Valentine Recipe - Chocolate Cupcakes

In the midst of a rather wet and windy Winter, it is great to look forward to Valentine's Day. For me that means thinking about a new design for my cupcakes and letting the romantic in me come out into my designs. They not only need to taste good, but I think it is so important to make them look good too. Here is a simple recipe for Chocolate Valentine Cupcakes (makes 12)

Ingredients for sponge
175g butter or stork
175g caster sugar
165g self-raising flour
3 eggs (large)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1-2 teaspoons vanilla essence
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

For the icing

175g butter cut into small pieces
350g sifted icing sugar
2-3 tbsp milk
1-2 tsp vanilla essence

For the decoration
Fondant icing

Method
Turn on the oven to 180°C/ gas mark 4 and line a 12 hole muffin tray with muffin cases.
Put all sponge ingredients into a large bowl and mix with an electric whisk until smooth and evenly mixed.
Divide mixture evenly between the 12 muffin cases.
Bake for 20-25 min, the cakes should have risen well and are firm to touch.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely while you make icing.

 
Add the butter, milk and cocoa powder to another large bowl and add half the icing sugar and beat until smooth.
Add remaining icing sugar and beat again until smooth, then add the cocoa powder for a delicious chocolatey colour and taste.
Add the icing to an icing bag fitted with a star-shaped nozzle.
Pipe the chocolate icing on the top of cakes in a spiral pattern

Finally, roll out some coloured fondant icing, cut out the shapes you want with cutters or a knife and put them on the top of your cupcakes to complete the Valentine's look.