84. EASTER CUP CAKES

Before you begin:

•	Kitchens can be dangerous so make sure you have just read the Kitchen Safety Checklist.
•	Check with Mum or Dad that you are allowed to cook.
•	So the food doesn’t get any germs wash your hands with warm soapy water and dry them well.
•	Read the recipe through before you begin and get out all the equipment and ingredients you will need.
•	Don’t forget to have fun, and the best cooks ALWAYS clean up their mess.

Makes: 12 – 14

Here’s what you need:
All the ingredients need to be at room temperature (ask an adult to help you with this).
• 180g butter, softened
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons glucose (optional)
• 1 3/4 cups self-raising flour
• 1/4 cup custard powder
• 1 cup milk – warm to room temperature in the microwave oven
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind

Butter cream icing:
• 125g butter, softened
• 2 cups pure icing sugar, sifted
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence

Royal icing:
• 1 eggwhite
• sifted pure icing sugar
• Few drops of strained lemon juice

Decoration:
• 1 quantity Royal icing
• 1 quantity of butter cream icing
• Edible food colours
• Coloured edible sprinkles
• Coloured edible royal icing piped flowers
• Icing bunnies

Here’s how to do it:
1. Put all the ingredients into a bowl and, using an electric mixer, beat on a low speed for 30 seconds until all mixed together. Increase speed to medium and beat for 1–2 minutes until mixture is smooth.
2. Place spoonfuls of the mixture into paper case lined medium muffin pans. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and put on a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in icing sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, add vanilla essence and beat again until all mixed together. To have different coloured icing on each cupcake divide into separate bowls. Select a favourite colour of food colouring and mix it into one bowl. Choose another colour and mix it into the next bowl and so on until you have as many different colours as you want.
4. Decorate as shown in our step by step. Give them to your family and friends for a special Easter treat!

Setting Up Time: 30 minutes

HOT TIP:
Simply wrap the cup cakes in white paper doilies, put them in a new noodle box and seal with an Easter message or big fluffy bows.