Basic Vanilla Cupcake

Serves

Ingredients

1.	Pre-heat the oven to Gas Mark 4 / 180°c / 350°f. Line a muffin pan with 12 paper cases.
2.	Ensure all ingredients are room temperature before starting. Cream together the butter, sugar until light, pale and fluffy
3.	Crack the eggs in a jar, ensuring no shell, and lightly beat with the vanilla extract
4.	While the mixer is on medium speed, add the eggs a little at a time, ensuring each addition is incorporated before adding the next
5.	Once all the eggs are added, mix on full speed for a couple of minutes
6.	Turn down the speed of the mixer to low, and carefully add in the flour a spoonful at a time. Stop mixing as soon as all the flour is added
7.	Stir in the milk by hand a tablespoon at a time, just enough to ensure you have a loose and easily spoonable mixture
8.	Divide the mixture between the 12 cupcake cases, and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean
9.	Remove from muffin pan immediately, and transfer to a wire rack to fully cool before decorating

These will freeze nicely once baked. Just ensure you defrost thoroughly before decorating.