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Fairy cakes recipe

Fairy cakes recipe

439 ratings

Created by The Tesco Real Food team

Fairy cakes are the ultimate children's party classic and such an easy recipe to bake. Fluffy vanilla sponge, creamy icing and sweet strawberry jam are an irresistible combination in this traditional twist on cupcakes. See method

  • Serves 9
  • 15mins to prepare and 20mins to cook, plus 15mins to decorate
  • 485 calories / serving

Ingredients

  • 125g salted butter
  • 125g caster sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 125g (4oz) self-raising flour
  • 5ml (1tsp) vanilla extract
  • 15ml (1tbsp) milk

For the buttercream icing

  • 150g unsalted butter
  • 250g icing sugar
  • 10ml (2tsp) vanilla extract
  • 60ml (4tbsp) strawberry jam
  • icing sugar, for dusting
No self-raising flour? Add 2 tsp baking powder for every 150g plain flour

Each serving contains

  • Energy

    2030kj
    485kcal
    24%
  • Fat

    27g 39%
  • Saturates

    16g 78%
  • Sugars

    49g 54%
  • Salt

    0.2g 3%

of the reference intake
Carbohydrate 61.2g Protein 3.1g Fibre 0.5g

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 4, 180°C, fan 160°C. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with 9 cupcake cases.
  2. Put the butter and sugar into a bowl and whisk until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs, beating between each addition. If the mixture splits, add a tablespoon of flour and whisk until the batter is smooth.
  3. Sift the flour into the mixture and using a large metal spoon, then gently fold the flour until well combined. Stir in the vanilla essence and milk. The mixture should easily drop off a spoon.
  4. Spoon into the cases and cook for 18-20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the cake.
  5. To make the buttercream icing, put the butter in a large bowl and beat until creamy. Sift in the icing sugar and whisk until well combined. Add the vanilla extract. If the mixture is too stiff, add a little milk.
  6. Cut the top off each cake and then cut the slices in half. Cover each cake with the butter icing. Put a little strawberry jam on top of each cake and push the 2 half-slices into the buttercream at an angle to make a pair of wings.
  7. Dust with icing sugar and serve.

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