Princess cupcakes

Equipment

You'll need 24 Polly Pocket dolls or miniature dolls, with legs removed.

Rich chocolate cupcakes

250g butter, chopped

200g dark chocolate, chopped

2 cups caster sugar

1 1/2 cups self-raising flour

3/4 cup plain flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Icing

500g butter, softened

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1kg icing sugar mixture

1/4 cup milk

Pink gel food colouring

Green gel food colouring

Method

Step 1

Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Line two 12-hole, 1/3 cup capacity muffin pans with paper cases.

Step 2

Place butter, 1 1/2 cups cold water, chocolate and caster sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until melted. Stand for 10 minutes to cool.

Step 3

Sift flours and cocoa into a large bowl. Gradually pour in cooled chocolate mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon until mixture is combined and smooth. Add egg and stir until combined.

Step 4

Spoon mixture into prepared pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre of 1 cake comes out clean. Stand in pans for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Step 5

Make icing: Using an electric mixer, beat butter and vanilla until pale and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Gradually add icing sugar and milk, beating constantly until combined. Divide frosting between 2 bowls. Tint 1 portion pink and 1 portion green.

Step 6

Spoon pink frosting into a large piping bag fitted with a 1.3cm fluted nozzle. Using the picture as a guide, pipe frosting on top of 12 cupcakes to resemble dresses. Carefully push 1 doll into the centre of frosting on each cake.

Step 7

Repeat with green frosting and remaining cupcakes and dolls. Serve.

#birthday #cupcakes