In collaboration with the RNLI – the charity that saves lives at sea.
This is my husband’s most favourite cupcake recipe. They are super simple to make and never last very long in our house. I made them for my husband as a, um, well, “I’m sorry” for actually swooning over a real life bonafide Viking the other day.
I’m not sure he realises they were apology cupcakes made in a bid to sweeten him up a bit, but I felt a bit better afterwards and he was delighted that there were cupcakes so all is well.
You see, the Draken Harald Hårfagre, the world’s biggest Viking ship in modern times, was in town the other day doing some minor repairs on her mast before carrying onwards with her #ExpeditionAmerica2016 journey to North America via Faroe, Iceland and Greenland.
At the same time the ship was in harbour my family and I were in town. I had been invited to a gin tasting session with Shetland Reel Gin and my husband drove me into town to attend (so he could drive me home). He was going to take the kids to see The Jungle Book at the cinema (perfect timing) while I was gin tasting.
So yes, as we don’t get into town often we all had a few errands to run. Me, I was looking for some preserving jars for jam while my husband and daughter were off to the music shop to buy her a new half size electric guitar and amp.
While I was in the department store I spotted one of the Draken crew searching for something, unsuccessfully, with the shop assistant. I didn’t know what he was after but I overheard the shop assistant recommend he check a nearby motorcycle shop.
The department store didn’t have what I wanted, so I went to check another nearby shop, and I spotted said big burly bearded viking walking back from the motorcycle shop empty handed.
Impulsively I stopped him and asked what he was looking for. “A five litre container for water,” replied with his dreamy Nordic accent, “to put water into the engine.” I assumed it was for the Draken Harald Hårfagre support vessel Vikingfjord. Given that it was 15 minutes until all the shops on the street closed I thought it was unlikely he’d find what he wanted, but I suggested the local charity shop nearby as you never know what you might find there.
I carried on to the next shop to search for what I was looking for, then realised, as I was looking for preserving jars, that perhaps this shop might have what he needed. They didn’t. They didn’t have what I wanted either, so I headed back to the music shop to meet up with my husband.
Just outside the front door of the shop I bumped into a friend I hadn’t seen in awhile. I asked her if she knew where I might find a five litre container (I was determined to find said object – I had no idea if the ships were setting sail for America in 15 minutes or not) and she suggested a DIY shop on the waterfront I’d completely forgotten existed. I had 7 minutes until it closed, so I legged it. They had what he wanted! So I bought it, and tracked said Viking down on the pier.
“You are marvelous!” he said, blue eyes glinting in the sunlight.
I swooned.
“But we’ve already found a container,” he continued.
“No worries, I can use this at home then,” I replied, “Safe travels!”
I headed back to the music shop again and exclaimed to my husband with great enthusiasm: “Ragnar Lothbrok has just told me I was marvelous!” (Vikings fans will know who I am talking about).
“You are marvelous!” he replied, and he gave me a kiss as we parted – I was rushing to get to the gin tasting session.
The gin tasting session was rather a pleasant experience. We were given four different samples to try to feed back what our favourites were. This information will be used to help the company decide which new gin to launch this summer at the Edinburgh Gin Festival on the 10th of June. Exciting times!
So yes, after the gin tasting session (might I advise never to attempt to do a grocery shop after a gin tasting session on an empty stomach while waiting for your husband to come and collect you?) on the drive home my husband asked what I was on about with this Ragnar Lothbrok comment. So I recounted the tale.
He drove, silent and somewhat stony faced. I suppose husbands don’t particularly like to hear when their wives have been swooning over other men, even if they’re big burly bearded Vikings on a grand sailing adventure from Norway to North America, but we’re all allowed to look, right?
So the next day I made him his favourite cupcakes. My way of making it up to him.
MAYDAY!!!
Press the play button, below, to get the full effect of what I’m about to say.
MAYDAY! MAYDAY!
