Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Preparation time: 45 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Makes: 18

Ingredients:
Cupcakes:
125g butter, diced and softened
3⁄4 cup caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 extra large eggs
2 cups plain flour
2 tsp McKenzie's Baking Powder
2⁄3 cup milk
50g milk chocolate, roughly chopped
50g white chocolate, roughly chopped

Frosting:
250g cream cheese, diced and softened
80g butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
450g icing sugar mixture, sifted
McKenzie's Fine Desiccated Coconut, for sprinkling

Christmas Trees:
8-10 wooden icypole sticks

400g white chocolate melts
Green food colouring, for chocolate
Red sprinkles, for decorating

Method
1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line 18 x 1⁄3 cup capacity patty pans with paper cases
2. For the cupcakes, place butter, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until pale and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until well incorporated.
3. Fold in the flour, baking powder and milk, alternately until batter is smooth. Mix through the chocolate chunks. Spoon between paper cases and bake for 18-20 minutes. Allow to cool.
4. For the frosting, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until well combined. Add icing sugar, mixing until smooth. Spread over the top of cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with coconut. Refrigerate until required.
5. For Christmas trees, line icypole sticks up on a baking paper lined oven tray or benchtop. Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Mix until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in food colouring, mixing until you have the correct colour. Working quickly, pour chocolate into a piping bag with a narrow slit nozzle. Pipe chocolate over icypole sticks in the shape of a Christmas tree. Sprinkle with coconut and red sprinkles. Allow chocolate to set before pressing into the top of half the cupcakes.

Notes: Melt half the chocolate at a time so it doesn't set before you pipe it all out.