COUSCOUS & DATE CUPCAKES

Makes: 18 to 22 cupcakes Oven Temperature: 170 ?C Fan Cooking Time: 18-22 minutes LIST OF INGREDIENTS Couscous Preparation: 100g Cypressa couscous 200ml Hot Water 50ml Hot Milk Date Puree: 150g Dates 150ml Hot Water Cupcakes: 250g Butter at room temperature 200g Caster Sugar 4 medium eggs at room temperature 200g Date Puree from above Soaked Couscous from above 1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract 150g Self Raising Flour Date Frosting: 200g Butter at room temperature 300g icing Sugar Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg 100g Date Puree from above You can find the couscous here METHOD Pre-heat the oven to 170°C. Line 2 cupcake trays with 18 – 22 cupcake cases. For the date puree, soften the dates in hot water and puree to a fine paste. Cool the paste For the couscous, soak the couscous in the hot water and hot milk until all liquid is absorbed. This takes about 10 minutes. Cupcakes: Cream the butter and caster sugar for about 5 to 7 minutes until light and fluffy. Use a hand whisk or blender. Add the eggs one at a time and mix in thoroughly. Add the date puree and mix in. Add the date puree, soaked couscous, cinnamon; nutmeg, and vanilla extract and mix in. Lastly add the flour and mix in gently. Fill each cupcake case ¾ full of the mix and cook in the oven for 18 to 20 minutes. Check the cupcakes are cooked by inserting a clean toothpick into the middle of a cupcake and pull out. If the toothpick comes out clean then the cupcakes are cooked. Remove from the oven and cool down completely. For the frosting cream together all the ingredients using either a hand whisk or blender until light and fluffy. Top each cupcake with some of the frosting, sprinkle with some cinnamon and chopped up dates. Notes: The cupcakes will sink in the middle as they cool. This is normal. There may be some crunch from the couscous if some granules have not fully soaked the liquids. The expected texture is slighter dense. The recipe above can be easily halved.

For more information on COUSCOUS & DATE CUPCAKES talk to Katsouris Brothers Ltd (Cypressa)