Jelly cake!

I've been on a bit of a baking kick recently. I discovered that you can make cake flavoured with jelly (all right, Jell-o if you Americans insist) crystals, which works out rather well. I usually have loads of packets of sugar-free jelly in the cupboard because it's an easy low-cal dessert.

Choir people especially have been begging me for recipes, so I thought I'd start with the jelly one I eventually settled on. It's a simple basic cake mix, it makes 12 buns/small cupcakes. And it's in ounces - I always make cake in imperial measures because it's easier to remember that way, plus it's the way my mother taught me, and her grandmother taught her. Convert it yourself if you need/want to.

4oz granulated white sugar
4oz soft margarine
2 packets of jelly crystals (enough to make 2 pints of jelly)
2 eggs (medium or large)
4oz self-raising flour, sifted
A little milk or fruit juice

1) Cream together the sugar, margarine and jelly crystals with a wooden spoon. Keep going until the mixture is slightly paler, and feels less gritty.

2) Beat in one egg. Keep beating until the mixture is almost as thick as before you added the egg. That might sound a bit odd, but it makes sense when you're doing it. The more air you get into the mixture, the more your cakes will rise and the lighter they'll be. Repeat with the other egg.

3) Sift in the flour, and switch to a metal spoon. Gently fold the flour into the mixture, using the side of the spoon rather than the front or back. I use a figure-of-eight motion. Take your time, if you're rough now you'll lose all the air you beat into it in. Once it's nearly mixed in you'll probably need to add a little liquid - maybe a couple of teaspoons - to get it to a "dropping" consistency, that is it should drop off the spoon with just a little encouragement.

4) Divide the mixture between 12 paper bun cases in a bun tray, and bake in the middle of a preheated oven at 200C/400F/Gas 6 for 15-20 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Let them cool completely before you add any toppings.

Flavour suggestions...

Strawberry and raspberry mixed, with a teaspoon of vanilla extract (NOT vanilla essence!) added with the eggs. Top with melted chocolate.
Orange with two teaspoons of mixed spice or cinnamon added with the flour. Top with cream cheese mixed with a little honey, and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Lemon/lime with 1/2 teaspoon of ginger with the flour. Add a cream cheese topping as above.
Blackcurrant with two teaspoons of rum added with the eggs. Mix up a packet of butterscotch or vanilla Angel Delight (pudding mix) with 100ml of milk (and a bit more rum if you like) to make a thick creamy topping.

Damn. Now I've revealed how easy this is, no-one with think I'm great anymore! ;)