Quality Street are synonymous with Christmas and I know in our house the fight was always over two sweets. The green triangle (mums favourite) and the purple one (my favourite) - we used to watch other family members like hawks making sure they didn't take our favourite. Hardly the festive spirit I know but I'm sure most families are the same.
The cake is Mary Berry's Devils Food Cake in cupcake form, which I've made several times before and is one of the easiest and tastiest chocolate cakes I've found to make.
I then took a chunk out of the cooled cupcakes with my trusty apple corer, and filled it with dulce de leche and a roasted hazelnut. I nearly set fire to the house making the dulce de leche as I forgot about the tin and it very nearly boiled dry. I'm doubtful my lovely Lakeland milk pan will never recover but it tastes divine so was (kinda) worth it.
Now I could've taken the obvious route and just covered them in lashings of gorgeous caramel frosting, but I wanted to make the frosting something festive also. And what is more festive than my favourite Winter tipple, Baileys! So the frosting is basically butter, icing sugar and lashings, and lashings of Baileys. I have a feeling one of these cupcakes will put you over the limit for driving so if you're coming to Cupcake Club be warned!
Also I only got 7 purple ones in a whole tin of Quality Street so if you want one topped with a sweetie you'd better be quick. If not you'll have to make do with a glitter one!
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| Topped with some festive glitter |
My second cupcake for the evening is my winning cupcake from Cupcake Camp in October - the sprout cupcake.
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| Fresh out of the oven |
I slightly altered the recipe from last time, adding more cinnamon, a bit less raisins and more coconut and walnuts as I prefer those. If anyone wants the recipe I shall post it up.
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| The cupcake that is one of your five a day |
I then topped it with a cream cheese and cinnamon frosting and a sprout for decoration. Don't worry it was just for the photos - I wont force anyone to eat a raw sprout. Nor will I force anyone to eat the sprout cupcake. I'm only bringing 4-6 along with me, solely for those who want to try it!
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| The sprout cake in all its naked glory |
I can't wait to try both of these!
ReplyDeleteThe quality street ritual was the same in our household too, and there was always the person who put the empty wrappers back in the tin too!
ReplyDeleteI'm so very intrigued by the brussel sprout cupcakes! When you post up the recipe I might have to give them a go for a bit of fun :D
Oooh - I always liked the strawberry centered Quality Street.
ReplyDeleteYour cupcakes look gorgeous. I really like the glitzy photos takes on top of the tin lid :-)
If it helps - you can buy the Nestle Dulche De Leche in most large supermarkets. It's usually same price as the stuff in a can too. If you want to spend a little bit more, you can also get it in a big squeezy bottle.
I've got a giant cupcake cooking at the moment...The only downside with those is that they take forever to cook !
Kelly - glad to hear you're looking forward to them! I can't wait to try yours!
ReplyDeleteAbbie - I thought it was the same all over the Country. Always had someone put the wrappers back too..grrrr
I shall put the recipe up this week. Not too much work to make them and they get people talking :)
Sarah-Jane - the strawberry one is another of my mums favourites.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to try and do it myself this time, I usually use the Bonne Maman stuff which is lovely though!
Oh I still have to use my giant cupcake mold - must give it a go soon
I love the purple one too but my all time favourite is the hazelnut whirl from the Roses selection
ReplyDeleteI'm really gutted I won't be there to try them! Purple and green are my favourites from quality street. Ive just made a giant chocolate and caramel cupcake. You should definitely give your mould a try - maybe for christmas?
ReplyDeleteThere aren't any words to say how nice those festive cupcakes are :) I shall be first in line to try a sprout one tonight!
ReplyDeleteI hope you use that mold and make a giant cupcake soon - I bet I could eat it all ;)
I'm not actually a fan of the purple quality streets in real life...I don't like nuts but your cupcakes look amazing! I would totally eat one of those, the frosting looks so rich and creamy! and the filling looks yummy! Am sure they went down well!
ReplyDelete@The Caked Crusader - oh I LOVE the hazelnut whirl!!
ReplyDelete@Baking Addict - I love the green one also - a friend asked me to make her a cupcake based on the green one so will see what I can do! I saw your fabulous giant cupcake - looked lovely
@Manny - glad you enjoyed the cakes. And I KNOW you could eat a whole giant one ;)
@Gem - thank you! The frosting - I think I put too much booze in, it was lovely and smooth on the Sunday night, then Monday it felt a bit grainy but still tasty, if a little too alcoholic, think I'd use less next time