Best Ever Cupcakes Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and fill a 12 cupcake tray with cases.
• Using an electric whisk beat 110g softened butter and 110g golden caster sugar together until pale and fluffy then whisk in 2 large eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
• Add ½ tsp vanilla extract, 110g self-raising flour and a pinch of salt, whisk until just combined then spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases.
• Bake for 15 mins until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the middle of each cake comes out clean. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
• To make the buttercream, whisk 150g softened butter until super soft then add 300g icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
• Whisk together until smooth (start off slowly to avoid an icing sugar cloud) then beat in 3 tbsp milk.
• If wanting to colour, stir in the food colouring now. Spoon or pipe onto the cooled cupcakes.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F Spray 18 cupcake tins with Pam; fill with paper liners and spray with Pam again.
• To make the batter, cream the butter and sugar at high speed in a large bowl until light and fluffy. On medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, then add the sour cream and vanilla. Stir together the flour, cornstarch, salt and baking soda in a bowl. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until just combined.
• Fill each prepared paper-lined muffin tins about 2/3 full with the batter, and fill any empty tins with a little water. Bake in the center of the oven for about 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before icing.
• To make the icing, beat together the butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla just until smooth.
• Spread the icing onto each cupcake, and top half with 3 raspberries in a little group, and top the other half with 4 blueberries in a little square. You can also experiment with other berries or fruit, such as blackberries, figs, diced peaches or diced strawberries.