Jewelled Cupcakes

Ingredients

125 g (41/2 oz) butter or margarine
150 g (51/2 oz) caster sugar
1/2 tsp lemon zest
2 eggs
150 g (51/2 oz) plain flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
Cream Cheese Icing
110 g (4 oz) cream cheese, at room temperature
110 g (4 oz) butter, at room temperature
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
85 g (3 oz) icing sugar
Edible food colouring
Decorations
Edible jewels
Jelly beans in bright colours
Jelly tots
Jelly diamonds
Smarties or M&Ms in bright colours
Sugar diamonds

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Line a 12-holed muffin tin with 10 paper cases.

Cream the butter or margarine 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. Add 1 tablespoon of the flour with the second egg, beating continuously. Sift over the flour and baking powder then fold in gently. 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. Beat for 1 minute until fluffy. Transfer to a bowl and set aside in the fridge. If you wish, you can divide the icing into two bowls and colour each with a few drops of the different food colourings.

Once the cakes are cold, swirl some of the icing on top of them and stick a selection of decorations into the icing. Leave to stand for around 30 minutes to allow the icing to set.

Information

Makes 10 Cupcakes