Roll Up, Roll Up ... It's Cupcake Time!

Just the other day I was invited to one of my good friend's hen do's. I have always been one of those have-to-turn-up-with-something-in-my-hand kind of people, and this, was no exception.

So I searched my little brain for something to arrive with. I already had a lovely gift for the wedding so that just wouldn't do and then I suddenly had a light-bulb kind of moment. What on earth could be better than beautiful cupcakes with buttercream icing and love-hearts to match? A la, perfect.

So I got cracking on the unbelievably easy to make cupcakes and this is the finished result. They are very sweet, but oh so good. And they're only teeny tiny, so, we'll forget about all the sugar for now!

My secret is to never allow the buttercream icing to go too hard (by leaving it in the fridge) and also, always alow the cakes to completely cool before icing them. A touch of edible glitter always looks fabulous and decorate appropriately.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 250g unsalted butter, softened
• 250g caster sugar
• 250g self-raising flour
• 4 medium eggs (free range, ofcourse)
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 2 x 12-hole muffin tins, lined with paper cases

Recipe:

1. Set the oven to 190°C.
2. Put the butter into a bowl and beat it until softened. Add the flour, sugar, eggs and milk and whisk until smooth.
3. Divide the mixture between all the paper cases.
4. Place in oven for 15 minutes, then turn and bake for a further 4-7 minutes, until light golden.
5. Remove the tins from the oven. Leave the cupcakes to cool in the tins for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool.

Butter Icing:

• 140g butter softened
• 280g icing sugar
• Chosen colour of food colouring (just a few drops)
• 1 tbsp of milk

Recipe:

1. Beat the butter in a large bowl until soft. Add half of the icing sugar and beat until smooth.
2. Add the rest of the icing sugar and just one tablespoon of the milk and beat the mixture until beautifully soft and creamy.
3. Seperate into seperate bowl if you want multiple colours, stir in the food colouring until well combined.
4. Place into piping bags and pipe away!