I’ve enjoyed having a play with some Christmas Cupcakes this week. I’d forgotten how time consuming they can be though – and how quickly they get demolished in our house. These are batch 2 – The first lot got eaten before having their pictures taken, when I was out. Cardinal sin in the world of food blogging but amazing that it hasn’t happened before now with 3 kids!
I wanted to make something a little more challenging than ordinary Christmas cupcakes so made secret hidden stars inside of them – I did start with hidden Christmas Trees but didn’t fancy a green inside to my cupcakes and didn’t like that the Christmas design wasn’t really clear enough. I’m quite happy with the stars though – I used one of the kids old star cutters that isn’t that sharp on the edges so reckon that if you used a better cutter, the design would be even sharper.
How to make a surprise design inside a cake
And so onto how to make the Christmas Tree Cupcakes with a surprise hidden inside.
I used my usual vanilla cupcake recipe. Line cupcake trays with cupcake cases and preheat the oven to 180C.
I took approximately 1/4 of the mix out and coloured it red with gel food colour.
Spread it out on a lined baking tray to a depth of about 5mm and bake at 180C for 3-4 minutes.
AS soon as it comes out of the oven, cut out stars using a cutter. Press 2 stars together for the correct depth.
Spoon 1tsp of the plain cake mix into the bottom of each case then add the star.
Spoon the rest of the plain cake mix around and on top of the stars – make sure the star doesn’t fall over.
Bake at 180C for 18-20 minutes.
When cool, spread a thin layer of white frosting over the cupcake. (I used ready made frosting from the Cake Decorating Store)
Roll out a cone of marzipan and stick on top of the cupcake.
Colour some more frosting a pale green colour, and put in a piping bag. It doesn’t really matter what nozzle you use as long as it is fairly thin with a serrated edge.
Pipe little peaks from the top of the cone down, working evenly and leaving some peaks sticking quite proud.
Sprinkle over with tiny Christmas coloured sugar balls immediately before the frosting sets.
Ta-Dah!
Your Christmas Tree Cupcakes are amazing, I love the star surprise in the middle. Thanks for featuring my Christmas Tree Bread Helen.
You are welcome, Sarah – Thanks for being such a great part of Bake of the Week x
Those cakes look amazing! I couldn’t make them, I know that but still, it’s nice to look/drool.
Baking is something I really miss now I’m a mum. I don’t know how I would find the time. I’ve got some bakes planned for over Christmas though, which I’m looking forward to.
x
#brillblogposts
I know exactly what you mean, Betty. Baking with a little one is not quite the relaxing hobby it was before children – It does get better though! Keep persevering x
I love your cupcakes – they’re cute !!
I’ve made a cake like this and also cupcakes with surprise cookie inside – fun to make 🙂
Thank you for hosting another party and I wish you a wonderful weekend
Those cupcakes are really fun, the star inside is a great idea as well as the hidden cone of marzipan, genius!
Your christmas tree cupcakes are fabulous, especially when the inner star is revealed. They must have taken you ages.
What a great post, I’m definitely going to have to give this a go and I’m sure they’ll last as long as your first batch did. Popping in from Brilliant Blog Posts.
Thanks for this post. Have been looking for some quirky looking cakes to make this Christmas.. I say make…I’ll probably just watch the boyfriend make them while I fetch things for him from the fridge. The owl cake looks pretty cool too!
Love the Christmas tree cupcakes. Great idea to use the marzipan! Loving all the Christmassy bakes and love the new lay out of your blog
mouthwatering!
Wow they are amazing! Please do link up to #tastytuesdays too if you fancy! Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts x
Love those little cupcakes, how cute are they? Am storing up Christmas activities for the kids, perhaps OH can do this one with them 🙂 x x
Lovely cupcakes, nice work!
Well done for decorating that batch before your starving gannets gobbled them all up, they look great 🙂
I liked the owl, good for kids 🙂
thanks for sharing