A piece of cake

This is for those of you that missed Stir-up Sunday and didn´t get to make the wish.Don´t worry, all is not lost and you still shall have Christmas cake and go to the ball.Going all-out is going to be a piece of cake this festive season.If you have not made the cake yet and you don´t want a huge cake to the tune of Martha Stewart catering proportions then here is your solution...... individual Christmas cakes in bite size portions, into the oven and out of the oven in a matter of minutes.The downside of this particular recipe is that the prep work is more labour intensive due to the fact that it is necessary to chop all the ingredients smaller in order to get a happy balance of all the ingredients in each little cake.Here is your last call to stir it, and make little muffin type Christmas cakes.

Christmas cake muffins
230g Muscatel raisins
125g sultanas, halved
230g currants
170g glacé cherries, chopped
110g  dried apricots,chopped
110g stoned dried prunes,chopped
125g candied mixed peel,chopped
170g blanched almonds, chopped
160g chopped dates
11/3 cups (101/2 fl oz) brandy
325g (111/2 oz) unsalted butter
11/4  cups brown sugar 
4 eggs
21/4 cups plain( all purpose) flour 
1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda ( baking powder)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 cup (2fl oz) brandy,extra 
Place all the dried fruits and brandy in a saucepan over a low heat.Cook stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes or until all the brandy has been absorbed.Set aside to cool.
Pre-heat the oven to 140C(280F).Place the butter and sugar in a bowl of an electric mixer and beat until light and creamy.Add the eggs gradually and beat well.Place the butter mixture,fruit mixture,flour, bicarbonate of soda,cinnamon and allspice in a large mixing bowl and mix well to combine.Spoon the mixture into 12 x 1 cup (8fl oz) capacity greased muffin tins.Do not overfill the muffin tins.Bake for 35 minutes or until firm to the touch.Remove from the oven, pour over the extra brandy and cool completely in the tins.
When the cakes are cool you can apply marzipan followed by icing or you could just ice star shapes or the like onto the tops.Whatever you decide, have fun and enjoy the preparations for the festive fun to come.   
Makes 12.