Cupcakes!

I found this recipe on BestRecipes.com and had a lot of people saying they want this recipe too, so thought I might share it on my blog seeing as it's a good place of record. They were definitely the best home-made cupcakes I've ever made from scratch. ^_^

(Cupcakes I baked for a baby-shower, take credit for the icing too =D)

Ingredients
1/2 cup custard powder
1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
3/4 cup caster sugar
125g butter, softened
3 eggs (I used 2)
1/4 cup milk (I accidentally put in about 1/2 but it made up for the egg I didn't put in)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (vanilla paste is good also)

Method - Line patty pans with paper cases (I used reasonably good sized cupcake cases in a muffin tray).
- Sift dry ingredients
- Combine all ingredients with electric mixer and beat until changed colour.
- Fill patty cases approximately 1/2-3/4 full with mixture.
- Bake at 180°C for 15-18 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.

And I also made about half the quantity of this recipe for Butter Cream Icing.


Ingredients
165 grams butter, softened
4 cups icing sugar
40 ml milk 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
4 drops of food colouring

Method
- Place butter in microwave for a few seconds if it is not very soft.
- In a medium bowl cream the butter, icing sugar and milk until it is light and fluffy. This may take up to 5 minutes.
- Add the vanilla and food colouring, and beat until well combined. Fill piping bag with icing, and decorate your creations.
- Any leftover icing will keep in a tightly closed container for a few days, simply melt it in the microwave before use, or let it reach room temperature on the kitchen bench.