Cupcakes

• Start off my infusing your milk with cinnamon, cloves, star anise, peppercorns, cardamom pods, fennel seeds and ginger slices. Place the milk in a medium sized saucepan and add the spices, then bring to a boil on a low heat. Once the milk begins to froth up and boil take it off the stove immediately and set it aside to infuse for 10 min, then strain using a strainer and let it cool down (warm is ok) while you prepare the batter.
• Preheat your oven to 180C (356F) or 160C (320F) for a fan forced oven
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the dry ingredients. Turn mixer on low and allow it to mix for a couple minutes. Add the softened butter and let it mix until it resembles a fine sand like texture.
• Next combine all milk, eggs, yogurt, oil and vanilla extract in a large jug and whisk well.
• Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients in a slow and steady stream until no dry ingredients are visible. Scrape down the bowl and mix for another 20 seconds.
• Fill each paper 3/4 of the way (using an ice cream scoop to transfer the batter into the cupcake liners makes this a quick and easy process otherwise you can use two tablespoons). Bake for 20-25 min or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow them to cool completely on a cooling rack before frosting.
• While your cupcakes are baking, and cooling prepare your frosting by adding cinnamon to it and mixing it in well until it’s flavoured evenly. Finish off with a sprinkle of white chocolate flakes