Ginger kisses

Ginger Kisses

Makes 16

Ingredients

21⁄4 cups self-raising flour

2 tsp ground cinnamon

3 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup lightly-packed brown sugar

4 free-range eggs

1⁄2 cup golden syrup

2 tbsp vanilla essence

Ginger Buttercream

50g crystallised ginger

175g butter

2 cups icing sugar

80ml cream

1 tbsp vanilla paste

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160°C. Grease a 12-hole shallow, rounded cupcake pan, or grease and line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Sift together the flour, spices and baking soda in a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Whisk together the oil, sugar, eggs, golden syrup and vanilla in a jug or bowl, pour into the well, then fold in until well-combined.
3. Cooking kisses in 3 batches, evenly spoon batter into prepared pan holes till holes are half-filled. Alternatively, spoon or pipe batter onto the baking tray, leaving enough room for spreading.
4. Bake for 18 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centres comes out clean.
5. Allow to cool in pan or on tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
6. To make the vanilla buttercream, soak the crystallised ginger in 1⁄4 cup boiling water for 10-20 minutes, then finely chop the flesh, reserving water.
7. Using electric hand beaters or an electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth, pale and fluffy.
8. Gradually add the icing sugar, 1⁄2 cup at a time, beating between additions, then beat in the cream and vanilla paste. Add the ginger with enough of the reserved water to make a creamy mixture, beating until fluffy.
9. Spread buttercream onto one side of half the cooled cakes and sandwich with the remaining cakes. Sprinkle with icing sugar to serve.