Serves 12
Ingredients For the Cupcake Mix:
175g unsalted butter, softened
175g Fairtrade dark brown soft sugar
3 large eggs
175g self-raising flour
1½ tsp baking powder
2 tsp Fairtrade ground ginger
1 tsp Fairtrade mixed spice
75ml semi-skimmed milk
Ingredients For the Cream Cheese Icing:
150g full-fat cream cheese
40g unsalted butter, softened
1 tbsp orange juice
1 tsp Fairtrade vanilla extract
500g Fairtrade icing sugar
For the chocolate buttercream icing
225g unsalted butter, softened
450g Fairtrade icing sugar, sifted
1½ tsp Fairtrade vanilla extract
4½ tbsp semi-skimmed milk
265g Fairtrade chocolate (65% cocoa solids)*
To Decorate:
Fairtrade sugar paste, royal icing and mini meringues.
Method for the Cupcakes:
1. Preheat the oven to 180℃ (350℉/Gas 4) and line a 12-hole muffin tray with paper cases.
2. Put all the cake ingredients into a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer and mix well to combine.
3. Spoon into the prepared cases and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until dark golden and springy to the touch.
4. Once cooled, decorate with icing, mini meringues and cut-out halloween shapes using Fairtrade sugar paste.
Method for the Cream Cheese Icing:
Put the cream cheese, butter, orange juice and vanilla into a bowl with half the icing sugar and beat well with an electric handheld whisk. Alternatively, whizz in a food processor. Add the remaining icing sugar and whisk or whizz until smooth and fluffy – this will take about 3 minutes.
Method for the Chocolate Buttercream Icing:
Melt the chocolate over a pan of simmering water, or very carefully in the microwave. Then put to one side to cool. Put the butter in a mixing bowl with the icing sugar, vanilla extract and milk. Beat very firmly – ideally with a handheld mixer or in a food processor. After about 2-3 minutes, the mixture should be smooth, creamy and quite fluffy. Add the melted chocolate, beat again until thick and creamy.
You can find this recipe on the Fairtrade website.
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