Secret Santa

I do like Secret Snta really, but I make it difficult for myself every year by hand making the present.  We are giving them out tonight so here is a quick snap of the wrapped present.  Hopefully it will go down well!

I didn't want anyone else to miss out either so I've put together little baked treats too!  Enjoy!

Christmas flowers

I've had a lovely day baking festive treats with my Mum, mince pies, gingerbread biscuits and mince pie muffins. Deffinitely looking forward to sweet treat feast! 

My advent post today is of a beautiful Christmas bloom that was supposed to flower on Christmas Day but lucky for me it has flowered early!  They're a lovely crisp white, like first fallen snow. Enjoy advent 20!

Two posts today!

Because I was so super busy yesterday I didn't get time to post my advent treat!  So you'll have two to view today, an advent rollover of sorts. 

This first post is one of the reasons I was so busy,  I was in the kitchen baking 'Christmas Muffins', a muffin version of a mince pie and they are rather delicious! I adapted the recipe slightly from 'Muffins Galore' by Catherine Atkinson.

'Christmas Muffins'

Makes 12

300g self-raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground mixed spice

100g soft brown sugar

175g mincemeat (the mince pie kind that is!)

1 egg, lightly beaten

100g butter, melted

175ml buttermilk

1 tablespoon milk

1.  Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 6.  Line a muffin tin with paper cases.

2.  Mix the flour, baking powder, mixed spice and brown sugar in a large bowl.  In a seperate bowl or jug mix together the mincemeat, egg, melted butter, buttermilk and milk.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix briefly until just combined.

3.  Spoon the batter into the paper cases dividing evenly (I use a tablespoon measuring spoon and do one of each into each cup until it is even measured).  Bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes or until risen and golden and when a skewer is poked in the widdle comes out clean.  Cool in the tin for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack.

For the Brandy Icing

Icing sugar
Brandy
Red glittery sprinkles (for decoration)

Mix icing sugar and a little brandy until you have a thick but still runny-ish consistency and enough to cover the tops of all the muffins.  Then sprinkle on the glittery sugar for a sparkly magical Christmassy finish!

Enjoy!