Fruitcake Muffins Recipes

Steps:

• Combine dried fruits, candied ginger and both zests. Add rum and macerate overnight, or microwave for 5 minutes to re-hydrate fruit.
• Place fruit and liquid in a non-reactive pot with the sugar, butter, apple juice and spices. Bring mixture to a boil stirring often, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for at least 15 minutes. (Batter can be completed up to this point, then covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before completing cake.)
• Heat oven to 325 degrees.
• Combine dry ingredients and sift into fruit mixture. Quickly bring batter together with a large wooden spoon, then stir in eggs one at a time until completely integrated, then fold in nuts. Spoon into a 10-inch non-stick loaf pan and bake for 1 hour. Check for doneness by inserting toothpick into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. If not, bake another 10 minutes, and check again.
• Remove cake from oven and place on cooling rack or trivet. Baste or spritz top with brandy and allow to cool completely before turning out from pan.
• When cake is completely cooled, seal in a tight sealing, food safe container. Every 2 to 3 days, feel the cake and if dry, spritz with brandy. The cake's flavor will enhance considerably over the next two weeks. If you decide to give the cake as a gift, be sure to tell the recipient that they are very lucky indeed.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/ fan 180C and very lightly butter a 12-hole muffin tin. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. In another bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then stir in the melted butter, milk and honey. Add to the flour with the remaining ingredients. Combine quickly without overworking (it's fine if there are some lumps left - you want it gloopy rather than fluid). Spoon the mixture into the muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes until well risen and pale golden on top.
• Leave in the tin for a few minutes before turning out. When cool, they'll keep in an airtight tin for two days. (Can be frozen for up to 1 month.)

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine molasses and water; add raisins. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in candied fruit and vanilla. Cool., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1 eggs at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking soda and spices; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Add fruit mixture, mixing well. Fold in nuts., Fill paper-lined miniature muffin cups almost full. Bake at 325° for 22-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Store in airtight containers.

Steps:

• Position the rack in the center of the oven, and preheat the oven to 400°F To prepare the muffin pans, spray the holes and the rims with nonstick spray, or put the paper muffin cups into the holes. If using the silicon pans, spray as directed, then place on cookie sheet.
• Combine the cherries,currants, apricots, and brandy in a small bowl and set aside for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger, and allspice in a medium bowl until mixed well. Set aside.
• Place the egg whites in a seperate medium bowl, that is clean and dry. Beat with an electric mixture at high speed until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Set aside as well.
• In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks just until lightly beaten, then add the sugar and continue whisking until the mixture is thick and sunny yellow, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the buttermilk, melted butter, honey and vanilla extract until smooth.
• Using a wooden spoon, stir in the fruit and any remaining brandy into the egg yolk mixture, then stir in the pecans until well mixed. Stir in the flour mixture until incorporated. Then gently fold in the beaten egg whites until no streaks of white are visible.
• Fill the prepared pans three quarters full. Use additional greased pans or small, oven proof ramekins for any leftover batter or reserve the batter for a second batch. Bake for 20 minutes or until the muffins are light brown, with firm,rounded tops. A toothpick inserted into one of the muffins should come out clean.
• Set the pan on a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Gently rock the muffins back and forth to release them. Remove them from the pan and let cool on the rack for 5 more minutes. To freeze, let cool completely, then store in airtight containers or freezer proof bags. The muffins will stay fresh for up to 2 days at room temperature or up to 3 months in the freezer.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix milk, oil, eggs, brown sugar and vanilla, whisking to combine. Stir in the wheat bran and oats. Allow this to sit for 5 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Stir in the flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Fold in the orange peel.
• Line a 12 cup muffin tin. Distribute the batter between the 12 cups. Bake for about 15 minutes, test them for doneness with a toothpick. Leave the muffins in the pan for 5 minutes. Remove them and cool completely on a wire rack.