Recipe of the Week – Grown Up Cupcakes
Get into the “Royal” spirit this month by hosting a fabulous tea party. We just love the idea of sitting in the garden with friends having tea, scones (and occasionally the odd sweet luxury!) and what better way to spend the afternoon! These grown up cupcakes are the perfect treat for a sophisticated afternoon, the carrot and cream cheese combination will leave you wanting more! Best of all, you can finish each cupcake differently giving a personal touch to each of your guests. Your friends will feel like royalty!
Dish facts
Serves: 12
Costs: £23 (approx) bear in mind these ingredients are great store cupboard essentials!
Prep time: 30mins
Cooking time: 20-25mins
Healthy switch: Switch the butter & soft cheese for low fat versions
How fattening is this? (1 low, 3 high): **
Difficulty (1 low, 3 high): **
WOW factor (1 low, 3 high): ***
You’ll need: a large mixing bowl, a muffin tin with cupcake cases.
Ingredients
Cupcakes:
175g brown muscovado sugar
100g wholemeal self-raising flour
100g self-raising flour
150ml sunflower oil
200g grated carrots
2 eggs
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp mixed spice
Zest of 1 orange
Icing:
100g soft butter
300g soft cheese
100g sifted icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional:
- Add a squeeze of orange juice in the cupcake mixture to keep them moist
- For a bit of crunch add some walnuts
Method
Cupcakes:
1. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a muffin tin with cupcake cases.
2. Mix the sugar, both flours, bicarbonate of soda, mixed spice and orange zest in a large mixing bowl.
3. In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs and oil, then mix with the grated carrot and add to the large mixing bowl and stir in with the dry ingredients.
4. Scoop your mixture between the cupcake cases and bake in the oven for 20-25mins.
5. A good way to check is poke cupcake with a skewer. If it comes out clean there cooked!
6. Once cooked, place on a wire rack to allow cooling before icing.
Icing:
1. Beat the butter until really soft.
2. Do the same with the soft cheese, icing sugar and vanilla and combine with the butter.
3. Carefully spoon on your icing on top of the cakes. Use a palette if you have one, and make any patterns you want!
To serve
Sprinkle decorations (we like orange coloured sprinkles) and get a pot of tea on the go (or Pimms – after all it is nearly Summer!).
Then simply plate them up and wait for the crowd to gather!
Have you got any afternoon treats you like to make to impress your friends?