Vanilla Cupcakes

• 120g butter
• 120g caster sugar
• 2 X-large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 120g self-raising flour
• 1 2 Tbsp milk

For the buttercream icing

• 140g butter, softened
• 280g icing sugar
• 1 – 2 Tbsp milk
• Food colouring – select to fit with animal prints

Method:

• Pre-heat oven to 180deg.
• Prepare a 12 hole muffin tin with paper cases
• Cream the butter & sugar together until fluffy.
• Beat in eggs a little at a time then add vanilla extract
• Fold in the flour using a large metal spoon, adding the milk a little at a time until the mixture is at a dropping consistency. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until they are half full
• Bake for 10 – 15 minutes or until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into one of the cupcakes comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes and then remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack.

Icing:

• Beat the butter in a bowl till soft then add ½ the icing sugar and beat till smooth
• Add the remaining icing sugar and add more milk if required to reach a smooth and creamy consistency,
• Add food colouring as desired to create the animal patterns.
• Decorate to your full imagination!