Let's bake! Fruit cake cupcakes

It's the most wonderful time of the year sang Andy Williams and he couldn't have been more correct. Festive food is just one of the pleasures of December and I'm not talking about Turkey and all things meaty (hi, Veggies!) It's only around now that I can snack away on a whole chocolate orange and feel guilt-free, or munch on Ferrero Rochers (especially the coconut ones. yum) because my mother refuses to buy chocolates like that any other time of the year. And, of course, fruit cake! My grandma always used to make the best fruit cake but that was a while ago and since then Lakeland's have always been a pleasant alternative. Right now though I decided to combine the delight of both Christmas cake and cupcakes with these simple-to-bake lovelies. The photos above were taken during the process of making them so I hope you have find the final result (placed next to home-made mince pies) more appetising to the eye. Scroll down for the recipe. Enjoy!! ♥

63g butter,

50g brown sugar,

1tsp grated orange,

1 egg,

250g dried mixed fruit,

50ml orange juice,

38g plain flour,

38g self-raising flour,

1/2 tsp mixed spice,

decoration: regal icing, glace cherries, dried apricot, raisins, green food colouring

• preheat the oven to 170 then begin by beating the butter, sugar and orange peel together in a bowl
• once creamy, add the egg and beat in
• pour in the dried fruit, walnuts and orange juice and then, once mixed, stir in the flour and mixed spice
• divide into cupcake cases and place in the oven for 30 minutes
• When ready and your kitchen is smelling delicious, leave to cool and begin with the decorations.
• Roll out the icing (I brought some ready made) and then cut out circles to place on top
  You can then do whatever you fancy but I attempted holly (using a cherry cut in half and food-coloured icing) and Rudolph (using a cherry cut in half, raisins and dried apricot)
• Then finally and most importantly, take a bite and enjoy the taste of Christmas