How To: Easter Cupcakes!

Watch the video here!

Easter is one of my favourite times to bake because this cupcake idea is so cute!  I try to make these every year, but this time I did them with a lemon cupcake recipe and they turned out super yummy!  

Here's the recipe I used: (adapted from Rachel Allen's book Bake)

For the cupcakes

4 1/2 oz butter, softened

4 1/2 oz caster sugar

grated zest of 1/2 lemon

2 eggs, beaten

5 oz plain flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.  Line a 12 piece muffin tin with cases (pastels would be better, but I only had red & white polka dot!).  Cream the butter with an electric mixer or egg beater.  Beat in the caster sugar and lemon zest till fluffy.  Add in the egg a little at a time, beating everything together.  Sift the flour and baking powder, then fold in with a wooden spoon.  Separate the mixture into the cases and bake in the oven for 7-10 minutes, or until cupcakes are golden and springy to the touch (mine took ages...about 16 minutes!!  So be aware that every oven is different).

For the frosting/icing

3 oz butter, softened 

6 oz confectioner's sugar, sifted

1-2 teaspoons lemon juice

grated zest of 1/2 lemon

Cream the butter with an electric beater, then add in the sugar, lemon juice and zest a little at a time until light & fluffy.  Now, ice your cupcakes!

For the decoration or "nests"

About 3 or 4 Cadbury's Flake bars (full size)

1 packet of Cadbury's mini eggs

A chocolate-loving hubby -- optional (to finish off what you don't use, ha ha ha!)

Crumble up the flake bars into a bowl, then sprinkle the icing with a handful so that the top of the cupcake resembles a nest.  Place about two or three mini eggs in the centre, and that's it!  Your cute little Easter nests are done :)  Alternatively if you like, you can use coconut instead of chocolate flakes.  Let me know if you try these out and send me a pic if you do!  

Happy Easter!