Magical Sugar Plum Fairy Cakes

In the United Kingdom, cupcakes are sometimes called fairy cakes.  Never has that name been more fitting than when used for my sugar plum fairy cakes!  I spun dried fruits, walnuts, honey, orange juice, and seasonal spices together in my sugar plum fairy cakes, creating a magical taste spectacle. While similar in flavor to my sugar plum recipe, these sugar plum fairy cakes are dainty, light, and majestic. Coriander orange buttercream and a sprinkle of fairy dust (edible glitter) add the finishing touches. 


Sugar Plum Fairy Cake Recipe

Yield: 22 fairy cakes

Cake Ingredients:

• 1 cup honey
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1/4 cup walnut oil or other vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup orange juice
• 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped and toasted
• 1/4 cup prunes, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup dried apricots, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup dates, finely chopped

Frosting Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground coriander
• 1/4 cup pulp-free orange juice
• Plum disco dust (I got mine from Layer Cake Shop)

Cake Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In a medium sized mixing bowl, mix honey and butter for about two minutes on medium speed until fully combined.
3. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and coriander and mix until just combined.
4. Mix in eggs, one at a time.
5. Mix in oil.
6. Mix in orange juice.
7. Fold in nuts, prunes, apricots, and dates.
8. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full.
9. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out dry.

Frosting Directions:

1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix butter on high speed for three minutes until light and fluffy.
2. Mix in powdered sugar a little bit at a time.
3. Mix in coriander and orange juice.
4. Pipe on cooled cupcakes.
5. Sprinkle with disco dust.

What Do You Call Cupcakes?

We've been talking on the Cupcake Project Facebook page about names for cupcakes.  Helen Duckworth shared more detail about cupcakes vs. fairy cakes.  She says:

In England we called them fairy cakes because they were small... you know, for fairies! But now we use both words, fairy cakes for little cupcakes and cupcakes for well... cupcakes! Not many young English kids call them fairy cakes anymore though! I remember the first time I made them with my mum and they were my favourite thing to make!

Do you live in England?  Do you use both terms, one, or the other?  Join the discussion on Facebook!
 
CAKEfyi

Molly from CAKEfyi is hosting a holiday treat party which will be including this, lots of other fun recipes, and a giveaway.  I encourage you to head over there for more holiday inspiration!