Easter Treats...#1

...Carrot Cake...(With a tweak!!)


This is a 'twisty tweak' on the classic Carrot Cake recipes that are out there...There are hundreds of variations around, so I have basically taken all the bits we like and tried them out in one easy 'Muffinesque' recipe...

So here it is
...My Easter Carrot Cake Muffins...


Makes: 12 Muffin-sized or about 15 cupcake (fairy cakes of old) sized
Prep Time: 10mins
Cooking time: 20mins
Muffin Ingredients:
*Self raising flour - 180g
*Light soft brown sugar - 110g
*150g finely grated carrots (peeled of course)
*Zest and juice of half an orange
*1/2 tsp mixed spice
*3/4 tsp cinnamon
*1 tsp baking powder
*100g raisins
*2 eggs - I use large
*2Tbsp golden syrup or honey - I used syrup today
*125ml sunflower oil
Frosting ingredients:
*50g butter - very soft...
*50g icing sugar
*150g cream cheese - full-fat
*1 tsp vanilla


Method:
This recipe has a very simple method, like many muffin recipes, you get all the 'dry' ingredients in one bowl, all the 'wet' in another and then combine...

So the 'dry' ingredients in this case are...the flour, spices, baking powder, sugar, raisins, orange zest and of course the carrots...

Give these a bit of a mix around, the raisins will get covered in the flour and hopefully not sink to the bottom of the muffins!!!

Get your wet mix ready...the eggs, oil, orange juice and golden syrup...whisk this up, and combine with the 'dry' mix quickly, don't overwork it...or you will end up with rather 'heavy' muffins...

Pour the batter into your muffin cases...and pop into a preheated oven...about Gas 4/180c...cook for about 20-25 mins...check with a skewer...if it comes out clean they're done!

...Mmmmm they look so delicious!!

...Let them cool completely before making the frosting...

Whisk up the butter and cream cheese, add the sifted icing sugar and mix...add a tsp vanilla, give a final mix and frost your muffins...

...I found these really cute white chocolate decorations in the supermarket...so used them to make the muffins look pretty...

Eat and Enjoy...

Of course there are many variations on this theme, some with nuts, some with pineapple added...but these are mine...the ones we enjoy...