Mince pie cake.
Can be done as muffins, or split the batter in two and use a 9 inch spring form tin.
115 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
225 g light brown sugar
3 eggs
375 g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
100 ml milk
120 ml vegetable oil
1-2 tbsp brandy, optional
1 tsp vanilla extract
200 g mincemeat
For brandy butter icing :
250 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
500 g icing sugar
2 tbsp brandy
Alternative cinnamon vanilla icing:
85g butter, softened
40ml milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
375g icing sugar
METHOD
1.For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 180C/160 fan/gas 5 and line a twelve-hole muffin tin with paper cases.
2.Whisk the butter and sugar together in a mixer, or using an electric whisk, until pale and fluffy. Add in the eggs, one at a time, and mix well.
3.In a separate bowl, sieve the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and ½ teaspoon of salt together and set to one side. Separately, mix together the milk, oil and brandy and also set to one side.
4.Add one third of the flour mixture into the batter and mix well, followed by one third of the milk/oil mixture. Repeat until all the flour mixture and milk/oil mixture has been incorporated. Stir in the mincemeat.
5.Using an ice-cream scoop, fill the paper cases until they are two-thirds full with cake batter. Or split between two 9 inch cake tins. Bake for 18-20 minutes (cupcakes) or 35-40 minutes(cake) or until a cocktail stick comes out clean. Take out and leave to cool on a wire rack.
6.For the brandy butter icing: In a clean bowl, whisk the butter until it is pale and creamy and then slowly add in the icing sugar until it is all incorporated and the mixture is smooth and fluffy. Add the brandy and mix in well.
7.Top each cupcake with a generous amount of brandy buttercream/cinnamon icing and decorate with Christmas figures or sprinkles. Once cakes have cooled, split icing, putting half in the middle and half on the top.
I've put both toppings in the recipe, but I use the cinnamon icing, ooooh it's so good! Will pop a pic up when mine is put together shortly.