Everyone loves a beautiful cake, and cupcakes are so easy to make, simple ingredients with delicious flavours is a winner for all! We for sure love this recipe, we have used it time and time again, and it's for sure one of our popular ones. Great for getting the kids involved too, they can do the mixing of the sponge and get arty with the decorating and sprinkles, every cake needs sprinkles! Makes 24 cupcakes Ingredients: • 250g self-rising flour • 250g caster sugar • 250g unsalted butter - softened • ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda • 4 large free-range eggs • ½ tsp vanilla extract • 3 tbsp whole milk Method: 1. Preheat oven to 170c Fan. Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Add the butter and eggs, beat for 60 seconds with an electric mixer. Stir the vanilla extract into the milk, then dry ingredients to the mix and beat for 20 seconds, or until all is combined well. 2. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, and give it a final blast for a few seconds to make sure all is incorporated. 3. Fill the cases two thirds full with the mixture, but don’t bother to smooth it out. 4. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean or spring back when touched. 5. Allow the cupcakes to cool, transfer to a wire rack. Vanilla Buttercream: Ingredients: • 300g unsalted butter - softened • 675g icing sugar • ½ tsp vanilla extract • 4 tbsp whole milk Method: 1. Beat the butter with an electric mixer for 4 – 5 minutes, or until pale and smooth. 2. Stir the vanilla extract into the milk and set aside. 3. Sift the icing sugar into a large bowl, add to the butter in 2 batches. Beating well between each. 4. Gradually add the vanilla extract mixture and beat for 5 minutes, or until it is white! 5. Scrape the sides of the bowl down, and give it one last blast. Colour the buttercream with gel pastes, get creative. This recipe can also be adapted to many other flavours, not just vanilla. Why not try peppermint, strawberry, pina colada, lime and many more. Best eaten on the day they are baked. If you want to store them, place in an airtight container or a cake box. Never store cakes in the fridge, they will go rock hard and won't taste the same. [caption id="attachment_482" align="aligncenter" width="4403"]vanilla cupcakes Decorating Ideas[/caption]