Christmas Cake Muffins

,

I developed these muffins so they can be cooked in good time during one of our cooking workshops as they only take 30 mins to cook. They are also ideal to give as gifts if wrapped in a beautiful box.

They still have all of the elements of a traditional Christmas cake; an abundance of fruit, ground almonds, brandy, and like my Bubble & Bake Christmas Cake found in our LCBC Recipe Collection, is quick, simple and luxurious, with the addition of nuts.

If making a large Christmas cake is not for you, give these a try!

Christmas Cake Muffins

Joanne Iceton
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 6 muffins

Equipment

  • Microwave or you can heat the mixture in a pan
  • mixing bowl
  • Weighing scales
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Chopping board and knife
  • Muffin Tray plus liners

Ingredients
  

  • 250 g dried fruit of choice
  • 50 g glace cherries halved
  • 75 ml brandy or rum plus 2tbsp. To ‘feed’ you can also use apple juice
  • 1 small orange zested and juiced (about 60ml)
  • 25 ml water
  • 75 g butter chopped in small pieces
  • 1 heaped tsp. mixed spice
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 75 g brown sugar
  • 25 g ground almonds
  • 1 egg
  • 100 g wholemeal flour*
  • 2 tsp. baking powder*
  • 50 g nuts e.g. pecans

Instructions
 

  • Oven 180c and prepare your ingredients.
  • Add the dried fruit, cherries, brandy, orange zest and juice and water to a pan or microwaveable bowl. Either heat for 3 mins, or bring to a boil then take off the heat. Add the chopped butter and stir until melted.
  • If you have heated the mixture in a pan, pour it into a bowl, then stir in the spices, sugar and ground almonds.
  • Set aside whilst you roughly chop the nuts and line a muffin tray with 6 cases.
  • Beat the egg into the fruit mixture, ensuring that it is not too hot. Stir in the flour, baking powder and nuts thoroughly. Scoop the mixture into the muffin liners.
  • Bake for 25 - 30 mins.
  • As soon as the muffins are removed from the oven, drizzle over the 2 tbsp brandy or rum (1 tsp. per muffin)

Notes

A tradition which I have always followed from my lovely nana Eva was to continue ‘feeding’ the cake/s with extra rum/brandy every other day; after all it IS Christmas!
We always prefer ours un-iced but feel free to decorate as wished.
*If wished, you can swap the wholemeal flour and baking powder for just self raising flour
Keyword Christmas Cake

The recipes are free to everyone to use (please give credits to us if you choose to use them), but our non-profit organisation incurs many costs to keep it running. If you would like to help keep it going, please consider giving a donation. If you feel inspired to try more, why not invest in our Recipe Collection, available online or from our Eco Market. 

Thank you

Card Donations PayPal Donations

Nutritional Benefits

Using Wholemeal Flour contains more B vitamins (needed to release energy from nutrients and a healthy nervous system) and vitamin E content than white (helping wound healing, immunity and healthy eyes, skin and red blood cells) as well as insoluble fibre essential for good digestive health and stabilising blood sugars.

Dried Fruits are beneficial because they are a concentrated source of nutrients like fibre, antioxidants, vitamins. These compounds may be associated with health benefits such as improved blood flow, boosting immunity, and a lower risk of certain diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.   

Nuts contain many nutritional benefits including protein and vitamin E, as well as some omega 9 fatty acids. Although nuts are high in energy, the healthy fats in they contain help to raise metabolism and reduce sugary cravings.