Rachel Allen's fairy cakes

Chef: Rachel Allen
Prep: 40 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Rachel Allen's fairy cakes
These are the prettiest little cakes for a birthday party or just for a special treat; they are also known as butterfly buns. Make into 12 medium fairy cakes or 24 mini ones.

125g butter, softened

125g caster sugar

1tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

150g plain flour

¼tsp baking powder

For the filling:

100ml raspberry or strawberry jam

200ml crème Chantilly or vanilla buttercream icing

Icing sugar, for dusting

Dragèes (metallic sugar balls), to decorate (optional)

Preheat the oven to 190ºC, 375ºF, gas 5. Line a 12-hole fairy cake tin, or a 24-hole tin for mini cakes, with 12 (or 24) paper cases.

Cream the butter in a large bowl or in an electric food mixer until soft. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating continuously, then sift in the flour and baking powder. (If you are pushed for time, and the butter is sufficiently soft, put the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour and baking powder into an electric food mixer and briefly whiz just until the mixture comes together.)

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. (The mini cakes may take just 5 mins.) Transfer the cakes to a wire rack to cool.

When cooled, cut the top off each cake, then cut the tops in half to make the butterfly wings. Set aside. Spread half a teaspoon or so of jam on the top of the cut cake, then spoon or pipe the crème Chantilly or buttercream on top of the jam. Arrange two butterfly wings at an angle on top of each cake. Dust generously with icing sugar and decorate with dragèes, if using.

Serves
makes 12 cupcakes

Preparation Time
40 minutes

Cooking Time
10 minutes

Main ingredients
Dairy, Flour

Recipe Type
Party Food, Cakes & Baking, Dessert, Easy, Cake Stall, Cupcakes

Special Info
Vegetarian, Pregnant Mums

Level of Difficulty
Easy

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