Summer Strawberry and Vanilla Cupcakes

The sun is shining, the garden furniture has been dusted off so it's time to hold an al-fresco tea party! Our Summer Strawberry and Vanilla cupcakes are the simplest and prettiest things to make to serve with tea and a glass of fizz. Try out our easy recipe the next time you need to impress your guests.

Ingredients

150g/6oz of Butter (softened)
200g/8oz Self Raising flour (sifted)
1 1/2 level teaspoons of baking powder
150g/6oz Caster Sugar
3 medium eggs
3 tablespoons of milk
2 teaspoons of vanilla essence

Large cupcake or muffin cases x 12
Muffin tray

300ml Whipping cream
Strawberry Jam (good quality)
Strawberries

Optional to decorate
Mint leaves
Edible glitter
Icing sugar

Method
Heat the oven to 180c or Gas Mark 4

1. Start by beating the butter until light and fluffy.

2. Next add the sugar

3. Sift the flour and baking powder in to the bowl

4. Beat the eggs together and add to the bowl

5. Add the milk and vanilla essence

6. Beat the ingredients together with a hand mixer for 2 -3 minutes. Arrange your cupcake cases in the muffin tray and spoon the mixture in to each case. Put the cupcakes in to the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until golden on top and a skewer inserted in to the middle of the cake is clean when removed.

7. Next whisk the cream until whipped and fluffy and place in the fridge.

8. When the cakes are ready, place them on a wire rack to cool completely.

9. When cool, cut out the middle of the cupcakes carefully to make a deep hole in the middle. Place a teaspoon of jam in each cupcake and spoon or pipe the cream in until the hole is full and some of the mixture is on top of the cupcake. 

10.Dust each cupcake with icing sugar. 

11. Next slice your strawberries in half and decorate the cupcake, sticking them to the excess cream on top. Decorate the strawberries with edible glitter and a mint leaf. Arrange on a pretty plate or cupcake stand...doilies are optional. 

Now relax in the garden amongst the flowers with a cupcake and a glass of fizz, whilst your guests worship you and your baking skills. Enjoy!