Recipe for the Month
Mini
Chocolate Christmas Cakes
1/2 cup Bendy Bread / 1/2 cup Pikelet Mix
OR 1 cup Bendy Bread
(for some reason the blend of two
formalas was better- but using either worked.)
1/3 cup apple juice or brandy
375g Mixed Fruit
1/4 cup cup dried apricots, chopped (I used
a combination of figs and apricots)
60g butter, softened
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 egg, room temp
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
1/2 cup dark choc bits or carob(gluten free
brands available)
Method:
Heat apple juice or brandy in a
microwave-safe bowl on high for 1 minute. Add dried fruit. Cover and set aside
for a couple of hours for best result. Stir occasionally.
Preheat oven to 150oC . Lightly grease of
spray a 12 hole mini muffin tin.
Beat together butter,vanilla and brown
sugar until creamy.( use a sugar
alternative if you need).
If you use Xylitol add some
syrup. Add egg. Stir in fruit mixture. Blend
in flour and spice over the mixture. Stir until combined. Stir in choc bits.
Spoon mixture into muffin holes to
completly fill. I pressed the mixture in and smoothed the surface. I had
enough mixture left to make 4 normal muffin size cakes.
Bake for about 20 minutes until well browned. Cool
for 10 mins before running a knife around the edges to loosen cakes. Turn out
onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorating suggestions:
Option 1: Purchase a ready made Icing mix
from the supermarket. Brands vary so check out the ingredients (which
I am sure you are used to). Roll between two
sheets of baking paper until approx 5mm thick. Using a star-shaped biscuit
cutter, cut shapes out of icing. Place the shapes over the upturned cakes.
Option 2: Make
your own.
Brandy Butter:
1 cup of brown sugar
125g butter or alternative
2 tbspns brandy
1 tspn vanilla extract
Method: Beat ingredients together for
10mins, scraping down sides. Spread 5mm-1cm thick on a baking paper-lined tray
and chill until firm. Cut small designs of choice, place on upturned cakes and
keep chilled. Serve or Gift Wrap!
Merry Xmas
Idea Sourced from Taste.com