What’s the difference between a good old fashioned fairy cake and a cupcake?
Google tells me that a cupcake originated in America and is slightly larger that the British fairy cake. Cupcakes are also usually made with a richer, thicker icing. Apparently.
I’m more of a fairy cake girl and I use my Nana’s favourite recipe – the same one that I’ve been using since I was about six when I first started baking with her. I’ve known it off by heart since before I knew my times tables at school.
But recently, my fairy cakes have been looking like a bit of a poor relation when I’ve been taking them to the school’s bakes sales. At the last school bake sale, my gorgeous fairy cakes were given the pathetic price of 20p a cake whereas the cupcakes got put front and centre of the table with a price tag of 50p each!
Then a few weeks ago, we were out shopping when we came across a cupcake stand selling the most delicious looking cakes. There were all sorts of varieties and they looked so beautiful that I was almost tempted to buy some. I even got as far as getting my purse out until I saw the price of them – they were selling for between £1.25 and £2.75 per cake!
I was determined that I could make my own cupcakes – swirly icing and everything.
So I came home and set about making my own but the icing is a LOT harder than it looks to do. I’ve finally mastered it so I thought I’d share with you how I do it. I’m sure most people know how to do this already (and probably better than me) but just for those of you who don’t….
I made today’s cupcakes with my usual fairy cake mix – I’ll start being more adventurous with cupcake flavours next week! My recipe is to cream 150g sugar with 150g softened butter or margarine. I then beat in 3 eggs and a few drops of vanilla essence if I have it. Finally I fold in 150g of self raising flour and cook for around 15 minutes at 180 c.
The icing I made with 100g of softened butter and some pink food colouring along with a lot of icing sugar! I never have a set amount as I just keep adding it until the mixture is thick enough that it will hold it’s shape when it’s piped on to the cake. Once I’d made the icing, I put it in the fridge for 10 minutes before I used it.
Forgive the wonky icing on these pictures. I had to get Mr Frugal to do the icing on the demo cake as he couldn’t focus the camera (even on auto mode).
Step one – Using a piping bag fitted with a large star nozzle, start at the outside edge and make a spiral to the centre.
Step two – Once you’ve done the first spiral, pipe another one but this time starting a little bit further in from the edge than the first one you did.
Step 3 – Do one final small spiral, again starting a little bit further in and this time just making a little peak at the top of the cake.
Step four – Add a little edible glitter or some pretty sprinkles.
Not sure I’d be able to get £2.75 for one just yet 😉
![The Crazy Kitchen](https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l559/heljessup/heljess2/foodiefotofridaybadge150.jpg)
Thank you, when I did mine I started at the middle, seams so obvious when someone shows you how!
Ha ha that's always the way x
The only part that I don't like about making cupcakes is the layer of icing dust all over the kitchen afterwards!
These look great…and a fab pink icing! Thanks for linking up to Foodie Foto Friday x
That's my worst bit too x
Thanks for that. I always look for alternatives to my icing (which is with cream cheese) so I will give your version a try. Looks yummy.
Thanks very much x
They look delicious!! The icing looks like it may induce hyperactivity!!
It was very pink wasn't it?
😉
Yes you are right, Cupcakes are deeper than fairy cakes – you can still get the cases in any supermarket though! I love making cupcakes! I've had a recipe I've made up, in mind for a while – I might give it a go tomorrow! There's also this thing I wanna buy – it pulls the middle out of the cupcake so you can fill it with surprise fillings! I'm sure with your new icing skills, your cakes will get much more than 20p! xx
Oog that sounds interesting – I'd love one of those – I end up using a small spoon when I do that and end up taking out half the cake!
thanks for the nutella choc chip cookie receipe. I used it today, well an adaptation of it . really yummy. I substitued with aldi own brand choc spread, used lurpak light and tate and lyle half sugar reducing the amount of sugar and inrceasing the flour a little.
Brenda in the oro
Ooh I bet yours was even cheaper than mine – glad you liked them x