jungle cupcakes (a)

It was katrinas birthday on sunday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAT!!!

she asked if I would make the (cup)cake for her birthday, and I said yes...as my birthday present to her, I would provide 36 cupcakes to enjoy. Kat was having a explorer themed party, so I decided that cupcakes with animals on them would be a great idea :) I used the magnolia bakery cupcake recipe, but reduced the sugar by 3/4 (yes..and they still tasted amazing). I still havent quite managed to get that melt in your mouth cupcake feel...i mean, it tasted great...but maybe i didnt beat it long enough...who knows, but they were perfectly formed and tasted amazing.

Its an easy recipe too...and then, i just used buttercream frosting and licorice/lollies to decorate the cupcakes. Looking back, I probably should have invested in a black icing pen, would have been quicker and alot more professional...but i get to eat licorice...hahahaha. next time (I'm open to orders! promise they will look better!)

so, got a kids birthday or just want some exciting cupcakes...try these!!

JUNGLE CUPCAKES

To make 24:

1 1/2 c SR flour

1 1/4 c plain flour

1 c unsalted butter at room temp

1/2 c sugar

4 large eggs at room temp

1 c milk

1 tspn vanilla

Preheat oven to 180 celcius.

Line cupcake tray with 24 cupcake papers.

Place flours into a small ball and stir to combine.

Cream butter with a beater until light and fluffy. Add sugar gradually, beating to combine between each addition.

Add eggs, one at a time, beat to combine.

Add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk. With each addition, beat until combined but DO NOT overbeat.

Add the vanilla and mix in.

Place 1tbspn of mix in each cupcake case and cook for 20 minutes (or until golden on top).

Leave to cool

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

125 g softened butter

1 1/2 c icing sugar

1 tspn vanilla

2 tbspn milk

approx 2 drops of food colouring (green, yellow, red)

1 strap of licorice

snakes or lollie animals

Mix the butter and icing sugar till light and fluffy.

Add the vanilla and milk.

Split into four bowls, one for orange (tigers), yellow (lions), white (zebra) and green (lollies)

Green cupcakes: ice with green frosting and decorate with lollie animals

Lion cupcakes: ice with yellow frosting and decorate with licorice and an orange snake for a mane

Tiger cupcakes: ice with orange frosting (one drop yellow, one drop red food colouring) and decorate with licorice

Zebra cupcakes: ice with normal icing and decorate with licorice (baisclaly the same as the tiger)

Tips:

Cupcakes can be iced the day after, just store in an airtight container OR freeze and use a week later (etc)

To make eggs at room temp (if you forget to take them out of the fridge early like me) place them in a bowl of water and change the water frequently until they have warmed up.