Merry Christmas Muffins Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Line 15 standard muffin cups with cupcake liners, or grease them.
• In a large bowl, mix together the flour(s), oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, applesauce, sugar, brown sugar, canola or vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix in the cranberries, apple, and zucchini.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and whisk together just until incorporated.
• Divide between 15 or so muffin cups - approximately a scant 1/2 cup each.
• Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until the tops spring back when touched.
• Line the counter with a couple of paper towels, and place a wire rack on top. Once the muffins are cool enough to touch, move them to a wire rack.
• Allow the muffins to cool to room temperature, or close - about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix together the glaze. Simply whisk the powdered sugar, vanilla, orange zest, milk and orange juice together until it's glaze consistency.
• Drizzle the glaze over the top of the muffins. If desired, top with sprinkles while the glaze is still wet (c'mon! It's Christmas! Go for it!)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tray with paper muffin cases.
• Melt the butter in the microwave or a small pan over a low heat, then set aside to cool for 10 mins. Meanwhile, mix the flour, bicarb, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl with a pinch of salt.
• Add the yogurt, vanilla and eggs to the cooled butter and mix well. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients along with the orange zest, chocolate and dried cranberries. Mix well until there are no pockets of flour.
• Divide the mixture evenly between the paper cases, then bake for 30 mins until risen and golden. Check they're cooked by inserting a cocktail stick into the centre of one of the muffins (choose one in the centre of the tray). If any wet cake batter clings to the skewer, return to the oven for 5 mins.
• Remove the muffins from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for at least 10 mins. Meanwhile, mix the icing sugar with enough of the orange juice to make a loose icing. Brush the orange glaze over each muffin, then sprinkle with a little pearl sugar, if using. Leave to cool before eating. Will keep in an airtight container for up to five days, or frozen for up to two months.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, beat eggs, oil and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in carrots, apple, coconut, fruit and raisins. Fill 16 paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. For frosting, combine butter, cream cheese, sugar, juice and vanilla in a bowl; beat until smooth and creamy. Spread over muffins. Sprinkle with cherries.

Steps:

• Layer all the ingredients in a 1 litre glass or plastic preserving jar in the order the ingredients are listed.
• Write the following method on a gift label: 'Tip the contents of the jar into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and add 2 beaten eggs, 300ml/½pt milk and 100g/4oz melted butter. Mix quickly and lightly to a soft batter. Divide between 12 muffin cases. Bake at 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 for 18-20 mins. Use within 4 weeks.' Attach the label and a wooden spoon to the top of the jar with some raffia or coloured ribbon.