ALERT: Elizabeth has been called away. Her pager has just gone off. (if you’ve pressed play you’ll be hearing the piercing sound it makes when a Launch Lifeboat alert has been issued – I recorded this a few years back just before we headed out on a rescue).
I am an RNLI volunteer at Britain’s most northerly lifeboat station. At any given moment my pager could go off alerting us that there is someone in need out at sea.
How often are you asked to drop everything in an instant to go and save someone’s life? RNLI crew members can be called away at any time, day or night. Whether they are about to get married, go to a concert or are out with friends, they drop everything as soon as the Mayday distress call comes in.
Do consider supporting these volunteer men and women this Mayday to raise vital funds to keep the charity and its 237 lifeboat stations operating.
For more information about Mayday and to see how you can get involved visit RNLI.org/Mayday.
Ok, on this particular occasion my pager didn’t really go off, but in between baking these cupcakes and frosting them I went for a 17 mile mountain cycle ride – training for the epic 250 mile mountain bike ride I am going on this June. I may not be going on grand trans-Atlantic sailing adventures on Viking ships, but I am living my own little adventurous life. I am fundraising for the RNLI with this trip – you can sponsor me online or there’s a paper form in my village shop for those of you who know me in person.
In the meantime, here is a seriously awesome chocolate and vanilla cupcake recipe if you ever find yourself needing to sweeten your husband up a bit, for whatever reason. 😉
At the time of writing the Draken Harald Hårfagre has just set sail from Lerwick harbour en route to Iceland. I might be continuously refreshing the Marine Traffic page to see what route she’s going to take as she sails by the west side of Shetland – might have to take a little drive to the coast to see if I can catch a glimpse of her in full sail!
You can follow their adventures on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Chocolate & Vanilla Cupcakes
Ingredients
for the chocolate cupcakes
- 100 grams unsalted butter room temperature
- 200 grams caster sugar
- 2 eggs beaten
- 150 grams plain flour I used Marriage's wholegrain
- 165 ml full fat milk
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 0.5 tsp bicarbonate of soda use a heaped measure
- 35 grams cocoa powder
for the vanilla buttercream
- 175 grams unsalted butter room temperature
- 300 grams icing sugar
- 1 tsp Madagascar bourbon vanilla bean paste
- 1 tbsp full fat milk
- chocolate crispie sprinkles to decorate
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180 C/160 C (fan)/350 F/Gas 4 and line a 12 hole muffin tin with large cupcake cases.
- Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat well.
- Sift in the flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda and cocoa powder. Pour in the milk and and beat to combine well.
- Spoon into the prepared cupcake cases and bake for 12-15 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Cool in the tin for five minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To prepare the frosting beat the butter and vanilla in a bowl until soft, sift in the icing sugar and beat well. Add the milk if the frosting is too stiff. Alternatively, place all the ingredients into an Optimum Thermocook and blend for a few seconds, scrape down, and blend again and again until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Frost your cupcakes and sprinkle with the chocolate crispies, if desired.
Notes
Click here to view the nutritional information for this recipe.
OTHER RECIPES TO SWEETEN YOUR SPOUSE UP WITH
Raspberry & Almond Cake by The Hedgecombers
Bailey’s Baked Doughnuts with a Bailey’s Glaze by Recipes from a Pantry
Indulgent Chocolate Salted Caramel Cake by Munchies & Munchkins
Bounty Full Chocolate Biscuit Birthday Cake by Tin & Thyme
Raspberry and White Chocolate Cupcakes by The Lovely Appetite
Dairy Free Raspberry Chocolates by Eats Amazing
Chocolate Fudge Cake with Raspberries by Citrus Spice
Cinnamon Doughnuts, Baked not Fried by Coffee & Vanilla
BLOG LINKIES
How to Sundays by Monkey and Mouse
Recipe of the Week by A Mummy Too
Love Cake by Jibber Jabber UK
Treat Petite by Cakeyboi and The Baking Explorer
In other news… some of you lovely folk have very kindly nominated me for a BritMums Brilliance in Blogging Food Award and I’ve made it to the Shortlist! Thank you, thank you! If you like my recipes, photography and random meandering adventure stories I’d really love it if you cast your vote for the Finals. You can help me become an award winning blogger! Click here or on the image below to take you to the voting page! 🙂
[wysija_form id=”1″]
Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Emily says
I made this and it was amazing!!!!!!
