Sunday, 24 February 2013

Golden Syrup Cupcakes



Oops ... No sugar? Ah, but I've got golden syrup in the cupboard.
So, here they are, I made golden syrup cupcakes.  As an experiment, I put everything in a bowl and mixed with an electric hand mixer. Easy does it. :)  The result was surprisingly great. The texture of the cupcakes was really fine. They have an almost velvety like texture and they are very light and moist. They also have the rich sugary flavour of golden syrup.
Ah, I have to mention that I put some chopped prunes which I happened to have in my cupboard.
So these are really "cupboard cupcakes."



Ingredients
  • 6 oz low-fat spread (or butter if you prefer) 
  • 6 oz golden syrup
  • 6 oz SR flour (or Plain flour)
  • 1 tsp baking powder (if you use the Plain flour, increase the BP to 2 tsp)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp  Milk
Method
  1. Pre-heat the oven 160-180 °c      
  2. Put all ingredients in the food processer and mix well. Or put all  ingredients in a bowl and mix with  electric hand mixer.
  3. Add more milk if necessary until you achieve the dropping texture  
  4. Pour the mixture into the prepared muffin cases in the muffin baking try.
  5. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes
  6. When the cupcakes are baked, let them stand for 5 minutes in the baking tray, then turn them out. 

Monday, 18 February 2013

Chocolate & orange muffins

Chocolate and orange is a good combination. 
These muffins have a quite pronounced flavour of orange, but they don't have any actual orange segments or even juice. Fresh orange zest really gives an aromatic flavour. 
I added chopped white chocolate to compliment the fresh orange flavour. You could add more white chocolate if you wish.

Ingredients 

  • 200g plain flour
  • 150g caster sugar 
  • 25g cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 150ml milk
  • 50ml vegetable oil  
  • 1 egg
  • 50g white chocolate chopped
  • zest of 1 orange

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 200 C / Gas 6 and add paper cases to a muffin tray.
  2. Measure out dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Measure milk and oil in a large measuring jug. Add egg and whisk well.
  4. Add the wet mixture (3) into the dry mixture (2).  Stir until just combined. The mixture will be lumpy. Do NOT over mix.     Then, gently fold in chopped white chocolate and zest of orange.
  5. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown on top.