Share a little festive joy

...with home-baked gifts from the heart

CHRISTMAS CUPCAKES FOR YOUR FAB NEIGHBOURS

Filled with warming flavours such as ginger and spices, these cupcakes will spread festive cheer up and down the street, and your kids can join in the fun too!

EASY

Prep time: 45 mins Total time: 75 mins

MAKES 18 For the cupcake sponge:

Dr. Oetker Christmas Baking Cases

115g unsalted butter, softened 115g dark brown sugar

115g golden syrup

150ml whole milk

175g plain flour

5g (1 tsp) Dr. Oetker Bicarbonate of Soda

6g (1 tbsp) ground ginger

1g (½ tsp) ground mixed spice 1 medium egg

For the buttercream:

100g unsalted butter, softened 350g icing sugar

5ml (1 tsp) Dr. Oetker Vanilla Extract 150g caramel

To decorate:

Dr. Oetker Reindeer Cheer Sprinkles

METHOD: For the sponge:

★ Preheat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan/gas mark 3. Line 2 cupcake trays with 18 baking cases.

★ Put the butter in a pan with the sugar and syrup and stir over a low heat until melted. Remove from the heat, stir in the milk and leave to cool for 10 minutes.

★ In a separate bowl, mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and mixed spice.

★ Make a well in the centre, add the egg, and gradually pour in the melted mixture, stirring together to make a thick, smooth batter.

★ Divide the mixture evenly between your baking cases and pop in the oven to bake for about 20-25 minutes, until risen and firm to touch.

★ Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove, and pop onto a wire rack to cool completely. For the buttercream:

★ Beat the butter in a large bowl (it’s easiest to do this with an electric hand whisk).

★ Add the icing sugar in a couple of additions and beat together well. ★ Mix in the vanilla extract and caramel and beat to a lovely, smooth buttercream. If it’s still a little firm, add a few tsps of milk.

To decorate:

★ Once your cupcakes are completely cool, put the buttercream into a piping bag fitted with an open star nozzle and pipe a swirl on top of each cupcake.

★ Sprinkle over the reindeer cheer sprinkles and put a chocolate star on top of each. Your cupcakes are ready to eat, share and enjoy!

★ They’ll keep for a week in an airtight tin, so you can make them ahead of time and drop them round in a colourful Christmas tin to share the festive joy!