Christmas Fairy Cakes
About the bake
Packed with all of your favourite festive fruits and spices these cute little fairy cakes are a fantastic mini alternative to a large Christmas cake. Treat a loved one this Christmas with these delightful fairy cakes.
- Vegetarian
Method
Step 1
Add the sugar, butter, dried fruit, ginger, orange zest and juice to a large pan and slowly bring to the boil, stirring frequently to melt the butter.
Step 2
Reduce the heat and bubble gently for 10 minutes, continuing to stir regularly then set aside to cool.
Step 3
Stir in the nuts, eggs and ground almonds into the fruit mix.
Step 4
Sift in the flour, baking powder and spices and stir everything together, gently but thoroughly.
Step 5
Preheat oven to 150°C (130°C fan, gas mark 2). Scoop the cake mix into 24 fairy cake cases then level the tops with a spoon dipped in hot water.
Step 6
Bake for 35-45 mins until golden and just firm to touch. A skewer inserted should come out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
Step 7
Beat together the butter, icing sugar, vanilla extract and milk until light. Smooth onto each cupcake. For a more adult twist, swap the vanilla extract for a splash of brandy.
Step 8
Roll out the green sugar paste and use a holly cutter to stamp out the leaves.
Step 9
Roll 3 small balls of red sugar paste and top the leaves on the cupcakes to make the berries.
Ingredients
For the fairy cake
- 200gBillington's Unrefined Dark Muscovado Sugar
- 175gButter (unsalted) (chopped)
- 3Egg(s) (free range) (large, beaten)
- 200gAllinson's Plain White Flour
- 0.5 tspBaking powder
- 1 tspMixed spice (ground)
- 1 tspCinnamon (ground)
- 2 tspGinger (freshly grated)
- 1Orange (zest of)
- 1Orange juice
- 750gDried mixed fruits
- 85gPecan nuts (chopped)
- 85gAlmonds (ground)
For the icing
- 500gSilver Spoon Icing Sugar
- 160gButter (unsalted)
- 50mlMilk (whole)
- 1.5 tspNielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract
- Green sugar paste icing
- Red sugar paste icing