So, how do you bake delicious cupcakes? Well, it really is easy. Just follow these simple steps:
You will need:
Two bowls (one large)
Weighing scales
Electric whisk, or a handheld one if you're feeling strong!
Muffin/cupcake tray
Ingredients
4oz plain flour
4oz golden caster sugar
4oz butter
1 tbsp baking poweder
1 tbsp vanilla essence
2 large eggs
For the topping
3 oz of plain/milk chocolate
decorations
Firstly, put the oven on and heat to 200 degrees. Then, weigh out the butter, put in a microwavable bowl and chop it into smaller pieces. I then put the butter in the microwave and put it on full power for approx 40 seconds (until the majority of the butter is melted).
Then weigh out the rest of the ingredients and put together in a large bowl. If you want to make chocolate cupcakes, when you measure the flour, take one heaped tablespoon of flour out of the mix and add one heaped tablespoon of cocoa powder. At this point, your large bowl should look like this:
Next add the melted butter to the mixture.
Then use the electric/handheld whisk and mix until the mixture is light and fairly solid. Get as much air as possible into the mixture and they will rise really well.
Now spoon the mixture into the cases. I tend to use muffin cases because when the cakes rise, it doesn't tend to go out of the case, so it is easier for little people to decorate. As you can see from the picture, it doesn't matter if the mixture is spooned haphazardly into the cases, they will rise evenly.
Put into the oven for 20 minutes. after this time, to check if they are done, put a sharp knife into a cake and take it out again. If it comes out clean, they are fully cooked inside. Leave in the tin for a couple of minutes and then leave to stand on a cooling tray.
For the topping I generally use melted chocolate (no artificial colourings or preservatives). To melt the chocolate, boil the kettle and put some boiling water in a pan (it doesn't need to be on a heated hob). Break the chocolate up and put it in a jug inside the pan of water. As you stir the chocolate it will slowly melt.
Then spoon the chocolate onto the cakes (make sure you 'accidentally' eat lots of chocolate, unless you're on a diet, in which case, sniff the chocolate, mmm).
At this point, my son takes over and decorates the cakes (ok, so he spends most of his time eating the decorations). The cakes will keep for a couple of days (maybe three at most) so make sure there are plenty of people to eat them!
