Next week marks National Baking Week and at The Last Detail we thought it was a perfect time to get the kids involved and bake some delicious cupcakes! So with thanks to Grace (aged 8 ) and Georgia (aged 5) who spent the morning covered in cake mixture, icing sugar and edible glitter, here is our guide to making and decorating cupcakes at home. Check out the pictures as Georgia and Grace go Martha Stewart in the kitchen (if a little more messy…)

Kids love baking, the idea of licking bowls, mixing, breaking eggs (not to mention the wonderful mess you can make) means it’s something great to do as a family. Here’s some simple steps to having a great time whilst making some very pretty and yummy cupcakes…

Delicious cupcakes - cheesy grin is a must!

Brilliant fun and a very proud little girl!

Get all your ingredients together. Simple cupcakes are extremely easy to make, just take the ingredients below for an easy cake mixture.

For the cupcakes:

• 125g (4.5oz) butter, softened
• 125g (4.5oz) caster sugar
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 150g (5oz) plain flour
• ¼tsp baking powder

For the icing:

• 225 g (8 oz) sifted icing sugar
• 2–3tbsp warm water
• Sweets, to decorate

Break the eggs and mix all the ingredients together

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the 4 eggs after they have been beaten (make sure you stir a little at a time or you will end up completely covered in mixture – take it from us!). This takes some arm power but it certainly kept our two busy. It was also the first time Georgia had broken her own eggs without getting any shell in the mixture – a delighted little girl, success!

The part where you have to try not to eat all the cake mixture...

Breaking the eggs and managing not to get any shell in the mixture!

*Top tip*

Remember you can add cherries, sultanas or anything to this recipe to make it your own – if you’re making cupcakes for a party try adding a tiny bit of food colouring for multi coloured buns! These are also good with the zest of a couple of unwaxed lemons added to the mixture, try drizzling lemon juice and caster sugar mix over the top of each at the end!

Finally, add the flour and you’re ready to divide the mixture into your gorgeous bun cases and bake in a preheated oven (190ºC, 375ºF) Line a 12-hole fairy cake tin, or a 24-hole tin for mini cakes, with 12 (or 24) paper cases. Divide the mixture evenly between the paper cases using two teaspoons for mini cakes or two dessertspoons for larger ones. Cook in the oven for 8-12 mins, or until golden and springy to the touch.

Dishing out the mixture into gorgeous cupcake cases

Mixing is hard work but the end is in sight!

The fun part – decorate!

Put the icing sugar in a bowl and gradually blend in the warm water until you have a fairly stiff icing. Spoon over the top of the cupcakes and decorate with sweets, glitter, chocolate chips, whatever you want! The boys in our family seemed to know when the cupcakes were ready, so make sure you save yourself one – Georgia had the right idea and polished off four at once – the rest make great treats for lunchboxes or after school / work snacks (husbands in particular seem to like this idea!)

Decorate!

Move over Delia, fabulous looking cakes!

Get the look:

Make sure your delicious cupcakes are shown off with our gorgeous finishing touches that won’t break the bank! Show off your efforts with pretty floral cases, cute cupcake picks, a beautiful cake stand and vintage bunting for a perfect result.

Pretty Vintage Floral Baking Cases - Pack of 60 (3 sizes)

Vintage Floral Cake Stand

Gorgeous Vintage Floral Cake Wraps

Lovely Vintage Floral Party Picks

We hope you enjoy your baking and would love to see your pictures or hear your comments!