RECIPE: Christmas cupcakes

MAKE fantastic festive cupcakes with this recipe by the Advertiser's Jessica Fogarty.

Ingredients (makes approximately 12)

100g self-raising flower

100g caster sugar

100g margarine or butter

2 medium eggs

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tbs. cocoa (for chocolate sponge)

Method

Cream the sugar and butter together

Slowly add the eggs and flower into the mixture

Add in the baking powder and cocoa (if needed)

Place the cupcake cases into the oven tin and spoon an even amount of mixture into each case

Bake in the oven for 12 to 16 minutes until golden brown and fully risen (190 degrees)

Iced cupcakes

Method

Mix icing sugar and water together to make a thick paste

Paste this on to the top of the cupcakes and leave to dry

When dry, use an icing pen to create a design on each cupcake (reds, greens and browns will work best)

Create Christmas messages and images such as Christmas trees, holly, fairies and so on.

Buttercream cupcakes

120g softened butter

280g icing sugar

Method

Cream the butter into a bowl using the back of a wooden spoon, then keep stirring until it’s of a creamy consistency.

Add the icing sugar a spoonful at a time, continuing to cream the butter between each spoonful.

Squeeze on the icing to make the desired design.