Fancy Birthday Cupcakes

It's my Mum's birthday today and as I've been sent lots of wonderful cake decorations and icing to try our recently I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try them all out and make a variety of cupcakes.


I had some help from 10 year old Sam and using my favourite cupcake recipe from the Primrose Bakery we made these cakes :

For the pigs we used Renshaws ready to roll pink icing, and silver balls for the eyes.

For the butterfly cakes we used Renshaws Vanilla Snip & Swirl icing and Silver Spoon Giant Snowies, with a sprinkling of edible glitter to give it a shimmer.

For the swirl cupcakes we used Renshaws Vanilla Snip & Swirl Icing and Silver Spoon blue and pink Shimmer Balls, again finished off with edible glitter.

For the pink cakes with stars we used Renshaws Raspberry Magic Melting Icing and Silver Spoon white chocolate stars.

The ready made icings are great and I wouldn't hesitate using them again. You can make great looking cakes so quickly with minimum effort and therefore are great to use with the kids. The snip and swirl icing however didn't give the pattern that I was expecting even though I snipped the bag on the correct lines but still looks very effective on the cakes.

Recipe for Vanilla Cupcakes (makes 12-15)

110g butter - softened

225g caster sugar*

2 large eggs

150g SR flour

125g Plain flour

120ml milk

*the recipe calls for 1tsp vanilla extract, however I use vanilla sugar so I don't feel the need to add extra vanilla.

• Cream the butter & sugar
• Gradually beat in the eggs
• Combine the flours & add a third to the creamed mixture and then a third of the milk.
• Repeat the above step until all flour & milk have been added.
• Spoon into cupcake cases, filling 2/3 full
• Bake in 180 degree (C) oven for 20-25 minutes

I was sent the items from Renshaw and Silver Spoon for the purpose of this review.