How To: Maltesers Cupcakes

Hey Nibblers!


            I've been wanting to put this recipe up for so long! With university nearing its end, time has just been slipping out of my fingers. Three more weeks and I'll have to start fending for myself in the real world!
            This has been my go-to recipe lately. It's easy and doesn't require any sort piping skill. I'm also loving the feedback that they're receiving from my family and friends. Even Kevin who isn't keen on sweets, gives it the tick of approval. So with the festive season coming up, this just might be the recipe for you.

Maltesers Cupcakes
Yields 12-14 medium cupcakes

What you will need: Cupcake base

- 1 cup or 180g self-raising flour (plain flour will work just add a pinch of salt)
- 2 tsp. of baking powder
- 1/2 cup or 80g of cocoa powder
- 50g butter (softened to room temperature)
- 3/4 cup or 150g of sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup or 250ml of milk
- 3/4 tsp.  of vanilla essence
Maltesers Buttercream:
- 400g Maltesers Chocolate (For decoration/buttercream purposes oh and for snacking in between!)
- 250g of unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
- 100g icing sugar (sifted)
- 2 Tbs. of milk
- 2 tsp. of vanilla essence 

How To: Cupcake Base

Malteser Cupcake base - Surprise crunch!

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celcius or 360 degrees Farenheit (fan-forced preferably)

2. Line tin with cupcake patty pans

3. Sift together flour, baking powder and cocoa in a medium mixing bowl then set aside

4. Beat together the softened butter and white sugar in a large mixing bowl until well combined and fluffy (approx. 3 minutes)
5. Add eggs in one at a time and mix into butter/sugar component 

6. Add vanilla essence to wet ingredients and mix

7. Add 1/2 of the dry ingredients and 1/2 of the milk into the wet mixture and mix

8. Repeat step 7 until all ingredients are all combined

9. Spoon about 3 Tbs. of the cupcake mixture evenly into each of the lined patty pans about 1/2 - 3/4 way up
10. Add  3 x Maltesers into each patty pan 

11. Pop into the oven for about 15-18 minutes checking with a skewer at the end to see if it's cooked (depending on your oven - I checked mine at 15 minutes and they were cooked)

12. Rest the cupcakes for 15-20 minutes before popping the Maltesers cream on

How To: Maltesers Buttercream

Crushed Maltesers 

1. Crush about 200g of the Maltesers Chocolates into chunky pieces then set aside (I used a bowl and pestle but, a food processor or using a knife and cutting the chocolates into rough 1/4 pieces would work)
2. Beat softened butter on high for 5-7 minutes until the yellow butter turns to a creamy - off white colour
3. Add and mix milk and vanilla essence until well combined
4. Add sifted icing sugar and beat for 5 minutes until well incorporated
5. Mix crushed Maltesers into the buttercream
6. Spread the Maltesers cream onto cupcakes (I just used a butter knife and spread about 1-2 Tbs. on each cupcake)
7. Pop 1 x Malteser onto the centre of each cupcake and nibble away!

           Let me know if you give this lovely recipe a go. I'm always on Instagram so if you ever wanted to share a recipe or picture just tag me @nibblejo_x. These cupcakes are great for their simplicity and the crunchy Maltesers cream with the moist chocolate cupcake base is heaven. Hope you enjoyed this post!

Nibble Away,
          Jo

'The Pie Tin' Review

Hey Nibblers!

         Oh, the good humble pie. Shared with great company and there's nothing in the world that you could ever ask for. Tucked away behind the bustle of King St, Newtown is one of the best places I've been. Despite being hidden away, it draws quite the crowd so don't be too hopeful for seating if you're thinking of going during peak hours. Great for a small gathering of 2-4 friends if you're lucky enough to grab a table as you can share the different sides and pies with each other
         'The Pie Tin' offers an amazing selection of sweet and savoury pies that are made fresh in store each day. Service is quick and friendly and side portions are so generous. It's a real bang in your buck.

'The Pie Tin'
Where: 1a Brown St, Newtown, Sydney                                  Website: http://www.thepietin.com.au/

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Pie and drink selections/ prices can be found on their website

Inside 'The Pie Tin'

             I ordered the 'Sicilian style chilli lovers sausage with white bean' with a side of 'Kumera' chips (Sweet Potato Chips). My foodies in crime Thao and Jacky ordered the 'Sweet roasted duck with seasonal vegetables' with a side of 'coleslaw' and 'potato salad' and the 'Slow roasted shredded pork with apple and bbq sauce' with a side of 'chips.' We also ordered the 'Whipped lime pie' and 'Snickers Pie' to share. All up it was $55.60 for the five pies and sides so great value for the gourmet quality.

'Sicilian style chilli lovers sausage with white bean' with a side of 'Kumera' chips (Sweet Potato Chips)

          There's self-serve sauces, napkins, cutlery and water which makes it a relaxed home-like atmosphere. My pie came out piping hot. The pie lid was flaky and had absorbed the spicy tomato based sauce filling. There's so much flavour packed in the filling that I don't think you need any extra accompanying sauces. There were visible sausage pieces in my pie so you can really see the ingredients that are going in. I only had a spoonful of Thao & Jacky's pies but, from their feedback, they definitely enjoyed their experience.

'Sweet roasted duck with seasonal vegetables' with a side of 'coleslaw' and 'potato salad

'Slow roasted shredded pork with apple and BBQ sauce' with a side of 'chips'

         In terms of sides, the 'Kumera' chips were crisp and perfectly seasoned. They fried our batch fresh so it really enhanced our experience. The normal potato fries were equally appetising. Great seasoning and really fluffy inside. If you're a fan of 'Potato' and 'Coleslaw' salads, you'll definitely like the ones at 'The Pie Tin.' Both are packed with flavours and taste extremely fresh.
        By this stage, we were all pretty stuffed but, we still had two dessert pie slices to pig through. The 'Whipped Lime Pie' was light and full of zesty flavour. The fruity flavour was great in countering the intense flavours from the savoury pies. Great for sharing and with a spot of tea because after about 5 spoonfuls, I was sugar overloaded.

'Whipped Lime Pie'

       The 'Snickers' Pie was sensational. Again, I would of loved it with some tea but, the peanut-caramel flavour was on point. Creamy and with peanut chunks in the mix, it's definitely one for the sweet tooth lovers. Melt-in-you-mouth goodness.

'Snickers' Pie

       I loved my experience at 'The Pie Tin' and would gladly go again and introduce it to anyone else. Portions are so generous that next time, sharing one side is enough if you want to do the whole sweet and salty taste test. Leave a comment down below with your favourite pie place or what your favourite pie filling is!

Nibble Away,

          Jo