Christmas Morning Jewelled Muffin Mix in a Jar

Delightful festive spiced muffins, studded with jewel coloured fruit and nuts - just the thing for Christmas morning! I love all types of "mixes" in a jar! Soups, biscuits, spices, cookies and cake mixes etc! However, this muffin mix is my favourite - it makes a wonderful gift, or I make it for us, as it looks so pretty & festive sitting in the kitchen waiting to be baked! Try to use really colourful dried fruits with a good mix of tastes and textures. For those of you who cannot source Mixed Spice, an essential ingredient, I have a recipe posted on Zaar: Mixed Spice - Traditional Old Fashioned English Pudding Spice. This muffin mix is always popular as a gift, and I do try to find unusual shaped jars and hand-made paper or card for the baking instructions. A wooden spoon tied around the neck of the jar is another winning idea - and don't forget the Holly sprig!

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 12 Muffins

Ingredients

• 300  g self-raising flour
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 2  teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2  teaspoons ground mixed spice
• 100  g pecans
• 150  g  dried fruit, medley (cranberries, cherries, sultanas, raisins, currants, glace ginger, mixed citrus peel, blueberries)
• 100  g light brown sugar

• TO ADD LATER

• 2  eggs, beaten
• 300  ml milk
• 100  g  melted butter

Directions

1. Layer all the ingredients in a 1 litre/2 pint glass preserving jar in the order the ingredients are listed.
2. Write the following method on a gift label:
3. 'Tip the contents of the jar into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and add 2 beaten eggs, 300ml/1/2 pt milk and 100g/4oz melted butter. Mix quickly and lightly to a soft batter. Divide between 12 muffin cases. Bake at 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 for 18-20 minutes Use within 4 weeks.'.
4. Attach the label and a wooden spoon to the top of the jar with some raffia or coloured ribbon and a sprig of holly or seasonal herbs. (I like to use Bay leaves!).
5. Look out for attractive clear jars - either glass or plastic - to show off the layers of the muffin mix - I like to use Kilner Jars.