Who loves Charlie and Lola? Who loves cupcakes? Now you can get your fix of both!
Baby-food guru Annabel Karmel has come up with a delicious recipe for the perfect Charlie and Lola cupcakes.
Get your kids to help you make these cute character cupcakes, perfect for birthday parties.
Recipe
Ingredients
125g butter or margarine
150g caster sugar
Half tsp lemon zest
2 eggs
150g plain flour
Quarter tsp baking powder
Cream Cheese Icing
110g cream cheese (room temperature)
110g butter (room temperature)
Half tsp vanilla
85g icing sugar
Edible food colouring
Or use ready made frosting in a tub e.g. Betty Crocker
Decoration
Writing Icing
Pre heat the oven to 180C Fan 160C. Line a muffin tin with 10 paper cases. Cream the butter in an electric food mixer until soft. Add the sugar and beat until fluffy, then mix in the lemon zest. Add the eggs one at a time and add a tablespoon of the flour with the second egg, beat continuously, and then sift in the flour and baking powder. Divide the mixture between the paper cases and cook in the oven for about 20 minutes or until golden and springy to the touch.
Remove from the oven and cool in the muffin tin for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Whilst the cupcakes are baking you can prepare the icing. Beat together the cream cheese and butter. Beat in the vanilla, then sift over the sugar and stir in until the sugar is combined, then beat for one minute until fluffy. Transfer to a bowl and set aside in the fridge whilst the cakes area baking.
Once the cakes are cold spread with Icing and decorate with faces using Writing Icing in assorted colours.
Party planning – the cakes can be made up to 1 month in advance and frozen in a plastic box. Defrost at room temperature for around 1 hour then ice as above.
