Fruity Cider Puffs

These delicious treats were something I created over Christmas as a lighter alternative to those heavy mince pies and although Christmas is over for another year I thought these would make an excellent sweet treat for Valentine's Day or any time you want to just spoil yourself.

Ingredients

• 1 packets of puff pastry
• 1 bottle cider
• 1 cup of mixed fruit/sultanas
• 1 cup honey
• 1/2 cup glacé cherries
• 1/2 cup dried prunes
• 1/2 cup demerara sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• Chopped nuts
• Icing sugar

(Makes 15*)

♥ Add the cider to a saucepan and bring to a boil, reduce the heat and skim off the foam on top.

♥ Add the vinegar  honey, sugar, cinnamon, ground ginger and fruits to the saucepan, allow to boil once more then reduce the heat to a low simmer.

♥ Allow the fruit mixture to cook and reduce to a syrupy consistency and remove from the heat, you will know when it's done as the syrup will lightly coat the back of a spoon.

♥ Preheat the over to 200°c and lightly coat a cupcake baking tray in oil.

♥ Roll out your packet of puff pastry and cut out circles (or hearts) of at least 2" in diameter, then place them in the greased baking tray.

♥ Cook the pastry in the oven for 10 - 20 minutes until they have risen and are slightly brown on top.

♥ Once cooled use a spook to make a hole in the center of the puff, then add about a teaspoon of mixture to the center of each puff.

♥ For an added touch sprinkle with some chopped nuts and lightly dust some icing sugar on top.

♥ Eat and enjoy!

Sugar & Spice

Cate

xoxo

*You will have a lot of the fruit mix leftover but don't worry if you put it in container and keep it in the fridge it will last for months and you can use again or add it to porridge, cereal or other cakes as an extra treat.