Spice Cupcakes with Dates
Country Woman
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You'll think these old-fashioned treats from Mavis Diment came fresh from Grandma's oven. “My Scottish genes inspired me to add oatmeal to the moist, tender cupcakes,” she notes from Marcus, Iowa.
SERVINGS: 16
CATEGORY: Dessert
METHOD: Baked
TIME: Prep: 25 min. Bake: 15 min. + cooling
Ingredients:
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup finely chopped dates
- 1 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts
- Caramel Frosting (recipe also in Recipe Finder) or frosting of your choice
Directions:
In a bowl, combine the oats and dates. Pour water over and let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, beat shortening and sugars until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add oat mixture and vanilla; beat on low speed until blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg; stir into sugar mixture until blended. Stir in nuts.
Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 375° for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Frost cupcakes. Yield: 16 cupcakes.