Vanilla cupcakes

Ingredients

• 200g butter, softened
• 1å_ cups caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups self-raising flour, sifted
• 1å_ cups milk

Method

Preheat the oven to 180å¡C or 160å¡ fan-forced. Line 2 x 12-cup cupcake tins with patty pans and set aside.

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter until pale. Add the sugar and beat until the mixture is creamy.

With the mixer still running, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and mix until well combined.

Add the flour and milk alternately, a little at a time, mixing until combined.

Spoon the mixture into the patty cases and bake for 18-20 minutes, until cooked and golden-brown.

Notes:

• To make orange-flavoured cupcakes, omit the vanilla and add the finely grated zest of an orange, and replace å_ a cup of the milk with freshly squeezed orange juice.
• To turn these into chocolate cupcakes, omit the vanilla and add å_ cup of sifted cocoa.
• This recipe was created by Jennifer Cheung for Kidspot, New Zealand’s best recipe finder.