MINI MUFFIN TOPS RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. For big-topped muffins, line 8 standard-size muffin cups with paper liners. For standard-size muffins line 10 muffin cups. Fill the remaining cups with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to help the muffins bake evenly.
• Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
• Add oil to a measuring jug that holds at least 1 cup. Add the egg then fill the jug to the 1-cup line with milk (1/3 to 1/2 cup milk). Add vanilla and whisk to combine.
• Add milk mixture to the bowl with dry ingredients then use a fork to combine. Do not over mix. (The muffin batter will be quite thick — see note below for more details). Fold in the blueberries.
• Divide the batter between muffin cups. (If making big-topped muffins, the batter will come to the tops of the paper liners). Sprinkle a little sugar on top of each muffin.
• Bake muffins 15 to 20 minutes or until tops are no longer wet and a toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out with crumbs, not wet batter. Transfer to a cooling rack.
• To store, place them in a plastic bag, seal, and store at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. To freeze, wrap them tightly in aluminum foil or place them in freezer bags. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Steps:

• Tip the mincemeat into a bowl, and add the zest of 1 of the oranges and the amaretto. Stir and leave to macerate at room temperature.
• To make the pastry, put the flour, butter, icing sugar and egg into a food processor, along with the remaining orange zest and a pinch of fine salt, and pulse until the mix comes together in a clump – you may need to add more liquid (milk or water is fine) if the dough is too dry. Don’t over-pulse the dough or it’ll be tough.
• Wrap the dough ball in clingfilm or a plastic sandwich bag, gently flatten it and chill for at least 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.
• For the topping, beat the butter, vanilla and icing sugar together until pale and fluffy. Sieve in the flour and beat again until smooth. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a medium star nozzle.
• Roll out the pastry between two sheets of baking paper to the thickness of a 50p coin. Using a small cutter, cut out 24 rounds and press each into the holes of 2 x 12-hole mini fairy cake/mini muffin tins.
• Add a tsp of the mincemeat on top of each. Pipe the viennese mix on top of each to cover the mincemeat, and bake for 20 minutes or until the tops are a pale golden colour. Leave to cool in the tin for 15 minutes before carefully lifting them out.