Mini Christmas Cupcakes

MAKES 1 MINI-MUFFIN PAN (WITH 36 MINI-MUFFINS)

For the dough: 1 1/3 cup (200 g) chopped sultanas, 1 1/3 cup (200 g) chopped raisins, ¾ cup (120 g) chopped currants, 4¼ oz (120 g) chopped candied cranberries, 4¼ fluid oz (1/8 l) brandy or rum, ½ cup + 1 tbsp (125 g) butter, ½ cup + 2 tsp (110 g) granulated brown Mascobado sugar, 1 tbsp apricot jam, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp zest from an organic lemon or orange, 2 eggs, 1 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp (180 g) flour, ½ tsp ground ginger, ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp gingerbread spice

For the frosting: 1 egg white, 2 cups + 4 tsp (250 g) powdered sugar, 2-3 tsp lemon juice

Additional: butter for the pan, gold and pink sugar pearls for garnishing

The day before baking, put dried fruit in a bowl, fill up the bowl with brandy or rum, and let it sit out, covered, overnight.

The next day, preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C), unless you have a convection oven, in which case preheat to 265°F (130°C), or a gas oven, in which case preheat to level 1. Grease the 36 cups of the mini-muffin pan.

In a bowl, mix butter and sugar together with a hand mixer until creamy. Mix in the jam, honey, and lemon or orange zest. Add the eggs one after another and mix them in well. Add the dried fruit that has been soaking, the flour, and the spices into the butter mixture a little at a time, alternating between which ingredient is being added. Distribute the dough amongst the mini muffin cups. Each cup should be filled to the brim and smooth on top. Place into the preheated oven (middle rack), and bake the cupcakes for about 40 minutes (test with a toothpick!). Remove from the oven, allow to cool in the pan, flip over onto a wire rack, and turn the cupcakes over again.

For the frosting, lightly beat the egg white with a wooden spoon. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and mix together into a smooth paste. Slowly squeeze in lemon juice until the mixture becomes a little bit more fluid. Use a spatula to spread icing on every cupcake, letting a little bit spill over onto the sides, and then decorate with sugar pearls.

 

It is a quote. Christmas Cookies Dozens of Classic Yuletide Treats for the Whole Family 2015