Andrew Petrie says
In the heady World of cup cakes these stand out a mile. Gorgeous !
margaret beardmore says
it would be nice to have UK imperial weights for ingredients as well
claire blaney says
Mmm cupcakes are on of my faves i love all the flavors you can get them in
nessjibberjabberuk says
A classic combination for a cupcake! My daughter is going to go out with the Whitby RNLI crew next month so I will make sure she knows all about the MAYDAY campaign.
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
Stunning cupcakes – thanks for linking them up with Treat Petite! What a fantastic cause you are supporting here too, I hope you raise lots!
Corinne says
Haha, cupcakes seem like a great way to make it up to him. They look lovely!
Corinne x
Hayley @ Snap Happy Bakes says
A great cupcake recipe. Delicious! Thanks for linking to #CookBlogShare. Ps sorry I’m late popping over to comment 🙂
Margot says
Oh, those look amazing Elizabeth. I’m sure your husband was delighted that you made his favourite cupcakes! Mine has rather savoury tooth but I managed to please him with my cinnamon doughnuts, thanks for the link.
Psychic Nest says
Hi Elizabeth,
Gorgeous story, your husband totally deserved those cupcakes! I wish you all the best finding a sponsor. Keep it up with the great work!
Zaria
Anosa says
I probably would be baking these myself if m favourite viking was in town or in the vicinity lol. Thanks for the recipe.
Charlotte Oates says
What an incredible thing to do (lifeboat volunteering, not flirting with Vikings!), I’ve got a huge soft spot for the RNLI as a charity as they scattered my Granpda’s ashes at sea for us – something I’m sure he would have loved.
All the best with your ride – I’ll pop over and sponsor you in a bit x
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
Congratulations on getting to the finals of the Bibs! Only the other week we watched a programme and Shetland Reel was featured on it. I do like a good gin and hope to keep an eye out for some soon. We are up in Scotland at the end of the month so hope to see some. These cakes look and sound delicious and I love the story about the viking. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
WhatLauraLoves says
Gosh that is a loud, piercing sound, I’ll be hearing it in my sleep lol
These cupcakes look lush and if they taste as good as they look, well I’ll be a happy bunny! xxx
Harriet from Toby & Roo says
Oh my word, these look delectable. You take the best pictures! H x
Jenni - Odd Socks and Lollipops says
Sounds like a very eventful day! And those cupcakes sound delicious! The ship looks amazing! It must have been a sight to see!
Hannah says
This was such a lovely read – the cupcakes look so yummy too!!
Ayse says
Those cupcakes look delish! Haha I’ve had a few awkward swoon moments and been caught by my other half… He didn’t get cupcakes though. I best not let him see this haha
Liz Mays says
I could really go for one of those cupcakes right now. They’re so pretty. Those flavors sound great too!
Karly says
Oh wow, that is some amazing work you do! I can’t imagine what it must be like when that call comes in. Also, I’d be swooning over Vikings too, ha ha ha!
Oliver says
Fabulous post! You’re such a great storyteller, Elizabeth!
Oliver • http://suedeandsymphony.com
Lynette says
Yummy looking and sounding cupcakes. You’ve just reminded me that I need to get round to watching Vikings too!
