Malteser Cupcakes

Method

• step 1

  FOR THE CUPCAKES: Preheat the oven to 180c and line a cupcake/muffin tin with cupcake cases

• step 2

  Cream together the butter and both sugars until it is light and fluffy. i like to use an electric whisk to do this.

• step 3

  add all the vanilla and then the eggs. whisking well after each addition. If the mixture begins to look like it has curdled add a couple of tbsp of the flour and beat well until the mixture looks smooth.

• step 4

  using a metal spoon fold in the flour, baking powder and salt. Then stir in the maltesers.

• step 5

  divide the mixture equally between the 12 cupcake cases and bake in the oven for about 25 min or until a skewer inserted in to the middle of a cupcake comes out clean. Once cooked remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin.

• step 6

  FOR THE BUTTER CREAM: Using an electric handwhisk, whisk together butter icing sugar and vanilla until it becomes pale and fluffy.

• step 7

  You can either dolop the buttercream on top of each cupcake and spread it around with a knife. Or for a more professional look fit a piping bag with a 1cm star nozzle and pipe the buttercream on top of the cupcakes. sprinkle on some crushed maltesers to finish.