Fruited Chocolate Christmas Cupcakes

There is a passion to make Christmas treats in me and I went a step further by including chocolate as a prime ingredient in a cake that uses the macerated Christmas fruits as well.The Rum in the fruits mixes marvellously with the chocolate thereby giving this cake one of the best flavours possible.

You can use non soaked fruits as well to make the cake completely alcohol free.You can include Dates,Figs or Apricots as well to give new flavours to the cake.I have used crystallised and candied Ginger but you can use the fruits you get!Have this cake most preferably a week after baking and then you will taste the real flavour as all the fruits ,nuts,alcohol (if using soaked fruits) and spices give an ethereal taste to it!

The fruits and nuts are seen as the cake is sliced horizontally…. 

Preparation Time : 1 hour

Makes : An 8″ round/9″square or 13 – 14 cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

250 gms/2 cups butter at room temperature/you can take a mixture of butter and refined oil like I took 100 gms butter and 150 gms oil

250 gms/2 cups brown sugar/jaggery

275 gms/2 1/2 cups plain flour (maida)

25 gms/1/4 cup Cocoa powder

1/4 tsp Nutmeg Powder

1/4 tsp Clove Powder

1/4 tsp Cinnamon Powder

1/4 tsp Ginger Powder

4 eggs (at room temperature)

200 gms/1 1/2 cups macerated fruit (christmas soaked fruit)/you can also take non soaked fruit

1/4 cup candied Ginger – chopped (optional)

1/2 cup chopped mixed nuts (pistachio/almonds/pine nuts/hazelnuts)

1 tsp Vanilla essence

1 tsp Baking powder

250 gms/1 1/2 cups melted milk chocolate (cooking/diary milk)

Sugar frosting (optional) :

3 tbsp icing sugar

1 1/2 tbsp milk

1 – 2 drops Vanilla extract

Silver balls/edible glitter/golden hearts or stars to decorate

METHOD

Prepare the cake tin you are using or line the muffin tray with paper baking cups.Preheat oven to 150°C.

The dry ingredients :

Sift flour with baking powder,cocoa,nutmeg ,clove,cinnamon and ginger powders.Add the fruits and nuts and mix thoroughly with a spatula.

The wet ingredients :

Mix butter/and/or/oil and sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric beater till creamy.Add eggs,one at a time beating well after each addition.Add vanilla and mix well.

Making the batter :

Fold melted chocolate into this and add the flour mixture 2 tbsp at a time folding well and not stirring the mixture.Repeat this procedure till all the flour is used up.In case the mixture is very dry then add 2 – 3 tbsp milk and mix well.Transfer to the prepared tin/use an ice cream scoop to fill each of the paper cups with the batter.

Bake the Cakes :

Bake the cake/cupcakes in a preheated oven for 30 – 40 minutes till a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.Take the cakes out and cool to room temperature.

Frost the Cakes (optional) :

Mix all the ingredients for the frosting and drizzle 1 tsp over the cupcakes or pour it evenly over the cake.Decorate with silver balls/edible glitter/golden hearts or stars as per your with.