Vanilla cupcakes with choco surprise and smarties

Every so often my little niece gets bitten by the baker bug and then she puts on her cute little Miley Cyrus apron, dusts a little bit of flour on her hair (apparently this makes her look professional or so she seems to think) and then pesters me to help around in the kitchen (read..do the actual baking) while she walks around shouting instructions (I have a feeling she has been watching Hell's Kitchen on the sly) and looking harried and busy! So, today she started pulling me to the kitchen, I decided to take the easy route and make cupcakes. The extremely simple vanilla cupcakes with choco surprise and a smattering of smarties on top. The smattering of smarties, courtesy the niece. This is absolutely simple for all that is required to make them is to drop all the ingredients into the food processor and blitz until smooth and then bake em. Very simple yet very very satisfying to eat. Here are the things you need,

• 1 1/4 cups of flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• a pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• 125 grams butter
• 3 tbsp milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• small slabs of chocolate (Diary Milk, Lindt..whatever you have in your purse or in the fridge)
• Handful of smarties

Method:

1. Pre heat the oven 200 degree Celsius
2. In a food processor, blitz together all the ingredients except milk until smooth.
3. Then pour in the milk at the end and pulse until it combines well
4. Scoop the batter into your cupcake mould and press in a slab of chocolate in the middle.
5. Bake for 20 minutes until the cupcakes turn slightly golden on top
6. Remove and let it cool.
7. Sprinkle a few smarties on top
8. and then watch as your niece walks around telling everyone how difficult it was to bake the cupcakes but nonetheless how she did it on her OWN.
9. Sit back and smile!

No Frills Chocolate Cupcakes

Like I said, absolutely no frills. Simple and easy

Things you need:

Flour- 1 cup
Cocoa powder - 1/2 cup
Baking powder - 2 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
Sugar - 1 cup
Butter - 1 cup
Eggs - 3
Milk - 1/4 cup

Pre-heat oven to 175 degree Celsius.
On low speed or by hand whisk together the butter and sugar till its light and fluffy.
Now add eggs one at a time and whisk well.
Mix the flour, salt and baking powder well.
Also, mix the milk and vanilla essence.
Now add one part of the flour mix to the whisked egg mix and fold it in.
Then add one part of the milk mix and fold well.
Go on doing this alternately till all the flour and milk is well incorporated in to the egg mix.
Now, spoon the mix into the cupcake/muffin tray, about 1/2 or 3/4 full and bake for 20-25 minutes.