Sticky Date Cupcakes Recipe

Ingredients :

Preparation & cook time : 50 minutes

Makes 12

• 1 cup (140g) seeded dried dates

• ¾ cup (180ml) boiling water

• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

• 125g dairy-free spread

• ¾ cup (165g) firmly packed brown sugar

• 4 eggs

• 2 cups (240g) almond meal

• ½ cup (40g) desiccated coconut

• ½ cup (90g) rice flour
  
  orange caramel sauce :

• 50g dairy-free spread

• ½ cup (110g) firmly packed brown sugar

• ¹/₃ cup (80ml) orange juice

Method :

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Grease two six-hole (¾-cup/180ml) texas muffin pans; line base of each pan hole with baking paper.

2. Combine dates, the water and soda in bowl of food processor. Place lid in position; stand 5 minutes then process until almost smooth.

3. Meanwhile, beat spread and sugar in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time (mixture will curdle). Transfer to large bowl; stir in almond meal, coconut and sifted flour, then date mixture. Divide mixture among pan holes.

4. Bake cakes about 25 minutes. Stand cakes in pan 5 minutes before serving.

5. Meanwhile, make orange caramel sauce. To make orange caramel sauce, melt spread in small frying pan. Add sugar; stir over heat until dissolved. Add juice; cook, stirring, until sauce thickens slightly.

6. Pour hot orange caramel sauce over warm cakes; serve immediately.

Baking Tips Baking Tip : You can substitute the almond meal for hazelnut or pecan meal, if you prefer. Storage : The orange caramel sauce is best served immediately once prepared because it will separate on standing. The cupcakes are best eaten warm, with the syrup, on the day they are made.

Food Facts & Glossary of Baking Ingredients dates are fruit of the date palm tree. About 4-6cm in length, oval and plump; are honey-sweet with a sticky texture. bicarbonate of soda is also called baking or carb soda. dairy-free spread (dairy-free margarine) is a commercially produced margarine, free of dairy products. brown sugar is soft, finely granulated sugar retaining molasses for color and flavor. almond meal also known as ground almonds; powdered to a flour-like texture and used in baking or as a thickening agent. desiccated coconut is concentrated, dried, unsweetened and finely shredded coconut flesh. rice flour is a fine, almost powdery, gluten-free flour; made from ground white rice.

√  gluten-free    √  wheat-free    √  yeast-free    √  dairy-free