Birthday chocolate cupcakes.

Nothing says Happy Birthday better than a chocolate cupcake. A chocolate cupcake covered in buttercream, white chocolate stars and sprinkles. I made these cupcakes for the Mr's nieces birthday party. I had originally planned to go to the party but I had to work instead. Boo! But I sent the Mr with some food to take. I did sneak one of these for myself. I did spend the afternoon baking them so I figured I deserved it!  I've got quite a few birthdays coming up so I need to start planning cake ideas. I can't reveal all yet just in case people are reading! (You know who you are).

I'm very excited for our shopping trip on Friday. I plan to go into Lakeland but I've got a horrible feeling it's going to cost me a lot of money. Their bakeware is just perfection. Onto the recipe!

You will need:

For the cupcakes.

60g  cocoa powder

4 or 5 tablespoons boiling hot water

175g unsalted butter, softened

175g caster sugar

120g self-raising flour

1 level teaspoon baking powder

3 eggs

For the icing

100g icing sugar

100g butter

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 capful of milk

1 tbsp vanilla extract

selection of sprinkles

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C / Gas mark 6. Line 2 - 12 hole bun trays with paper cases.

Sift the cocoa into a large bowl; add 4 tablespoons of boiling water and mix into a thick chocolate syrup, adding more water if you needed. 

Add the softened butter, sugar, self-raising flour, baking powder and eggs. Mix with electric beaters until smooth and evenly mixed.

Spoon teaspoons of the mixture into the paper cases, filling them 3/4 full. 

Bake for 10 minutes, or until the sponge mixture has risen and the cupcakes spring back when you touch them. 

Remove from the oven; cool on a wire rack.

To make the icing. Combine all the ingredients into the bowl and beat together, using an electric whisk, Beat until light a fluffy.

Pipe the icing onto the cupcakes and sprinkle over the stars and sprinkles (or whatever you fancy!).

Enjoy!