Random Stuff

Christmas Muffins… anytime of the year!

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 | Cooking | No Comments

I came across these when searching for home made things to put in a Christmas hamper for my Mum and Dad and my brother and his wife.  It was on the BBC good food website that I found these and they really looked the part and seemed easy to make up and also more importantly easy to bake.  Though I will admit I didn’t actually give these a taste test before giving them as a gift.

The recipe is very simple, but the gift is all in the presentation.  I used the 89p 1 litre slom jars from Ikea and then layered the following ingredients in the jar (flour at the bottom).

• 300g self-raising flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp ground mixed spice
• 100g pecans or walnuts (if your not a nut lover leave these out and put in more fruit)
• 140g tropical dried fruits medley
• 100g light muscovado sugar

The nuts and dried fruits in this recipe can be what ever you like.. in fact the batch I made today had dried fruit and seeds as I didn’t have any nuts. I’ve also done this without the mixed spice and just using and extra bit of Cinnamon or Nutmeg instead.

I tied a wooden spoon to the jar with some rafia style paper from the pound store, and printed off a tag with the cooking instructions:

Tip the contents of the jar into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and add 2 beaten eggs, 300ml/½pt milk and 100g/4oz melted butter. Mix quickly and lightly to a soft batter. Divide between 12 muffin cases. Bake at 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 for 18-20 mins. Use within 4 weeks.

As mentioned above I did actually make these after reports that they were really very nice! So for your viewing pleasure here’s the finished article.

Tags: Christmas, dried fruit, healthy treats, muffins