Rhian Westbury says
Gin tasting sounds amazing and these cupcakes also sound spot on. x
Stuart Vettese says
Gin and cupcakes – you know the way to my heart Elizabeth! Love the wee tale here x
Ickle Pickle says
Oh I am sure these delicious cupcakes did sweeten hubby! There is nothing wrong with a little swoon (keep him on his toes!!) Kaz x
Ana De- Jesus says
Glad that your husband was ok with it in the end and how cool that your got to meet Mr Viking and he told you, you were marvelous. It does not get any better than that. By the way loving the hat photos!
sarah says
Those cupcakes looks AMAZING! Chocolate and vanilla are my favourite combination 😀 Yum! I’ll have to give these a try 🙂 xx
Lucy says
The gin tasting sounds like a lot of fun, and those cupcakes look amazing! I just bought some vanilla bean paste and I love it. Can’t wait to use it in this recipe!
Abbey Michelle says
A very fun post! And so glad your husband got his favourite cup cakes in the end! Busy few days 🙂
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
What a gorgeous cupcake! My mother always made chocolate cake with vanilla icing, and I have a soft spot in my heart for it still — wonderful post, that Viking ship is awesome 🙂
Katie Bryson says
Such a fun post Elizabeth… I would also lose the plot over a burly Viking so can totally understand your keenness to help him out!!! Fab pics of the cupcakes with your daughter in her floppy hat too…
Charlotte says
These look so delicious! I can almost taste the frosting! 🙂 x
Jessica McDonnell says
Those cupcakes look so yummy! I need to do more baking.
Miss Kiity Kaos says
I don’t blame you for swooning over Vikings I would too but I’m sure your hubby loved the cupcakes! They look amazing and I will be attempting this recipe X
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
I see why these are your husbands fav cupcakes!
And I gotta say, your story is my fav this morning!
Anca says
The cupcakes look yummy! Well done for volunteering with RNLI, it’s such an important cause.
Lucy @ BakingQueen74 says
What a great story! Going to google the Viking ship now, it (and the Viking) sounds intriguing. Gin tasting while the husband takes the kids to the cinema sounds like my idea of heaven.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
I don’t know if I love the cupcakes or your story more! Thanks for sharing 🙂
ginger and scotch says
What an amusing story – could be a scene in an Outlander novel.
Beautiful cupcakes too!
Jolina - The Unlikely Baker says
What delightful cupcakes! They’re sure to melt anybody’s heart 🙂 I love your pictures of the boats too. And I can certainly understand the swooning. I don’t watch Vikings (despite everybody telling me to) but I am obsessed with The Last Kingdom. It’s on Netflix, see what you think of Uthred son of Uthred lol
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Gin tasting while your husband and kids are at the movies. I want YOUR life!
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes says
These look delicious!! I haven’t tried making cupcakes in a long time, but any excuse to butter up the husband right!? Haha. Your lifeboat rescues and cycling trip sound amazing!
Sarah says
Love the story you tell in this post and absolutely drool at the vanilla-chocolate combo cupcake! Can’t wait to try…Nice job!
Amanda | Chew Town says
How wonderful that you volunteer to help people in need! I do love these cupcakes – your piping is spot on. The addition of chocolate crispy sprinkles make them look too delicious to eat!
Melanie Edjourian says
If I had eggs I would make those right now they look great.
Kira C says
I’ve never had gin so i’d quite like to have a tasting session! Those cakes look absolutely delicious!!!
Sarah Bailey says
Oh wow those look absolutely delicious – have to admit I am envious of those who can do perfect swirls! x
nicol says
these look amazing. I’m eating a blueberry muffin at the moment and now i want these
Victoria says
Okay. You totally put my baking attempts to shame! These look amazing.. I will master cupcakes!
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs says
I think I can offer some comfort here. First of all, I would TOTALLY have swooned too… secondly, I’m always buttering up my other half with sweet treats when he’s made / upset with me. He seems oblivious but it works every time lol. They do say the way to a mans heart is through his stomach 😉 great post!
Nayna Kanabar says
The cupcakes look droolworthy I am not surprised your hubby loves them.You can’t go wrong with chocolate in a cake.
Emily Coates says
I loved reading this story! Gin tasting and cupcake baking sounds the perfect weekend too (plus the viking obv) x
Kate | The Veg Space says
Those look gorgeous, and I love the Viking story – brilliant!! Fantastic work volunteering for RNLI, I visited a lifeboat station recently and learned so much about the amazing work they do.
