Cupcakes for Canterbury

On Saturday 4 September there was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Canterbury destroying a lot of Christchurch city and homes all around the Canterbury region.  Red Cross are on the ground in Christchurch and around Canterbury helping out.  Being so far away in Auckland and feeling rather helpless I thought I could bake a big batch of cupcakes and sell them on at work to make some money to donate.  Vanilla cupcakes with butter cream icing recipe below.

Ingredients (makes 12)
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup self raising flour
2 eggs
125 grams butter, softened
3 tablespoons milk
2 cups icing sugar
125 grams butter, softened
2 tablespoons milk
Food colouring
Cupcake papers

Directions
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.  Using an electric mixer beat the sugar, vanilla extract and butter until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs one at a time and beat well after each addition.  Add the milk and flour alternately and mix until combined.  Line a 12 hole muffin tin with cupcake papers and place tablespoon dollops of the mixture into each paper.  Bake for 12 - 15 minutes or until golden.

When the cupcakes have cooled beat the butter until light and fluffy, stir in the milk and icing sugar.  Add food colouring of your choice until you get the colour you desire.  Pipe or spread the icing onto the cupcakes.  I have also used fondant on these cupcakes and glitter icing pens..