Moorish Muffins & Cutesy Cupcakes

For a special event or for the pure pleasure & delight one can associate with baking. Aromatic cinnamon coupled with sweet caramel dates & bran muffins are a healthy morning heart starter.
A little more wicked are the Cutesy Cupcakes, tiny but still sweet enough to satisfy!
These baked beauties are two of my favourite childhood treats. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

My mum's overnight Bran & Date Muffins

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Makes: 12 Keeps: Best served on day of making

The Ingredients
1 ¼ cups (200g) plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup (125g) caster sugar
1 ¾ cup (100g) unprocessed bran
125g dates, finely chopped
½ cup (125mL) oil
1 ½ cups (325mL) buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten

The Fun
In a medium bowl, combine flour, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and sugar. Stir in bran and dates.Add oil, buttermilk and egg, mix until combined.
Cover, refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 180ºC for 15 minutes.
Spoon muffin mixture evenly into the 12 cups of the Flexibake muffin Pan.
Bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through.

Chefs Tips
Serve immediately with butter or fresh ricotta and honey.
Thanks Mum ;-)

Cutesy Cupcakes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cooking: 12-15 minutes
Makes: 24
Keeps: 3 days in airtight container

Ingredients
2 eggs
125g (4 oz) butter
180g (6 oz) sugar
250g (8 oz) self raising flour
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fun

Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Beat butter and sugar together until creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time (take them out of shell first!).Add flour, milk and vanilla extract alternately until combined.
Spoon cake mix evenly into the Flexibake Mini Muffin.
Cook for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
Decorate cakes as desired.
To make Frosting (Beat together 125g softened butter with 125g pure icing sugar until thick and creamy, add 1 tablespoon milk or water and stir until combined. Add colouring if desired, spoon onto cupcakes and dip little cakes into coloured sprinkles.

Amie x