Vanilla Day with my 2 year old

Harvey and I were at a loose end last Saturday (daddy was working) so we decided to mess up the kitchen, as you do.

Flour, sugar, eggs, milk, butter covered every inch of my lovely little kitchen (sorry daddy) eventually I got a grip of the situation and let the boy "help" when no sticky mess could be created i.e sprinkling spinkles!!

Whille the cakes were baking, and Harvey was safely shoved in the lounge watching cartoons, I decided to have a go at making choc shape toppers (there is a fancy name for them but it doesn't come to mind right now) and here are the finished articles.

My Creations

Recipe - makes 12 cupcakes

150g self raising flour

150g butter - @ room temp

150g sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup milk

Frosting

160g butter - unsalted @ room temp

300g icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

I use a stand mixer for all my baking but a hand held whisk and/or some elbow grease works just as well!

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 deg/gas mark 4
2. Whisk sugar & butter until light and fluffy while mixer is doing all the work I put the cases in the baking tin.
3. Add eggs in small batches to stop seperation
4. Add vanilla extract
5. Fold flour & baking powder in batches and fold until combined
6. Add milk and fold until just combined

Fill the cases no more than 2/3 full

Bake for 20-25mins I use a tooth pick in the centre cake to make sure they are baked through

To make the frosting.......

1. Whisk the butter until very light in colour
2. Add the icing sugar in small batches until fully incorperated
3. Add vanilla extract and stir in slowly

Wait for cakes to cool then dollop on your frosting however you wish.

Harvey's cakeys (I couldn't help but "show" him how to do it)