It was yet another cold, dark, dreary day here in Shetland on this, the last day of 2012. It was pouring down with rain and the children are on their school holidays and were desperately needing entertained. What to do?
Karen over at Lavendar & Lovage has set a cooking challenge of baking with citrus fruit for a zingy start to 2013 in Tea Time Treats, a food blogging challenge alternately hosted by Karen and Kate at What Kate Baked. Also, I have recently been sent a box of goodies to try out from Sugar and Crumbs filled with flavoured cocoa powders and icing sugars, which my children have been anxious to experiment with (eat!) since it arrived. One of the icing sugars was flavoured with strawberry, so that got me thinking. My six year old daughter and I headed to the kitchen, her with her new cupcake chef’s hat and apron and me with my new copy of The Great British Bake Off: How to Turn Everyday Bakes into Showstoppers, a Christmas gift from my children which they didn’t see until I unwrapped it Christmas morning – aren’t they thoughtful! Somehow it ended in my trolley at the supermarket without anyone seeing… somehow…
So, this is what we came up with using the ingredients we had. We adapted a recipe for English Summer Cupcakes to incorporate citrus and the strawberry flavoured icing sugar. DD did most of the work – I just talked her through it and helped out here and there with some of the trickier bits. She did have full intentions of making a lovely swirled icing on her own, but she’s a bit too little yet to master the piping bag, so she ended up frosting the cakes using a palette knife and plenty of sprinkles. The three in the photo above were mine trying to show her what to do. I took that photo during the daily half hour of decent light photo opportunity while she happily decorated the remaining cupcakes. I may have pinched her new minature-sized baking set for props! Aren’t they adorable!
This is her first contribution to Tea Time Treats. Enjoy! As this is my last post for 2012 might I take this opportunity to wish all my readers a Happy New Year and all the best for 2013.
- 125 grams unsalted butter, softened
- 175 grams caster sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 175 grams self-raising flour
- pinch of salt
- 3 tbsp milk
- 100 grams strawberries, hulled and chopped into small pieces
- zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
- 200 grams strawberry delight icing sugar
- 100 grams unsalted butter, softened
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 12 cupcakes
Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Mich Piece of Cake says
Hello, I’m dropping by via Tea Time Treats! These cupcakes are gorgeous. And your little girl is talented to be able to make these so young.
Elizabeth says
Thanks 🙂 She is a clever little thing – very creative (but she did have a little help – I told her what to do and she did all the stirring, mixing and spooning herself). 🙂
Beck Willis says
Good idea using lemon and strawberry to compliment each other.
Elizabeth says
Thanks, it really worked well. They were srummy!
Julia says
I love young madame’s new cooking gear! Was it mummy-made? The cakes sound and look delicious!
Elizabeth says
No, I didn’t make it – L picked up the set in the Voe shop, of all places! It’s a fab little set, super cute!
Julia says
I love young madame’s new cooking gear! The cakes sound delicious!
Julia says
I love young madame’s new cooking gear! The cakes sound delicious!
Karen S Booth says
A FABULOUS entry thanks Elizabeth and great photos too! What a lovely scene, baking in the kitchen with your daughter….I used to do that with Hannah when she was little. Happy New Year, Karen
Elizabeth says
It is lovely to be able to spend quality time together. Being a stay-at-home Mum certainly has its advantages!