Easy Peasy

As an antidote to all that preciousness (but in defense of preciousness, what better excuse than Christmas?), I've deliberately kept the finishing touches here fuss-free. For the lovely folks who've booked the Christmas Cupcake Class I'll be teaching at Shermay's Cooking School (see the December schedule for details) and might be checking in, here're more details about the 4 bonus recipes included in the recipe pack. As mentioned in this earlier post, I won't be demonstrating these extra recipes during class so thought it would be appropriate to give a few details here. For all their deliciousness, they're fast and simple to whip up - I think many who ordinarily don't bake very much might be inclined to do so during the festive season, and these are exactly the sort of recipes that might fit the bill, requiring as they do minimal effort on the part of the cook.

Espresso & Candied Orange

Coffee and candied citrus have a lovely affinity. This particular cupcake tastes of real coffee - as opposed to instant coffee - thanks to the use of illy espresso grounds and a dose of Nielsen Massey Pure Coffee Extract.

Spiced Honey

The personality of these will vary each and every time you make up a batch if you experiment with different honeys - mild, floral honeys like clover, acacia, heather and orange blossom work beautifully. The spicing is fairly subdued - just a grating of nutmeg and a touch of cloves - so that the character of the honey you've chosen can really come through.

Chocolate & Orange Marmalade
Jaffa Cakes are a guilty pleasure of mine, and the chocolate-orange flavours here (despite not having a "smashing orangey bit in the middle"!) remind me of that addictive little lunchbox treat. Using a quality marmalade makes all the difference, so don't be penny-wise here.

Tea Infused Gingerbread

Old-fashioned gingerbread recipes often use a splash of cold black tea or coffee in lieu of water to add depth to the flavour. This is one such recipe; the flavour of the tea plays less of a starring role and more of a supporting one. A frugal cook? You'll like this one; even leftover cold tea is not wasted and can be put to work here!