and ice to your heart's content.
Makes 12
Above all, enjoy!

 

All decorated ready to go to small group...still smelling divine!

XXX