Saturday, December 13, 2014

12 Days Of Christmas Blogging Challenge Day #1 - My North Pole Cupcakes ♥

 I am taking part in the Blogging 12 Days Of Christmas Challenge which I posted about yesterday. The theme of today is a Christmas recipe so I decided to make and share my 'North Pole' cupcakes. Now don't ask why they're called 'North Pole' cupcakes because I really don't know why! I just made theme in a snow and candy cane theme and the North Pole just sprung to mind so that's simply how they got their name! These cupcakes are super simple to make - just like everything I make because anything complicated I know I will get wrong! These cupcakes have a chocolate sponge topped with creamy vanilla icing, a good sprinkling of coconut flakes and decorations of silver balls, chocolate drops, candy canes, white fondant icing and blue glitter to make the various designs.

Ingredients:
50g butter
115g soft dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
115g plain white flour
1/2tsp bicarbonate of soda
25g cocoa powder
125ml soured cream
Chocolate chips
Betty Crocker Vanilla Icing
Coconut flakes
Silver ball sprinkles
Ready to roll fondant icing
Blue glitter icing tube
Chocolate drops
Candy canes

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line a cupcake tin with cupcake cases.
2. Place the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, bicarbonate of soda and cocoa powder in a large bowl and beat together until smooth. Fold in the soured cream and chocolate chips and mix well. Spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases.
3. Bake for 20 minutes or until a knife comes out clear when inserted into the middle of the cupcakes.
4. Take out of oven and leave to cool completely on a wire rack. I cover my cupcakes with a tea towel to keep in the moisture.
5. When cool apply icing of you choice. I used Betty Crockers Vanilla Icing as I was short on time and I really love the taste of this particular icing.
6. Cover the vanilla icing with a generous sprinkling of coconut flakes.
7. Decorate with silver balls and other decorations of your choice. I chose to do snowmen made of chocolate drops and leftover orange sprinkles from Halloween. I rolled out my fondant icing and used a snowflake shaped cookie cutter to make the snowflake shape. I decorated some with silver balls, some with blue glitter icing and some with both - every snowflake is different, right? I also made some with tiny marshmallows, silver balls and a candy cane.
8. Serve and enjoy your North Pole cupcakes!
These delicious North Pole cupcakes are simple, easy to make and so tasty for a real Christmas treat! If you have little ones you can let them join in on the decorating and you can be as creative as you like.These are lovely for Christmas parties or family get-togethers or a something sweet if you just want to show someone you care whilst you're doing your Christmas visiting. I shall be dropping some of these out to my parents house for them to enjoy too.

Do you like the look of my North Pole cupcakes? What is your favourite Christmas recipe?

Share:

66 comments

  1. Love it! Especially the snow flake cupcakes!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Willette, the snowflakes were my favourite too.

      Delete
  2. I'm gonna give these babies a try for sure, you did such a great job, they're gorgeous and look so DELISH!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Dana, definitely give them a go!

      Delete
  3. Those cupcakes look 'to die for'. The snowflake design sure is pretty, definitely not too pretty to eat though ;) My favourite treat at Christmas are these soft gingerbread men my Mom's friend always makes, the icing, the gingerbread - mmm it's so freakin' amazing. I hope she knows I'm coming home for Christmas this year hahahaha...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Nancy. Definitely not too pretty to eat ;)

      Delete
  4. Love your cupcakes! We just made some yesterday with mini canes for the school fair, they were so tasty. Now seeing yours, I want one myself! Merry Christmas!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sara-Jayne! Merry Christmas to you and yours too.

      Delete
  5. You should go into business. You have an amazing talent, you know.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha if only Robin! I don't think I'm that good, I just do it for fun. Thank you.

      Delete
  6. These are beautiful! I can make things taste good, but rarely look good, hahah. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Natalie. I think the taste is always more important than the presentation.

      Delete
  7. it looks wonderful must taste good!! maybe try adding peppermint flavor to make it more north pole theme?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! The candy cane decorations are peppermint flavour so that adds even more North Pole goodness :)

      Delete
  8. Those are SO cute! I love the snowflakes!

    ReplyDelete
  9. If only I could make cupcakes look like that. Those are totally amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. These are so cute (: I'd love to make them for my family, but I'd have to exclude the coconut! For some reason they all hate it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Rachel. The coconut is just to give an illusion of snow, you could use grated white chocolate or marshmallows to give the same effect.