Tracy | Baking Mischief says
Ummm, if that man looked anything like Travis Fimmel, you were totally within your ogling rights! These cupcakes look so good. I love the classic vanilla and chocolate combo and those sprinkles are too cute!
Rachel says
Seriously, can you cook something with kidney beans and tinned carrots so I am not hungry when I get to the bottom of the page ha x
Ali @ Home & Plate says
Love the smile on your daughter’s face holding the apology cupcakes. Who could turn those down. The photos of the viking ship are amazing and my son got a kick out of them. The cupcakes look just as amazing!
MakeUp Fun says
Awesomeeeeeee! I will absolutely make these… seem delicious and simple to make. I love the photos too! So cute xx
MsPrettyLThings says
Cup cakes look amazing and sound tasty as… I just wish there was a picture of the viking.. you tease you!
Sara says
Um… Yum! These are gorgeous cupcakes! I am adding this recipe to my must bake list!
Mellissa Williams says
That’s one impressive Viking shop and one gorgeous looking cupcake! I am going to have to make these for my son.
StressedMum says
I love baking, these look lovely am going to be trying these out on my next baking session x
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
I did some research on that boat and the only shelter is a tent in the middle! How the Vikings did it without modern navigational aids is amazing.
Thank you for all your RNLI work – I have sailed so much throughout the years and have so much admiration for everyone who volunteers for the RNLI. Their selflessness offers so much peace of mind when you step onto a small yacht.
Rebecca Smith says
Those cupcakes look divine. Also, the RNLI are such a great cause
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
Ha! Ha! What a brilliant story. I can’t say I blame your hubby for being less than thrilled hearing you chased a big hunk of a man down. . .but it seems these divine cupcakes may have made him forget about this innocent obsession. Of course, these beauties would cause anyone to forget just about anything except the chocolate-y vanilla goodness sitting in front of them.
BTW. . .good luck training for your mountain bike ride. It’s been eons since I got a cook mountain biking ride in.
Dean of Little Steps says
That looks amazing! I can’t wait to have my kitchen back and try out all your recipes… not that they’ll ever turn out as good as yours 😉 x
Stella says
Cupcakes look divine. You make me want to bake.
Sarah - Craft Invaders says
Ha ha I want to see some pics too – although have to say my imagination is doing the job pretty well. Never seem to bump into Vikings in Wiltshire (sadface) The cupcakes also look fab x
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
Lovely story Elizabeth, and those cupcakes look delicious Those Viking ships are really quite something…they must look even more amazing in real life (and probably even more so with a big burley bearded vikings aboard), and like Janie, Chocolette and Helen I’d love to have seen an image (or two) of said Viking 🙂 #HowtoSunays
Angela x
Sarah Stockley says
Fantastic! I am a huge Vikings fan, so I get where you are coming from!! The cakes sound delicious. My girls visited the lifeboat last weekend in Sussex- what a great charity! Sarah #HowToSunday
Helen says
The cupcakes look delicious! Hope your husband has forgiven you now. Like Janie I also want to see photos of real life Vikings lol
Life as Mum says
Amazing sotry. Those cakes look so delicious!
DannyUK.com says
These cupcakes look lovely! Great work for the lifeboats too 🙂
Choclette says
Well I’m in complete agreement with your husband, you are amazing. But where are the pictures of said hunky Viking? Rather desperate to see one now 😉
And hats off to you for your RNLI work. Critical in Shetland as it is here in Cornwall.
munchies and munchkins says
This story is amazing. Love it. Lucky husband getting those cakes..don’t be surprised if he seems to get sulkier more and more just to get the cakes!! ha x
Janie says
Wow, I’m smitten too Elizabeth! But where, prey tell, are the photos of the big burly Viking??! I wonder if we can find some on their Twitter page… 😉
Janie x