Christmas Cupcakes

Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan), gas 6.

For the dought

1. Place 12 paper baking cups in the muffin pan.
2. Mix the chocolate with the flour, cocoa powder, lebkuchen spice mix and the baking powder.
3. Beat the eggs with the sugar and oil.
4. Quickly beat the flour mixture into the eggs, adding the rum and as much milk as required to achieve a dropping consistency.
5. Spoon the dough into the paper cups in the muffin tin.
6. Bake on the middle shelf for 20-25 minutes.
7. Test with a wooden toothpick: if it comes out clead, the muffins are done. Cool on a wire rack.

For the decorations

1. Place the white chocolate in a bowl. Bring the cream to a boil, let cool slightly and pour over the chocolate.
2. Stir until the chocolate has melted.
3. Add the butter and beat with the mixer until the mixture is glossy.
4. Chill in the fridge until half set.
5.  Knead the marzipan paste with the confectioners' sugar and the food color, until the marzipan is dark red.
6. Roll out the marzipan paste on a surface dusted with confectioners' sugar to about 5 mm / 1/4 in thick and cut out 12 small stars.
7. Roll the remaining marzipan to a thin roll, chop into equal pieces and roll these into little balls.
8. Spoon the semi-set chocolate cream into a piping bag and top the muffins with swirls of chocolate cream.
9. Decorate with the marzipan stars and balls and the green sugar strands.