Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Mini Cakes

Ingredients

• [Cakes] 170 g all-purpose flour
• [Cakes] 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• [Cakes] 1/4 teaspoon salt
• [Cakes] 115 g unsalted butter, softened
• [Cakes] 150 g granulated sugar
• [Cakes] 2 large eggs
• [Cakes] 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• [Cakes] 120 ml milk
• [Cakes] 90 g mini chocolate chips
• [Buttercream] 170 g unsalted butter, softened
• [Buttercream] 360 g powdered sugar
• [Buttercream] 2–3 tablespoons milk
• [Buttercream] 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• [Royal icing] 120 g powdered sugar
• [Royal icing] 1–2 tablespoons water
• White, blue and green food coloring, optional
• Prepared modeling chocolate or fondant for snowmen and polar bears
• Edible sprinkles or sanding sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-hole muffin pan.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla.
5. Add the flour mixture in alternating additions with the milk.
6. Fold in the mini chocolate chips.
7. Divide the batter between the cases and bake for 18–20 minutes.
8. Cool completely before decorating.
9. For the buttercream, beat the butter until creamy.
10. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk to make a pipeable frosting.
11. For the royal icing, mix the powdered sugar with enough water to make a thick but flowing icing.
12. Pipe buttercream fir trees, snowdrifts and flowers onto the cakes.
13. Shape small snowmen and polar-bear faces from modeling chocolate or fondant.
14. Add royal-icing snow and finish with edible sprinkles.