Christmas pud cupcakes

Christmas pud cupcakes

Cupcakes are all the rage, and this festive version are super cute and contemporary

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 12

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 15 mins

Freezable

Freezable un-iced

Method

  1. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Place a 12-hole silicone muffin tray on a baking sheet or butter a non-stick 12-hole muffin tin, and stick two criss-crossing strips of baking parchment in each hole.
  2. Melt the chocolate and butter over a low heat. Cool a little, then stir in the soured cream and eggs. Mix the flour, sugar, almonds, cocoa and baking powder in a bowl. Pour in the chocolate and stir until smooth, then stir in the cherries. Spoon into the muffin holes so they are 3⁄4 full, then bake for 20 mins. Cool in the tins. Can now be frozen in plastic bags for 3 months.
  3. To decorate, mix the icing sugar and custard powder with 2 tbsp water to make a thick icing. Remove the muffins from the tins and cool on a rack. Cut off any rounded tops, stand upside-down on the rack, then spoon icing over. Leave to set, then top with bay leaves and cherries. Best eaten on the day.

Per cupcake

413 kcalories, protein 6g, carbohydrate 54g, fat 20 g, saturated fat 10g, fibre 2g, sugar 42g, salt 0.51 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, January 2009.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 13 December 2008

    Blossom rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I made these today, they're gorgeous! Rich, thick and chocolatey, I was looking for something to give to single or elderly relatives instead of a Christmas cake, and these are just the thing! I used dried cranberries instead of cherries, and they're lovely, and very simple to make. Will be doing a second batch tomorrow as I don't think they'll last till Christmas!

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  • 16 December 2008

    Becka_bakes rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    I want to give them 3.5, but you can't do half points. They turned out pretty well, and looked really really cute :) I used dried blueberries instead of cherries as OH doesn't like cherries, and I couldn't find any dinky bay leaves so I made leaves out of marzipan instead. I wasn't so keen on the cake temselves - thought they were a tiny bit dry - but OH & work-mates loved them. (Mind you, I'm not a huge fan of chocolate cakes...!) The icing was lovely, though not quite custardy enough for me so I added about 3tsp of Bird's in the end - very yummy, licked the bowl clean!! ;)

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  • 18 December 2008

    runnyeyes rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Looked good..but also found the cake dry. Nice to have the cherries in the mix. I did add more liquid to the icing than suggested. Overall, the cake mix is not nice enough..so won't make again.

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  • 18 December 2008

    nicbow commented on this recipe

    Just about to make these, but as i don't have sour cherries i will be using natural (rinsed) glace cherries, also going to add some left-over raisins soaked in whiskey (see my comment on pistachio chocolate truffle recipe - i used whiskey instead of rum today and they are gorgeous and boozy!) i hope that this will combat the dryness...we shall see!

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  • 18 December 2008

    EMSTER commented on this recipe

    I have made these cakes twice now. First time was a practice run and I found that the mixture stuck to the baking tin. The cake was also a bit dry. It was far better the second time round when I used silcone baking tin instead, and baked the mixture for a few minutes more. I also used cranberries the second time round. www.meetandtwoveg.blogspot.com

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  • 18 December 2008

    EMSTER commented on this recipe

    I have made these cakes twice now. First time was a practice run and I found that the mixture stuck to the baking tin. The cake was also a bit dry. It was far better the second time round when I used silcone baking tin instead, and baked the mixture for a few minutes more. I also used cranberries the second time round. www.meetandtwoveg@blogspot.com

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  • 18 December 2008

    EMSTER rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I have made these cakes twice now. First time was a practice run and I found that the mixture stuck to the baking tin. The cake was also a bit dry. It was far better the second time round when I used silcone baking tin instead, and baked the mixture for a few minutes more. I also used cranberries the second time round. www.meetandtwoveg.blogspot.com

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  • 21 December 2008

    TashaC rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    I also found the cake a little dry and not quite sweet enough although the kids still enjoyed them - they did look very pretty though.

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  • 06 January 2009

    Morven2 rated and commented on this recipe

    2 stars

    These turned out looking great, however they were awfully dry and were only rescued by having them with custard. I don't think I would try them again.

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  • 26 October 2009

    indiawebb commented on this recipe

    I would suggest 15-20 mins at 150 degrees. 190 is too hot for these tiny cakes, of course they would be dry and more dry in a fan oven. Stick a fork into the cake after 15 if no mixture is on the cake or even if just a tiny bit remove from the oven.

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  • 26 October 2009

    indiawebb commented on this recipe

    sorry I meant if no mixture is on the fork!

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  • 10 November 2009

    Victoria rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    These were a bit dry, I tried these in three different size bun trays. Muffin, bun and mini muffin and the mini muffin looked the best. Will use the idea of chocolate cupcakes as xmas puddings but will try other recipes.

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  • 07 December 2009

    averilbaines commented on this recipe

    Don't have any sour cream, is there something else I can use instead??

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  • 12 December 2009

    hot_pink rated and commented on this recipe

    1 stars

    Lovely idea, just a shame they are so dry! I will try the decorations from this recipe on a different cake.

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  • 12 December 2009

    hot_pink commented on this recipe

    Lovely idea, just a shame they are so dry! I will try the decorations from this recipe on a different cake.

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  • 02 January 2010

    Benny rated this recipe

    2 stars

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  • 24 January 2010

    Charli S rated this recipe

    4 stars

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  • 16 December 2010

    Lingdada rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • 23 March 2011

    squiddlesmummy rated and commented on this recipe

    2 stars

    What a shame these beautiful little puds are very dry.On my second attempt I used the gorgeous topping on little chocolate cakes! yum!

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  • 08 September 2011

    Bill rated this recipe

    1 stars

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 12

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 15 mins

Freezable

Freezable un-iced

Ingredients

  • 50g dark chocolate , in chunks
  • 140g butter , plus extra for greasing
  • 100ml soured cream
  • 3 eggs , lightly beaten
  • 140g self-raising flour
  • 140g caster sugar
  • 100g ground almonds
  • 6 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 85g dried sour cherries , plus a few extra to decorate

To decorate

  • 250g icing sugar , sifted
  • 1 tsp custard powder, sifted
  • 12 small bay leaves
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Per cupcake

413 kcalories, protein 6g, carbohydrate 54g, fat 20 g, saturated fat 10g, fibre 2g, sugar 42g, salt 0.51 g

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