Dried Fruits and Nut Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 220 g unsalted butter
• 200 g caster sugar
• 4 eggs
• 220 g mixed dried fruits
• 40 g ground almonds
• zest of orange
• 3 tbsp orange juice
• 3 tsp vanilla essense

Sift Together:

• 180 g plain flour
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamom
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Procedure:

1. preheat oven 180*C
2. cream butter, sugar till light and fluffy ... mixer with K beater
3. beat eggs and gradually add to butter sugar mixture
4. add orange juice, vanilla essense
5. on loww speed ... add add orange zest, flour mixture, ground almonds till well mix ... do not overmix
6. fold in fruit mixture by hand ... bake for 15 mins at 180*C
7. check done with a slewer ... it should come out clean
8. remove cupcakes from oven ... cool on rack ... before storing in airtight containers

Notes:

• presoak mixed fruit with 3 - 4 tbsp brandy, in a bowl covered with cling wrap  .... night before
• you can decorate the cakes with pipe buttercream
• can be store in  the fridge, to return to room temperature before serving