We love a seasonal or celebration bake. If you're looking for a valentines themed activity for kids why not try our easy vanilla cupcake recipe and make some valentines cupcakes together? We've also got some super sweet valentines gift ideas for children in our Valentines Collection.
Cupcakes are a great thing to bake with children of all ages, ours all enjoy the weighing out, mixing, cracking the eggs, decorating them and of course licking the bowl and tasting the finished product!
The recipe below is a family favourite in our house and can be easily customised with decorations whatever the occasion. We've simply used pink cupcake cases and added pink and red heart shaped sprinkles for a valentines twist.
Vanilla Cupcake Recipe from the Hummingbird Bakery
Makes 12 cupcakes (double it to make 24)
Ingredients
120g plain flour
140g caster sugar
1.5 teaspoons of baking powder
a pinch of salt
40g unsalted butter at room temperature
120 ml whole milk
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Vanilla Frosting (you could also use a tub of ready made frosting for ease)
250g icing sugar sifted
80g unsalted butter at room temperature
25ml whole milk
a couple of drops of vanilla extract
Method
Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C/325 F/ Gas3
Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a mixer and beat slowly until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined. Gradually pour in half the milk and beat until just combined.
Whisk the egg, vanilla extract and remaining milk together in a separate bowl then pour into the mixture and continue beating until just incorporated and until smooth.
Spoon the mixture into cases and bake for 20-25 minutes until light golden and the sponge bounces back. leave to cook slightly then allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
Once cool - make your frosting by beating together the icing sugar and butter together in a mixer on a medium slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed.
Turn the mixer down to a slow speed, then combine the milk and vanilla extract and add to the icing mixture a spoonful at a time. Once it has all be incorporated turn the mixer up to a high speed. Continue mixing for at least 5 minutes until it is light and fluffy.
Add your frosting on to your cupcakes; we like to use a piping bag but you can spoon it on too. Then simply add some heart shaped sprinkles (ours were just from Tesco) and then share the love and enjoy!
Bumble & Twig x