Christmas Muffin Recipe: A Sweet Treat for the Holidays

Christmas is the perfect time to indulge in delicious baked goods, and festive muffins are a wonderful way to bring seasonal flavours to your table. These Christmas muffins are packed with warming spices, dried fruits, and a hint of citrus, making them ideal for breakfast, dessert, or a cosy afternoon treat. Here’s an easy-to-follow recipe that will fill your home with the irresistible aroma of Christmas.

Ingredients

This recipe makes 12 muffins:

• 250g plain flour
• 150g caster sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 100g dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, or mixed peel)
• Zest of 1 orange
• 2 large eggs
• 125ml milk
• 125ml vegetable oil or melted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Optional: Icing sugar and festive sprinkles for decoration

Method

1. Preheat the Oven
   Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) or gas mark 4. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper cases.

2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
   In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Stir in the dried fruits and orange zest.

3. Combine the Wet Ingredients
   In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla extract.

4. Mix the Batter
   Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; the batter should be slightly lumpy.

5. Fill the Cases
   Spoon the batter evenly into the muffin cases, filling each about two-thirds full.

6. Bake
   Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of a muffin comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.

7. Decorate (Optional)
   Dust with icing sugar for a snowy effect or add festive sprinkles for a cheerful touch.

Key Takeaways:

• These Christmas muffins are flavoured with warming spices, dried fruits, and citrus zest for a festive twist.
• They’re easy to make and perfect for sharing during the holiday season.
• Customise your muffins with decorations like icing sugar or sprinkles for extra festive flair.

Enjoy these delightful Christmas muffins with a cup of tea or hot chocolate, and share the joy of homemade baking with your loved ones this holiday season!