Christmas Tree Cupcakes

With December finally upon us Christmas is just right around the corner which can only mean one thing – panic! Hectic Christmas day preparations I am sure have already begun – the last-minute shopping trips, decorating and wrapping. However, the festive season is not a time to fear, it is a time to relax, enjoy and spend with loved ones. It’s a perfect time to fill your home with irresistible scents and spread smiles to those around you with some home-baked treats. So, start the Christmas period off right with one of our favourite Christmas tree cupcake recipes which are deliciously sweet, fluffy and perfect for the entire family to devour this season. Everyone at NextDayCoffee would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 60g (1 ½ oz) caster sugar
• 60g (1 ½ oz) brown sugar
• 120g (3oz) butter
• 2 medium eggs
• 40g (1oz) cocoa powder
• 80g (2oz) plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

For the Topping:

• 150g (4oz) butter
• 350g (8oz) icing sugar
• 2 tsp Monin Chocolate Cookie Syrup
• A drop of green food colouring
• Milky Way Magic Stars (or equivalent)
• Chocolate Dust Shaker

Instructions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180oc or gas mark 4 and prepare a baking tray with cupcake cases.
2. Whisk together the butter and both sugars.
3. Add one egg and a little bit of flour and mix well. Then go ahead and add the second egg and a bit of flour and mix.
4. Finally combine the rest of the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda to the mixture and mix together to form a light fluffy paste.
5. Spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases and bake for around 15 minutes.
6. Once baked, leave to cool. Prepare to make the icing.
7. Ensure your butter is at room temperature before adding the Monin chocolate cookie syrup.
8. Once your syrup is added to the butter add one drop of green food colouring and mix well.
9. Grab and fill your pipe (with a star nozzle preferably) and begin to pipe in a circle, moving inwards and upwards.
10. Finally, put a star on top and sprinkle with some Zuma Gold Dust.
11. Serve and enjoy.

Makes 12 delicious cupcakes