Advent day 5: Gingerbread cupcakes and Salted caramel frosting

Ingredients

• 140g/5oz unsalted butter
• 200g/7oz sugar
• 60g/2¼oz treacle
• 60g/2¼oz golden syrup
• 2 eggs, plus 2 extra yolks
• 300g/10½oz plain flour
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 240ml/8½fl oz warm milk
  
  For the icing

• 125g/4½oz white sugar
• 80ml/2½fl oz double cream
• ½ tsp salt(or to taste)
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 160g/5¾oz soft butter
• 200g/7oz icing sugar

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Line two 12-hole muffin tray with 15 paper cases.
2. Beat the butter and sugar together in a bowl until light and creamy. Beat in the treacle, syrup, eggs and egg yolks until well combined.
3. Sift together the flour, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder and salt. Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, then beat in half of the warm milk. Add the remaining flour mixture and the remaining milk and beat until well combined.
4. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until well risen and lightly firm to the touch. Remove the cakes from the tin and set aside to cool on a cooling rack.
5. For the salted caramel buttercream, heat the caster sugar and four tablespoons of water in a saucepan over a gentle heat until the sugar has dissolved, then increase the heat and cook the caramel for 2-3 minutes, or until golden and slightly thickened. Remove the pan from the heat immediately and stir in the cream. (CAUTION: the caramel may splutter a little when you add the cream.) Stir in the salt and vanilla and set aside to cool completely.
6. Cream the butter and icing sugar together for at least 4- 5 minutes, then beat in the caramel. When combined pipe or spread the icing over the cup cakes and sprinkle with a little extra sea salt.
7. Decorate the cupcakes with the buttercream.