Candied Holly Cupcakes

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cloves
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup cherry jam or flavor of your choice
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup finely chopped candied cherries
• 1/4 cup finely chopped candied orange peel
• 2 cups prepared vanilla frosting
• 9 candied cherries, halved
• 18 green citron pieces or green candied pineapple pieces, cut into strips

1. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Combine the flour, baking soda and spices; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Stir in the jam, pecans, cherries and orange peel.
2. Fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350u0b0 for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
3. Frost cooled cupcakes. Decorate with cherries for holly berries and citron for leaves.

shortening, sugar, eggs, flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, buttermilk, cherry, pecans, candied cherries, candied orange, vanilla frosting, candied cherries, citron

Taken from www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/candied-holly-cupcakes/ (may not work)