basic cupcakes

These are super super easy and quick to whip up. so if you're seeing someone on their birthday why not surprise them with some cupcakes? And hopefully the kids won't feel too sick from licking batter and eating icing and sprinkles to enjoy the tea party.

preheat the oven to 160
Gather:

110g(1cup) self-raising flour

110g(1/2 cup) caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract

110g(1/2cup) margarine

2 eggs

sift the flour, sugar and baking powder

add the vanilla extract

add the butter and eggs

beat all the ingredients well (cover the mixer so flour doesn't fly everywhere)

put the batter in to 12 cupcake cases and bake for 20 mins

meanwhile lick the utensils clean

we even tried our hand at piping some buttercream icing. piping was always one of those things that i have wanted to try but it seemed too complicated and too much effort. it was in fact very easy, fun and effective (for a first attempt). if your kids like squeezing toothpaste tubes etc, they will love piping.

Beat well:

225g (1&1/2 cups) icing sugar

100g(1/2 cup) soft butter
+ a few drops of food colouring (or squeeze in some cherry or blueberry juice for natural colouring)

have your child hold the piping bag while you fill it with icing

fold over the top of the bag and hold it tightly (to avoid the icing squeezing upwards) while they squeeze icing on to the cupcakes (you can slightly direct the movement this way too)

et voila

decorate with sprinkles
and enjoy!