      Delete
  11. The snowman one is cute! Baking them in the teacups was cute too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Tonya. I think the snowmen ones look rather scary! :)

      Delete
  12. Those are so cool! If I send you a letter like Santa, can I get a dozen? ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ben and yeah, sure thing! Haha :)

      Delete
    2. Dear, Santa. I have been a relatively good boy this year. Please send me cupcakes! Nomnomnom.

      Delete
  13. I like the sound of North Pole Cupcakes :)
    I think you did an awesome job here. The cupcake with the snow flake is my favorite. I know it's yummy and at the same time, it's really love to look at. Good job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Russ. The snowflake ones seem to be everyone's favourite :)

      Delete
  14. These cupcakes look really good. I really like the snowflakes they are pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  15. yummyyy nom nom recipe thanks a lot for sharing <3 Merry Christmas <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Afsana. Merry Christmas to you and yours too.

      Delete
  16. I usually don't like the taste of cupcakes, but I want to make these just to be able to look at them. So cute. Have a lovely Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Vanessa. I hope you had a great weekend!

      Delete
  17. I am not a fan of cupcakes but these just looks adorable it makes me want to grab a bite !

    ReplyDelete
  18. Fiona these are great and they look delicious, I think you should make me some and send them to Cambridge lol. I love the icing decorations you have made they are so cute and absolutely gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Myrabev! Haha I would definitely send you some if they'd survive the post, although An Post and Royal Mail don't seem to be too careful with my post so maybe best not to risk it ;)

      Delete
  19. YAY! The TEACUPCAKE HOLDERS! I love mine!!! These cupcakes look so adorable and festive. I love how snowy and sweet everything is. Definitely getting me even more into the holiday spirit!! ^_^

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes I just had to dig them out again! Thank you Amby! :) x

      Delete
  20. These are gorgeous! I love how simple and lovely they are!

    ReplyDelete
  21. These almost look too cute to eat! You did an amazing job, I love each design! :D

    ReplyDelete
  22. Adorable cupcakes! I would love to do something like for Christmas Day!

    ReplyDelete
  23. It looks like you had a fun time with your cupcakes, I bet those that recieved them had a smile on their face. This post reminds me that I need to make a batch of sugar cookies so the kids can decorate we do this every year, and time is flying by

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Maria! Yes they were smiling for sure :)

      Delete
  24. These look delicious. I think you did a great job on your cupcakes and definitely bet they are tasty. I think the candy cane one looks the best. Thanks for sharing your recipe! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, I like the candy cane one best too :)

      Delete
  25. Those are some of the cutest cupcakes I've ever seen! I really enjoy cooking too, but I'm not a very good baker at all. The most I can do is make muffins, but my dream is to learn how to make perfect macarons.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Anastasia. I'm not a very good baker either, I just like giving it a go :)

      Delete
  26. These cupcakes came out so great! I especially love the snowflake ones. I hope I carve out some time to make some christmas goodies this year. :) was hoping to spread some christmas cheer. Haha I rhymed. Thanks for sharing your recipe. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Esther! Have fun making your Christmas goodies. Thanks for the rhyming comment! :D

      Delete
  27. CA ute! I really love those little snowmen!

    ReplyDelete
  28. It has been awhile since I've made cupcakes. These cupcakes that you made are utterly cute!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks so much Freya! I'm glad you're getting the North Pole vibe too :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Those are so pretty! You did a great job on them. Thanks for the recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  31. What pretty cupcakes! Love the one with the snowflake! :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. You've just made me extremely hungry...I'm a huge fan of cupcakes. I absolutely love the cupcake decorated with marshmallows on top. The chocolate chip snowman face is also very cute. I am definitely looking forward to seeing more of your sweet creations! I also think the name North Pole Cupcakes is very cute..

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow, these are such beauties! Amazing truly!

    ReplyDelete
  34. The snowman face is too cute. You do a great job frosting! I always make them too messy.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Omg why did I have to read this while hungry?!? All.these deserts look absolutely amazing!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Those are all so pretty, yes food being pretty! I love the teacup dessert!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for reading my blog and taking the time to comment. I appreciate all your comments and try to reply whenever I can.

© Dolly Dowsie | All rights reserved.
Blog Layout Created by pipdig