Recipe for children

Prep: 20 mins Cook:15 mins   Serves 12  Bake these easy vanilla cupcakes in just 35 minutes. Perfect for birthdays, picnics or whenever you fancy a sweet treat, they’re sure to be a crowd-pleaser. 

Ingredients
  • 110g softened butter 
  • 110g golden caster sugar 
  • 2 large eggs 
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract 
  • 110g self-raising flour 
For the buttercream
  • 150g softened butter 
  • 300g icing sugar 
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract  
  • 3 tbsp milk  
  • food coloring paste of your choice (optional)

Method

  • Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and fill a 12-cupcake tray with cases.
  • Using an electric whisk beat 110g softened butter and 110g golden caster sugar together until pale and fluffy then whisk in 2 large eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
  • Add ½ tsp vanilla extract, 110g self-raising flour and a pinch of salt, whisk until just combined then spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases.
  • Bake for 15 mins until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the middle of each cake comes out clean. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
  • To make the buttercream, whisk 150g softened butter until super soft then add 300g icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
  • Whisk together until smooth (start off slowly to avoid an icing sugar cloud) then beat in 3 tbsp milk.
  • If wanting to color, stir in the food coloring now. Spoon or pipe onto the cooled cupcakes.