Christmas Mini Loaf Cake Food

MINI CHOCOLATE LOAF CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the insides of an 8-cup mini loaf baking pan.
• Put the butter, cocoa, coffee and milk in a small microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave until the butter melts, about 3 minutes. Whisk to combine and set aside.
• Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Whisk the sour cream, vanilla and eggs until blended in a small bowl. Whisk the hot cocoa mixture into the flour mixture and then stir in the sour cream mixture until just combined. Divide the batter equally among the loaf cups.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool the loaves in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes and then remove from the pan and cool completely on a rack. Dust the tops of the loaves with confectioners? sugar.

CHRISTMAS GIFT LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each one. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the sugar mixture alternately with the pumpkin puree, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Fold in the chocolate chips and 3/4 cup of the walnuts until evenly distributed. Spoon into the prepared loaf pan, and sprinkle the remaining walnuts over the top.
• Bake for 65 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the crown of the loaf comes out clean. Cool, then remove from the pan, and drizzle with icing.
• To make the icing, stir together the confectioners' sugar and heavy cream with a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg until smooth.