MeLaTi

RECIPE
makes 24 keeps 2days freezes 2months

2 3/4 cups plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
200gr softened unsalted butter
1 3/4 caster sugar
4 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 170C.Line two 12-hole muffin trays with cupcake papers.

Sift together the flour and baking powder.
In a separate bowl,cream the butter for 1-2 minutes.
Add the caster sugar a third at a time,beating for 2 minutes after each addition.
After the last addition,beat until the mixture is light and fluffy and the sugar has almost dissolved.
Add eggs one at a time,beating for 1 minute after each addition or until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.

Add a third of the flour to the creamed mixture and beat on low speed until combined.
Add half of the milk and beat until combined.
Repeat this process.
Add the remaining third of the flour and beat until thoroughly combined; do not over beat as this will toughen the mixture.

Spoon mixture into cupcake papers,filling each about three quarters full.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a fine skewer inserted comes out clean.
Remove cupcakes from the trays immediately and cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes before frosting.

FROSTING
Vanilla butter cream frosting
makes 4cups of frosting - enough for 24 cupcakes
Keeps 1 week

Cream the butter for 1-2 minutes.Add the milk,vanilla extract and half of the sifted icing sugar,and beat for at least 3 minutes or until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Add the remaining icing sugar and beat for a further 3 minutes or until the mixture is light and fluffy and of a spreadable consistency.
Add extra milk if too dry or extra icing sugar if the mixture is too wet.

DECORATION

1 quantity vanilla butter cream
food coloring : pink,yellow,green,blue,brown chocolate,red
some sugar daisies

Devide butter cream evenly between 7 small cups.
Add a drop of one food coloring to six cups,mix to create six colored frostings,and left 1 cup with no color.Then put each of frosting in piping bags.
Pipe the frosting with different colors on top of each cupcake.
Then start making the design on top of it (be creative! ) and finish some of them place sugar daisies on top.

* Recipe adapted from Jennifer Graham