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.