rosecupcakesIngredients

  • 150ml pot natural yogurt
  • 3 eggs , beaten
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 175g golden caster sugar
  • 140g self-raising flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 100g ground almonds
  • 175g unsalted butter, melted

For the white chocolate frosting:

  • 100g white chocolate
  • 140g unsalted butter
  • 140g icing sugar


Method

1. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases and heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. In a jug, mix the yogurt, eggs and vanilla extract. Put the dry ingredients, plus a pinch of salt, into a large bowl and make a well in the middle.

2. Add the yogurty mix and melted butter, and quickly fold in with a spatula or metal spoon - don't overwork it. Spoon into the cases (they will be quite full) and bake for 18-20 mins or until golden, risen and springy to the touch. Cool for a few mins, then lift the cakes onto a wire rack to cool completely. Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze as soon as possible.

3. White chocolate frosting: Melt the chocolate in the microwave on High for 1½ mins, stirring halfway. Leave to cool. Beat the butter and icing sugar in a large bowl until creamy. Beat in the chocolate. Cover and chill for up to one month.

4. Up to 48 hrs before serving (or the day before if it's really hot), bring the frosting back to room temperature, then spread over the cakes. Put the ribbon around the cakes now if you like, tying or glueing in place. Keep cool, out of direct sunlight.


sugarrosesSimple Sugar Roses

Ingredients

  • edible food colouring paste (we used Claret and Party Green)
  • 200g ready-to-roll icing
  • a little solid vegetable fat, for rolling
  • edible lustre (we used a shimmery pink), optional
  • edible sparkles (we used bright pink), optional


Method

1. Start with the roses. Knead a little of the colouring paste into 150g of the icing until pale and even. Break into three balls, then add a little more colouring to two, giving three varying depths of colour. Keep under cling film. Rub a very thin layer of fat over a smooth work surface. Roll out one of the balls of icing thinly, about 1-2mm, then trim into a rectangle about 8 x 20cm. Cut off a 1cm strip of icing widthways, keeping the rest covered.


2. Carefully roll the icing up and around itself. For a more realistic rose look, start rolling slightly skew-whiff so that the outside edge of the finished rose sticks out further than the middle. With about 2cm to go, start to guide the end of the icing down and under to make a neat rosebud. Pinch to shape, then cut or pinch off the bottom. Set aside for at least 1 hr until firm. Repeat with the rest of the icing.

rose

3. For the leaves, colour the remaining icing green. Pinch off small pea-size pieces, roll into balls, then flatten a little. Pinch one end to make a leaf shape. Leave to dry.


4. Once the roses are dry and firm, dust a little lustre onto each rose using a paintbrush or your fingertip. Sprinkle with sparkles, if using. Position the roses onto the cupcakes in clusters of three, following with three leaves. You'll need 36 leaves and roses for 12 cakes.

 

Try

  • Allergic to nuts?

If you would rather not cook with nuts, swap the ground almonds for 100g more plain flour. The end result will still taste great, but won't keep or freeze quite as well.

  • Know how

Use a thin layer of solid white vegetable fat, such as Trex, to roll out icing and stop it sticking. Icing sugar dries icing up too fast and makes colours look chalky.


Make it a cake

If you want a cake to cut, make a batch of batter and bake in a lined, deep 20cm round cake tin at 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 for 40-45 mins. Serve on a pretty cake plate, topped with frosting and roses. The roses can be made up to a month ahead and coloured to match the wedding theme. Keep in a cool place away from moisture and light.


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