Ingredients

120 g dates, seeded, coarsely chopped

60 ml water

¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda

220 g wheat flour

160 g wholemeal flour

40 g baking powder

½ tsp sea salt

½ cup Muscovado sugar

1 tsp mixed spice (cinnamon, anise, coriander, nutmeg, cloves)

1 egg, beaten lightly

250 ml buttermilk

120 ml sunflower oil

Cinnamon frosting

90 g packaged cream cheese

90 g butter

1 cup icing sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preparation

  1. Combine dates and the water in small saucepan, bring to a boil. Remove from heat.
  2. Add soda, stir, let it stand for 5 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile combine dry ingredients, then stir in date mixture and remaining ingredients (egg, buttermilk and sunflower oil).
  4. Grease 12-hole muffin pan and spoon mixture into the prepared pan. Bake in an oven at 190°C about 20 minutes.
  5. Spread top of cold muffins with cinnamon frosting.

Cinnamon frosting: beat cheese and butter in small bowl with electric mixer until as white as possible. Gradually beat in combined icing sugar and cinnamon.