New Year's Eve | Baking!

Apple & Cinnamon Cupcakes!

If you have been following me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or Tumblr (so many social media outputs, so little time!), you'd have to be in denial if you haven't noted my baking habit!

It started as a way of getting rid of excess nerves during exam revision time (oh, April and May what you did to me?) and became a re-discovery of a secret passion of mine . Even better, I have learned how to turn many a cake recipe into a cupcake version!

To this end, I figured I would finally start to share recipes on here! That way you, when you see a new picture posted, you can head over here to the blog and see the corresponding - simple - recipe! So without much further ado, I give you a recipe I have been using for ~4 years from a Marks and Spencer Afternoon Tea recipe book (includes yummy-looking sandwiches).

Prep and cooking time: 35 minutes
Makes: 12

Ingredients:
90g Butter, softened
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1/2 cup (110g) Caster sugar (I use 90g of Light brown Muscovado sugar)
1 Egg
1 1/3 cups (200g) Self-raising flour, sifted
1/2 cup (125ml) Milk
1 Medium red apple (150g), quartered, cored and sliced thinly
15g Butter, melted
1 tablespoon Granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
Spiced honey cream:
2/3 cup (160ml) Double cream
2 teaspoons Honey
1/4 teaspoon Ground ginger
Pinch Ground Cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 160*C/140*C Fan/325*F. Line 12-hole muffin tray with paper cases.
2. Beat softened butter, extract and sugar together in a small bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. (I do this by hand and don't go too hard). Add egg, beat to combine. Stir in sifted flour and milk, in two batches.
3. Divide mixture into muffin cases; top with apple slices, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with half the combined granulated sugar and cinnamon.
4. Bake cupcakes for about 15-20 minutes (until lightly browned on surface. Remove from oven and sprinkle hot cupcakes with remainder of sugar and cinnamon mix. Place on wire rack to cool.
   
5. Meanwhile make the spiced honey cream. Combine ingredients in a small bowl.
   
6. Served warm cupcakes with a dollop of honey cream on top! 

There you have it! Easy peasy and so tasty! Should be one of your five a day really (if you ate all 12, oops!)