Celebration Cupcakes!!

Whenever I go home for the weekend there always seems to be some kind of party and this weekend was no exception. This time one year ago my uncle and aunty adopted a little boy and girl and a party was held this weekend to celebrate them being a part of our family.

The main course was provided - Meat and Potato Pie with pickled cabbage!! (A Northern Staple) - but guests were encouraged to bring desserts for everyone to share. And I can't turn down an opportunity to bake so I set about making some cupcakes.

The recipe I went for was a simple vanilla sponge with white chocolate icing and a rose petal on top. These cupcakes are really simple to make and they look very elegant, making them ideal for any occasion.

White Chocolate Cupcakes

Makes 24

220g butter
220g caster sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
220g self raising flour, sifted
2 tbsp milk

For the topping:50g white chocolate
50g butter
100g icing sugar
24 edible rose petals (optional)

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and line 2x 12-hole muffin tins with paper cases

Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl until pale. This will take around 10 minutes so be patient!

Beat in the eggs one at a time and stir in the vanilla extract.

Fold in the flour with a large metal spoon, adding a little milk until the mixture is at dropping consistency.

Spoon into the cases so that each one is just under half full and bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes. They are done when they are golden brown on top and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool on a wire rack while you make the icing.

Melt the white chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently boiling water.

When it is fully melted, take off the heat and add the icing sugar.

Pour over the cooled cupcakes and top each one with a rose petal.