Cupcakes...Cupcakes...

Basic Cupcake Recipe

375g butter

1 1/2 cups caster (superfine) sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 eggs

3 cups plain (all purpose) fluor

1 tablespoon baking powder

Preheat the oven to 160 C (320F). Place the butter, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until light and creamy. Add the eggs, two at a time, beating well. Sift the fluor and baking powder over the butter mixture and mix until combined. Line two 12 hole 1/2 cup (4 fl oz) capacity muffin tins with patty cases. Spoon in the mixture until 3/4 full and bake for 35 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool in the tins.

Makes 24

Basic Vanilla Icing

250gr (8 3/4 oz) butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup icing (confectioner's ) sugar

Place the butter, vanilla and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat for 8-10 minutes or until light and creamy.

For colour variation, add a few drops of either blue, green or pink food colouring to the basic vanilla icing while beating , to obtain the desired colour.

Note :

I prefer basic vanilla icing (white) on the top of the cupcakes. Placed brightly coloured lollypop flowers, marshmallow or candies as desired. Use your imagination to get the perfect result.

I was using M&M chocolate candy and licorice to dressed my son birthday cupcakes, as photo above.

(Recipes courtesy of Donna Hay)