Easy Cupcakes, with a Greek touch!!

I love cupcakes because they give you the possibility to decorate each and every one of them in a different, unique, way. I always decorate them with the help of my kids, and I have to admit that most of the time they are more creative than I am :-)

A few days ago I decided to try a basic orange cake recipe, but with a variation. I wanted to add in the cake mixture a Greek touch. Masticha was the 1st thing that came to my mind. I searched through my cupboards and I found a small wooden box I bought from Crete last April, while we were there for a wedding. In the box I found mastic!!! The magic ingredient as I call it. But that was not enough for my cupcakes so, I opened the fridge and there was a bottle of mastic liqueur.

The next thought was olive oil. So I thought I will replace butter with olive oil, and there was my Greek Cup Cakes recipe!!

(At the end of this post I will link my recipe to Kopiaste.org where you can find details about Greek Masticha.) 

The Recipe for eighteen cupcakes goes as follows:

Ingredients
130gr orange puree
100gr Greek extra virgin olive oil
100gr caster sugar
100gr light brown sugar
250gr all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
3 large eggs
20gr of masticha liqueur
5gr of mastic powder

Preparation Method
1) Preheat the oven to 170ºC (340ºF).

2) Mix orange puree* and olive oil.

3) Whisk eggs and sugars until light and fluffy.

4) With a wooden spoon combine (1) and (2) above.

5) Sift flour, baking powder, and mastic powder together; add it to the orange mixture and stir until just combined. Do not over-mix.

6) Fill the cupcake pan with the mixture (1/2 each)

7) Bake for about 25 – 30 minutes.

* Boil the orange in a casserole full of water for 1 hour; remove orange seeds and mash.

                         

You can decorate them in any way you like. The ones I have here were decorated with Swiss meringue buttercream, with a touch of red food color. My kids are responsible for the rest!!!

Details about Greek Mastic can be found in Kopiaste.