Festive cupcakes

Nothing says party like an enticing cupcake. This easy Christmas-themed recipe is sure to delight all your guests.

Ingredients

Makes 12 cupcakes

• 1 ½ cups flour

• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup icing sugar

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided

• 2 eggs, at room temperature

• ¾ cup milk

• 2 tablespoons white sugar

• 2 cups 35% heavy whipping cream

• 1 cup fresh cranberries

• A few sprigs of fresh rosemary

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

2. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

3. In another bowl, cream the butter and icing sugar together with an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy (about two to three minutes). Add the vanilla. Incorporate the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

4. Gradually add the dry ingredients and milk to the wet mixture, alternating between the two.

5. Pour the mixture into the 12 prepared muffin cups.

6. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of a muffin comes out clean. Let cool completely before decorating.

7. Meanwhile, pour the white sugar into the cream and beat with an electric hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Top the cupcakes with whipped cream, cranberries and rosemary, arranging the rosemary to resemble holly.