Here I am with a last minute idea for a muffin you could make for Christmas morning or even on Boxing Day, using up some of the oodles of mincemeat you no doubt got in for the holidays!
These are quick to make, and really nicely flavoured. You could mix all of the dry ingredients the night before, and then just throw together the wet in the morning and then stir them together and bake.
These are lightly flavoured with oranges, lemons, nutmeg and ginger . . . and the piece de resistance, Grand Marnier . . . and stogged full of mincemeat, well . . . okay, there is a teaspoon in the centre, which is just enough. With some brandy sauce, they could even double as a delicious dessert. Happy Christmas!
*Mince Pie Muffins*Makes 12Printable Recipe
Break open some Holiday spirit with these lightly spiced muffins flavoured with the tang of Grand Marnier and filled with lashings of moreish mincemeat!
300g plain flour (2 cups)1 TBS baking powder115g caster sugar (1/2 cup fine white sugar)1/2 tsp ground ginger1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg175ml of milk (3/4 cup)2 TBS Grand Marnier1 large free range egg, beaten115g butter, melted (1/2 cup)the finely grated zest of one lemon and 1/2 orangeabout 6 TBS of good quality mincemeatIcing sugar and edible glitter to dust
Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 6. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, nutmeg and ginger. Rub together the sugar and fruit zests. Stir this into the flour mixture. Beat together the egg, milk, Grand Marnier and butter. Add all at once to the dry ingredients and stir together just to combine. Half fill each muffin cup with the batter. Top each with a heaped teaspoon of mincemeat. Top with another dollop of muffin batter to cover.
Bake for about 20 minutes, until well risen and golden brown. Leave to cool in the pan for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature. (Reminder that mincemeat will be very hot) Dust with icing sugar and a bit of edible glitter to serve.
Note - You could serve these as a dessert, just earm with a brandy sauce poured over top.
