So we know we’ve got a couple of weeks to go until the day of romance, love, Me to You bears and candlelit dinners is upon us, but we thought we’d celebrate the 1st February with our favourite past time: baking. In preparation for V Day when we all plan to shower our housemates with cupcakes and heart shaped confetti, what better way to decorate today’s cupcakes than in the style of Valentine’s Day! Here’s how…
For 6 cupcakes you’ll need:-
6 tbsp butter, softened, or soft margarine
85g/3oz caster sugar
½ tsp vanilla essence
2 eggs, lightly beaten
70g/2 ½ oz plain flour
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
For the marzipan hearts:-
35g/1 ¼ oz marzipan
Red food colouring
Icing sugar, for dusting
Topping
4 tbsp butter, softened
115g/4oz icing sugar
25g/1oz plain chocolate, melted
Method:-
1. To make the hearts, knead the marzipan until pliable, then add a few drops of red colouring and knead until evenly coloured red. Roll out the marzipan to a thickness of 5mm/ ¼ inch on a work surface dusted with icing sugar. Using a small heart shaped cutter, or a paper template if you haven’t got any cutters, cut out 6 hearts. Place on a tray lined with waxed paper and dusted with icing sugar. Set aside for 3-4 hours.
2. Put 6 paper muffin cases in a muffin pan
3. Put the butter, sugar and vanilla essence in a bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs, beating well after each addition. Sift in the flour, cocoa and baking powder and, using a large metal spoon, fold into the mixture. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases.
4. Bake the cupcakes in a preheated over, 180®/350®F/Gas Mark 4, for 20-25 minutes or until well risen and firm to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack to cool
5. To make the topping, put the butter in a large bowl and beat until fluffy. Sift in the icing sugar and beat together until smooth. Add the melted chocolate and beat together until well mixed. When the cakes are cold, spread a little topping on top of each cake and decorate with a marzipan heart!
6. Devour and enjoy!