Little Betsy Baker asked hello naomi to make some Betsy themed cupcakes and one of her famous cake cakes for our website launch.  The results were amazing and are now featured on our home page images! 





Naomi has recently agreed to contribute to our Recipes & Tips page and we will be bringing you more tutorials in future. If you would like to see more of hello naomi's inspirational creations click on the image above for a link to her Flickr page.















Vanilla Cupcake Recipe

Makes 12

 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 cup castor sugar

2 vanilla beans or 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 free range eggs

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup self-raising flour

3/4 cup all-purpose flour






 

Steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 170C (350F). Line a 12 hole cupcake tray with standard size papers.

2. Sift the flours together and set aside.

3. Soften butter in the microwave.

4. Warm the milk in the microwave to luke warm.

5. Place the softened butter in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer (med-low speed) for 1 min until smooth.

6. Beat on med and add the sugar 1/3 at a time beating for a minute between additions. (The fluffier the butter and sugar is, the fluffier and higher your cupcakes will rise)

7. Add the vanilla seeds or extract and beat through.

8. Add the eggs one at a time mixing on med-low and for a minute in between additions.

9. Once the eggs are mixed remove mixing bowl from stand and using a wooden spoon mix in 1/3 of the flour. Mix until there are no lumps.

10. Add 1/2 of the milk and mix until well combined.

11. Add another 1/3 of the flour, mix until no lumps. Mix through the rest of the milk until well combined and then mix through the rest of the flour until there are no lumps.







12. Spoon mixture into cupcake papers about 2/3 full using an ice cream scoop. Bake on the middle rack for 18-20 minutes until golden (rotate tray after about 15 min).

 




13. Remove from tray and cool on a wire rack for at least 45 minutes before decorating.

 





Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.










Covering your Cupcakes with Fondant

Makes 12

 

 

 

What you will need:

12 vanilla cupcakes

500g ready to roll white icing (fondant)

Wilton Red paste colour

Wilton Blue paste colour

Circle cutters (the same size as your cupcake tops)

2 size heart cutters

Non-stick small rolling pin

Non-stick mat

Pure icing sugar or cornflour for dusting

Sugar Shaker

Spatula/Palette Knife

Water or cake decorating glue w/ small paintbrush










1.  Divide the fondant into 4. Using a non-stick mat, dye one lot of fondant red, one pink, one blue and leave the other white. Colouring is done by kneeding drops of colour into the fondant until mixed through evenly. Pink is made by using a small amount of the red dye, red is eventually achieved by using a fair amount of dye (using a paste colour is much faster than using liquid dye). Use sifted icing sugar to soak up any moisture from the dye and prevent sticking. Wrap each colour in cling wrap. Wipe mat after each colour.

 

2.  Roll out the white fondant until aprox a quarter inch thick. Dust icing sugar on the top and bottom if sticking and dust away excess.

 

3. Cut out 3 circles using the circle cutter. Using a pallet knife or flat knife lift each circle, lightly wet the back using a paint brush and place onto a cupcake. Smooth the top and edges using the palm of your hand. Wrap excess fondant in cling wrap.





4. Repeat for 3 pink cupcakes and 6 blue ones.









5. Once all the cupcakes are covered it is time to decorate them. Roll out the remaining pink fondant and cut out 3 large hearts. Lightly wet the back and place in the middle of 3 blue cupcakes. Roll out the remaining white fondant, cut out 3 large hearts, lightly wet the back and place in the middle of the remaining 3 blue cupcakes.

 

6. Roll out the red fondant, cut out 12 hearts, lightly wet the back and place in the middle of each cupcake.

 

7. Package them in a cute box with tissue paper, alternating designs, and give them to someone special!