Vanilla and Strawberry Cupcakes

My cakes in my Silent Sunday this week got a lot of lovely comments, thank you all for those :) And as well as pretty they really were rather delicious, even if I do say so myself! So I thought I'd share the recipe incase you'd like to try them out. I've recently discovered organic flour and caster sugar in M&S which is about the same price as the regular variety and I'm really liking the results. I also like their butter, or Lurpak (unsalted) and good quality organic free range eggs.

Vanilla and Strawberry Cupcakes

120g plain flour
140g caster sugar
11/2 teaspoons baking powder
40g unsalted butter
120ml whole milk
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Strawberry Frosting:

250g icing sugar

80g unsalted butter

25ml whole milk

couple drops vanilla extract

a handful of strawberries, pureed

Some pretty cake decorations

Add flour, sugar, baking powder and butter to food mixer and combine on slow speed.
In separate bowl whisk together egg, milk and vanilla extract.
Add gradually to the base mix on slow/medium speed.
Once all combined mix on high speed for a couple of minutes but be careful not to overmix.

Kitchen Assistant

Spoon into cake cases and bake in preheated oven at 170 for 20-25 mins

Meanwhile prepare the strawberry frosting. Combine the butter and icing sugar on a slow speed. Gradually add the milk and vanilla extract. Puree a handful of strawberries and add into the mix. Once all incorporated mix on  a high speed for at least 5 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
I put some of the frosting in a separate bowl and added a little food colouring to this half for effect.

Once cooled, use a knife to shape the frosting onto the cupcakes and decorate with whatever pretty decorations you can find. I had white chocolate star sprinkles, metallic coloured balls, hundreds and thousands and glitter!

Yum, Yum, Yum - Enjoy!

Sponge and frosting recipe taken from The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook and adapted by me :)