With Christmas fast approaching I’m always on the look out for different fruit cake ideas.

I usually make the normal cake in a square tin and give these as gifts, this year I’ve thought of a different idea.

Mini Fruit Cake Muffins.  As I stated before I bought these really cool red mini muffin pans and they are great.  Muffins come out bite size and don’t stick – excellent.

Here we go…

• 375 grams mixed fruit
• 3/4 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 125 grams butter

Place the above ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for 3 minutes and then remove from the heat and allow to cool.

• 1/2 cup Brandy
• 2 eggs lightly beaten
• 2 tblsp apricot jam

Add the above ingredients and mix well.

• 1 cup self raising flour
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1/4 tsp salt

Sift the above ingredients together and fold into the cake mixture.

Grease the muffin pan and fill with mixture.  Bake in a moderate oven for 10 mins.

I topped mine with royal icing cut into star shapes and then put a silver sugar bead on top.

PS:  You can make these in a normal size muffin pan – just increase the cooking time by approximately 5 minutes.

ENJOY!!!