99p Cornet Cupcakes

Tomorrow afternoon I am meeting someone for the first time, who I need to leave a particularly good impression with. I need to ooze confidence, radiate maturity and remain likeable on all accounts; instead I'm hiding behind cupcakes, which look like 99p cornets, in the desperate hope that I at least manage the likeable part. People can't help but like those who supply them with free cake.
     I found out that Cadbury's, Flake is this ladies favourite chocolate bar of choice, so I ad-libbed a little by introducing the chocolate sponge and vanilla buttercream in order to create cakey versions of everyone's old fashioned favourite, the well-established 99er.
     I placed these gorgeous little cakes in white and brown cupcake cases so as not to detract from the Mr Whippy visual effect! You can, of course, decorate them as you wish - I'm sure a few hundreds-and-thousands would only enhance your gorgeous cakey cornets!
     So, wish me as much luck as you can spare, and lets hope she enjoys these quirky little cakes which are, undeniably, the crumbliest, flakiest, most-beautifulist little cakes in the whole world. 

Ingredients (Makes 12)

For the Sponge:

100g plain flour
20g cocoa powder
140g caster sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
40g butter
120ml whole milk
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract 

For the Icing

250g icing sugar
80g butter
25ml semi skimmed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method

• Simply combine your sponge mixture together in a large mixing bowl and preheat your oven to 170ºC (Gas Mark 3).

• Once thoroughly mixed, divide your mixture between twelve preprepared cupcake cases in a muffin tray. (Ensure you only fill your cupcake cases half full, otherwise your mixture will spill over the top of your cases when baking.)

• Place in the oven and cook for 25 minutes. 

• Remove and leave to cool completely. 

• Once cool, combine all your icing ingredients together in a bowl. Beat until fluffy. 

• Frost and decorate your cakes as you wish.

So, with a sprinkle of hope, a teaspoon of excitement and an evening full of outfit planning and general unnecessary fuss, I will say goodbye. I hope you all have a fun time creating these summery, nostalgic little cakes, they're a small taste of everyone's childhood.
     As you pass yourself one of these charming cakes, don't be embarrassed to go as far as to say "99er is it, my love?" in a gentle, lilting grandfatherly West Country accent. It adds to the general ice-cream van ambience, I promise. 

Enjoy, K x

Merry Cakemas!

I would like to wish you all a very merry, cupcakey Christmas! Thank you for all your support this year!

Enjoy, K x

An Electrician Frosts a Cupcake

My younger brother, Max, began an electrical apprenticeship last year, and has since become a lot more 'blokey.' This has manifested in daily pub trips, calling lots of people (girls and boys alike) "mate", and eating more red meat than is healthy for normal humans. 

Recently, one evening, | somehow managed to prize him out of the aforementioned 'pub trip', and got him frosting and decorating chocolate orange cupcakes - here is the rather amusing outcome.

I proudly introduce the first video upload for Kate's Cakes and Cupcakes, proving that making a pretty little cake is within anyone's reach, 'An Electrician Frosts a Cupcake'. 

Enjoy, K x :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6PCQ_HvqxM

Cupcakes Under Construction!

For the last few weeks, my house has looked like the a scene from Pearl Harbour, due to our sitting room, kitchen and dining room being entirely reconstructed.

On multiple mornings I have been woken up by deafeningly loud drilling, or walls being knocked down instead of the soothing sounds of my iPod. Trading waking up soothed and well-rested, for blistering headaches at times that feel like the middle of the night, has not been my idea of a good time.

This has also meant that my twice-weekly bake off's have been forced to happen at night, after the various workmen leave, which adds a general feeling of espionage to my baking. The various builders, carpenters, carpet layers, electricians and plumbers that have traipsed through my house, have all become rather accustomed to the daily sweet fixes that follow the morning after. 

The image of burly builders, sooty electricians and plumbers with pencils behind their ears, eating tiny sparkly cakes has started to become a regular source of amusement for me and I thought it would share it with you all.

I am consequently now on a one woman mission to  make the construction trade swap burgers and coke for pretty cupcakes and civilised cups of tea! So far it appears to be a great success - what an adaptable bunch!

Enjoy, K x

Hot Chocolate Sponge with Crunchy Peanut Butter Frosting, Dinosaur Cupcakes

I opted for 'Crunchy' peanut butter for this recipe instead of the conventional smooth option. I did this because I like my recipes to be slightly different and I thought the extra 'crunch' would be just what they needed!
     I have also used hot chocolate for the sponge instead of the conventional chocolate sponge which uses cocoa. I did this because I think the sweetness of the chocolate powder compliments the slightly savoury peanut butter. However, if you prefer the traditional cocoa chocolate sponge, feel free to use it!      
     I got these adorable little dinosaur cases and (glittery...YES, glittery) T-Rex sprinkles from "The Happy Cupcake Company" (http://www.thehappycupcakecompany.co.uk) Any budding bakers or simple cake lovers should set aside a couple of hours to visit this page...it's amazing.

So, here's my recipe (makes 12)

(For The Sponge)

240ml semi skimmed milk
25g hot chocolate powder
80g butter
280g caster sugar
240g plain flour
1 tbsp baking powder
2 eggs

(For The Frosting)

125g butter
225g crunchy peanut butter
600g icing sugar
80ml double cream

• When cooking the sponge, heat the oven to 170ºC (Gas Mark 3) and cook for 18-20 minutes.
• Once all cakes are cool, frost and decorate as you wish. I opted for the dinosaur theme because the cupcakes are something a little different, so I decided to visually follow suit.

Enjoy, K x