Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

I did a blog post on my fairy cakes (read it here if you haven't already) and many of you seemed to really enjoy it, so I thought I'd do a second installment. Today, I'm going to be sharing with you a trusty recipe that I've used for months. It never fails to produce incredible cupcakes either.

This is also a super simple recipe, so even if you consider yourself to be 'bad' at baking, you shouldn't be able to mess this one up!

The ingredients you will need are: 

• 225g/8oz of plain, unsalted butter 
• 225g/8oz of caster sugar
• 225g/8oz of self-raising flour
• 4 free range eggs
• Just under one teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Two chocolate bar blocks to break up into the mixture

Weigh out the amounts for the sugar and butter, pouring them both into a large mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, Kitchen Aid or just a wooden spoon (if you have the effort), cream these together. Once you have done this, alternate between adding an egg, then some of the flour mixture and so on. 

Now the fun bit - break the chocolate squares up into 2 bits each (split them in half) and add them to the mixture. I like to do this gradually - add, mix, and so on - just to I can see how the mixture is absorbing the chocolate and if there is too much/too little. 

Pop them into the oven for around 10-15 minutes on gas mark 5 or 190 degrees Fahrenheit, but keep an eye on them.

Icing Stage

Break up two blocks of chocolate. After putting them in a bowl, put the microwave onto the 'medium' heat setting and leave for between 30 seconds - one minute. Stir in any remaining chunks and carefully apply to the tops of the cakes, putting on decorations straight after (the mixture dries extremely quickly). 

Let me know if you try this recipe below, or just your general thoughts.

Mixer used (highly recommend): available on Amazon 

Katy x

A Classic: Fairy Cakes

 

I find baking to be very therapeutic - I like to put some calming music on in the background ('Music For Concentration' on Spotify is my favourite by the way), put an apron on and get to it. The kitchen is usually a mess by the end of it (sorry Mum!) but it's worth it!

The recipe I used for this came from Mary Berry's book '100 Cakes and Bakes' (of course I had to use something from Mary, or Bezza as I like to call her). You will need the following:

• 100g (4oz) of Softened Butter
• 100g (4oz) of Caster Sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 175g (6oz) flour
• A drop of water
• 1 level teaspoon of Baking Powder
• 1 level teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

For the icing, you will need:

• 175g (6oz) of butter
• 175g (6oz) of caster sugar

To make these cakes, start by laying out your ingredients. You will need a large mixing bowl, a wooden spoon and a set of scales. Place the butter in the scales, weight and pour into a bowl, then add the sugar then cream. Once this is nice and smooth, add an egg, then frantically mix with flour (half of the portion), then repeat with the second. 

As it is fairy cakes, that's basically it - nice and simple. Shove it into the oven for 15-20 minutes, then leave to cool for around half an hour. Then we get to the fun bit - the wings! Cut in a circular motion on the top, take them off, then cut them in half. You can put whatever you like in the filling really - I opt for jam and buttercream, nice and traditional. Then pop the wings on top and you're done!

I'm aware that this is a very simple recipe, but I feel that there is still a place in many British hearts for a few classic recipes - this one should not be forgotten, as it's still delicious! 

Let me know what you enjoy baking below and if you have tried this recipe before.

Katy x