Christmas bake #9

Oh god... Christmas so close! On the ninth day of Christmas (I know the REAL twelve days hasn't begun but, mine has!) I baked...Cupcakes! A real favourite  and always popular with friends; you cant go wrong with cupcakes! These are just simple vanilla cupcakes with plain butter icing and mini holly leaves with berries to decorate, you could use anything decorate them! xxxxx

Much Love Alex-Rose xxxx

Celebration Cupcakes From The Great British Bake-off (2011)


Ingredients:

• 175g Self raising flour
• 125g Butter (softened)
• 175g Caster sugar
• 2 Medium eggs
• 1 Generous teaspoon of (good) vanilla essence
• Cupcake cases
• 12 Hole muffin tray

Method:
Start by beating the butter until smooth, then beat in the sugar. In a big mug whisk the eggs and vanilla essence until combined. Add (slowly) to the butter and sugar (add it in gradually so that it doesn't curdle, if it does, just carry on and when you add the flour it should be fine) then finally sieve in the flour and fold gently until fully combined before spooning (about one and a half tablespoons each) into your cases and placing in the oven for 18mins. Finite! xx

Next you need to decorate them...

Ingredients:

• 75g Butter (softened)
• 240g Icing sugar
• 1 Tablespoon of milk (semi-skimmed)
• 2 Teaspoons of good vanilla essence
• Food colouring
• Sprinkles or decorations of your choice!

Method:
First beat the butter, next sieve on half the sugar then beat until smooth, add the vanilla essence then the other half of the icing sugar and beat. If it needs it add the milk but it quite often doesn't! Swirl over your cooled cupcakes and then decorate! Enjoy! Much love Alex-Rose xxxx