Strawberry and White Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe- Homemade Father's Day Gift

 It's English strawberry season and each year I love to experiment with new recipes and ways of using my favourite berry. I've also been thinking about handmade Father's Day gift ideas and as my Dad loves white chocolate and strawberries too, I hope he will love a gift of these little cakes! Filled with fresh strawberries and topped with white chocolate buttercream, they are a real treat (I'm enjoying one with a cup of tea as I type). Here's the recipe...

Makes 16 cupcakes

Ingredients

For the cupcakes

• 150g butter
• 150g Self Raising Flour
• 125g caster sugar
• 3 medium free range eggs
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 200g fresh strawberries

For the buttercream icing

• 150g icing sugar
• 150g butter
• 150g white chocolate
• Milk chocolate sprinkles
• 8 strawberries

For the cake

Pre-heat the oven to 190 degrees and add paper cake cases to cupcake trays

1) Cream the butter and sugar together using a large metal spoon or an electric mixer until smooth

2) Beat the eggs and add them to the butter and sugar mixture a little at a time, ensuring the egg is fully combined in the mixture

3) Sift in the flour, then add the vanilla extract and beat until combined

4) Chop the strawberries into small pieces and add these to the cake mixture, mixing until combined

5) Divide the mixture between the cupcake cases and bake for aprox 15-25 minutes. The cakes are ready when a skewer or cocktail stick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely

6) To make the white chocolate buttercream, first cream together the butter and icing sugar together using a large metal spoon or electric beater

7) Melt the white chocolate and allow to cool slightly before beating it into the buttercream mixture 

8) If the buttercream looks a little runny, leave in in the fridge for a while to firm up a bit

9) Ice the cakes using a piping bag or add the icing with a knife if you prefer. Top with chocolate sprinkles and half a strawberry

Happy baking!

Recipe: Rosewater, White Chocolate and Pistachio Cupcakes

I hope you all had a lovely Easter. As is traditional in my household, this Easter Sunday I made cakes! I love to bake and I especially enjoy trying out new flavour combinations.

 I bought a large bottle of Rosewater in a Deli last year and I've been experimenting with different ways of cooking with it. These Rosewater, White Chocolate and Pistachio Cupcakes have a subtle Rosewater flavour- add more or less to taste. I also think these would be lovely with the addition of chopped chunks of white chocolate added to the cake mix- it all depends on how sweet you like your cupcakes. If you make these I hope you enjoy them and let me know what you think!

Makes 16

Ingredients:

• 150g Self-Raising Flour
• 150g Butter
• 125g Caster Sugar
• 3 medium Free Range Eggs
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

For the icing:

• 150g Icing Sugar
• 150g Butter
• 50g White Chocolate
• 1.5 tsp Rosewater
• A handful of chopped Pistachios

For the cakes:

Pre-heat the oven to 190 degrees and line cupcake tins with paper cases

1). Beat together the butter and sugar with a spoon or hand mixer until smooth

2) Add the eggs one at a time and beat after each addition

3) Sift in your flour and fold the mixture together until all of the flour is incorporated, taking care not to over mix. Add the Vanilla Extract whilst folding

4) Spoon the cake mixture into cupcake cases

5) Bake for 15-20 minutes at 190 degrees. Check the cakes after 15 minutes- they are ready when a skewer or cocktail stick inserted into the centre comes out clean

6) Leave to cool

For the icing:

1) Melt 50g White Chocolate in a bowl in the microwave, or in a glass bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Allow to cool

2) Beat together the icing sugar and butter until all of the icing sugar is incorporated 

3) Add 1.5 tsp Rosewater and the cooled White Chocolate and mix until incorporated

4) Pipe or spread the icing onto the cakes and top with chopped Pistachios. Add shavings of White Chocolate

5) Enjoy with a nice cup of tea and a sit down!

Find out how to make these lacy coasters in my How To

Happy making!