Method
Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C, gas mark 4) and line a 12 hole cupcake tin with cupcake cases.
Step 2:
Cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, then add the beaten eggs one by one and the vanilla extract, mixing well between each one to ensure the mixture does not curdle.
Step 3:
Sift in the flour, cocoa and baking powder and carefully fold in until just incorporated, do not over mix. Then add the red colour and carefully mix until distributed evenly through the batter.
Step 4:
Spoon into the cupcake cases until they are 2/3 full then place in the oven for 25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean and the cakes are springy to the touch.
Step 5:
Remove from the oven, leave to cool then transfer to a cooling wire to cool completely.
Step 6:
Whilst the cakes are cooling you can make the sugar paste hearts. Knead the red and white sugar paste icings and to make pink add a small amount of red to some of the white and knead until the colour is uniform, repeat until you have the desired shade of pink. Roll the icings out on a surface dusted with icing sugar until they are about 2-3mm thick, then cut out different sized hearts using heart shaped cutters. Put to one side on some baking parchment to set whilst you make the rest.
Step 7:
To make the buttercream, place the butter and icing sugar in a large bowl with the vanilla extract and start to beat together slowly to start with then increase the speed and beat until the buttercream is light and fluffy. You can add a few drops of food colour here if you wish.
Step 8:
Pipe or smooth buttercream onto the top of each cake using a piping bag or palette knife, then place the rolo on top. Add sweets as extra decorations if desired.
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
- 225g Butter (unsalted) (softened)
- 225g Unrefined golden caster sugar
- 3 Egg(s) (free range) (medium)
- 1 tsp Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract
- 190g Plain white flour
- 35g Cocoa powder
- 10g Baking powder
- 1.5 tbsp Red food colouring
For the buttercream
- 500g Icing sugar
- 250g Butter (unsalted) (softened)
- 1 tsp Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract
- 500g Icing sugar
Recipe Reviews
Lovely recipe and make lovely cakes!
However my cakes were far from red and never had any hint of red in them so i think I need a stronger food colouring next time!
In saying that it Still made some very tasty chocolate style cupcakes! X
Me and all my family loved them so much yummy 100% recommend
amazing. I loved this recipe- I'd definitely recommend!
Amazing recipe so yummy for me and my family
this is great they tasted so nice everyone wanted them . xoxox
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
- 225g Butter (unsalted) (softened)
- 225g Unrefined golden caster sugar
- 3 Egg(s) (free range) (medium)
- 1 tsp Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract
- 190g Plain white flour
- 35g Cocoa powder
- 10g Baking powder
- 1.5 tbsp Red food colouring
For the buttercream
- 500g Icing sugar
- 250g Butter (unsalted) (softened)
- 1 tsp Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract
- 500g Icing sugar