Bonfire Cupcakes

I love this time of year. The cosy jumpers come out of the wardrobe, candles get lit, leaves turn golden and begin to fall. Autumn wouldn't be complete without a firework display... or two! This year I went to my local cricket club on Halloween and my friend Campbell's last night to see wonderful displays of fireworks. I took these cupcakes along to share with everyone as we ooo-ed and ahh-ed.

Ingredients for the cakes

150g butter

150g dark muscovado sugar

150g golden syrup

150g black treacle

150ml whole milk

3 eggs

3 tsp ground ginger

3 tsp ground mixed spice

150g self raising flour

For the ganache

150g dark chocolate

1 1/2 tbsp golden syrup

1/2 tbsp vanilla extract

150ml double cream

For the bonfire decorations

12 marshmallows
75g Mikado
130g orange Matchmakers
50g pretzel sticks

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 170. Put the butter, sugar, golden syrup and treacle into a saucepan. Stir over a medium heat until the butter has melted and sugar has dissolved. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and leave to cool.
2. Line a muffin tray with 12 cases. Measure the milk in a jug, add the eggs and beat together. Pour the milk and egg mixture into the warm syrup mixture and beat to combine. Add the spices and flour and mix until you have a very wet, smooth batter.
3. Pour into a large jug and then into the cases. Bake for 25 minutes until the cakes have risen and a skewer comes out clean. Leave the cakes to cool in the tin for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack.
4. To make the ganache, put the chocolate into a medium sized bowl with the golden syrup and vanilla. Gently heat the cream in a small saucepan over a medium heat. When the cream has just come to the boil, pour it over the chocolate and stir gently until melted, smooth and shiny. Leave to cool, until it has a soft spreading consistency.
5. Spread the surface of the cupcakes with half of the ganache mixture. Press a marshmallow, wide base down, into the ganache on top of each cake. Cover the marshallow sides and top with the remaining ganache. Break the chocolate sticks and pretzels into pieces and press them into the ganache topped cakes to create a bonfire, around the marshmallow centre.

The original recipe from Frances Quinn's book has caramel flames sticking out the top of the cakes. However, my attempt was unsuccessful so I stuck matches and candles in the top of my cakes, so we had real flames, rather than edible ones! X Bo