KITTYCAT CUPCAKES!

Stuck for a cool mother's day treat? These gorgeous cupcakes from reader Kittycat will definitely hit the spot... and you can be as creative as you like in the way you decorate them!

Ingredients (makes 12):
125g self raising flour (a tablespoon is approx 25g)
125g caster sugar
125g softened butter
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
Optional: vanilla or almond essence, food colouring, jellybeans, Smarties, chocolate chips, small pieces of fruit (blueberry and raspberry are delicious!)

Prep:
Wash hands and wipe down worktop with damp dishcloth. Set ingredients & equipment within easy reach. Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius. Put an apron on, roll up sleeves and tie back long hair. If you're not used to baking, ask an adult or elder sibling to help.

Recipe:
1. Beat sugar and butter together in a bowl with a wooden spoon.
2. Crack eggs. (If you often get shell in the eggs, crack into a small bowl and remove shell fragments before adding to butter/sugar mixture. Mix with whisk or electric mixer.
3. Sieve flour and fold into mixture with a metal spoon.
4. Add milk a little at a time, until mixture is desired consistency. You'll know if it's too runny or not runny enough...
5. Mix in any extra ingredients. Chocolate chips or fruit baked into the cakes gives an extra dimension of deliciousness, or try a 'marbled' effect with food colouring by not mixing it in fully.
6. Use a tablespoon to transfer mixture into paper cases in a bun tin. You may need two tablespoons per case. If you have a lot left, set aside to make a second batch. Feel free to lick the spoon - eating raw egg is not advised but is usually OK in small doses!
7. Place into pre-heated oven. Cooking time can differ but 15-20 minutes is a safe estimate. Keep a close eye on them... don't let them burn! When top of cake is golden brown and springs back when touched, they're done.
8. Turn oven off and use oven gloves to take cakes out. Remove cupcakes from tin, carefully, and place on wire cooling rack.

Decorating: try...
Buttercream frosting
Cream cheese frosting
Glace icing
Writing icing
Chocolate chips
Gummy sweets
Sprinkles
Edible glitter
Nuts & fruit (for a healthy kick)
Marzipan sculptures like mine. Model them like clay and stick onto cupcake! You can find gold & silver spray in many supermarkets to add a regal touch!

Try using a piping bag to frost your cupcakes - you can get different tips for the piping bags including star-shaped which gives a nice textured appearance. Otherwise use a butter knife of the back of a spoon to spread the frosting. Whether your style is methodical and ordered or wild and crazy, decorate them to your taste! Let your imagination run wild! If you use glace icing, add your friends' names (or your own) or nice messages using writing icing. Above all, have fun! Share the cupcakes with family or friends, hold a bake sale or make them as a reward for your class at the end of the year. (I did this for my drama class - major popularity boost!) Don't forget to earn extra brownie points by washing up the baking equipment. Happy baking!

Thanks to Kittycat for the fab tutorial... test out the recipe and send us your pics, or COMMENT BELOW to let us know if you'd like more cool recipes! What are you waiting for?