Pretty in pink heart cakes

On my one week holiday break from work (yes, i only got a week & one day off!) i was baking something almost everyday :) This was the first.. i found it in the better homes & garden December issue, but instead of buying a sponge slab cake - i cut out hearts from cupcakes (a lot of wastage, but i never seem to get any 'cakes' right when i do try to bake them)

Cupcake batter:

makes about 12

1.1/3 cup plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

100g softened butter

3/4 cup casor sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tbs vanilla extract

1/2 cup milk

Pre heat oven to 170"c

Sift together flour & baking powder.

In a separate bowl, cream butter for 1-2 minutes. Add the sugar a third at a time, beating for two minutes after each addition. After the last addition, beat until mixture is light & fluffy and the sugar has almost dissolved.

Add eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition or until mixture is light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat until combined.

Add a third of the flour to the creamed mixture, and beat on low speed until combined. Add half the milk and beat until combined. Repeat this process. Add the remaining third of the flour and beat until thoroughly combined (do not over beat cos this will toughen the mixture)

Spoon into cupcake patties and bake for 18-20 minutes. Remove cupcakes from tray and let cool completely before cutting out the hearts.

So as you can see i wasted a lot of cupcake (but not to fear, my mom likes eating plain cupcakes so she snacked on bits for a few days after hehe. An easier option is to make a slab of sponge cake, or to buy one (as the recipe in the mag calls for anyway)

to assemble the cakes:

Raspberry or strawberry jam whatever you have (about 2/3 cup)

1.5 cups icing sugar

1 tbs butter (at room temp)

2/3 tbs boiling water

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

1 drop red food coloring

edible sugar roses (or any other decoration that you want to use)

So, before you cut out your hearts , slice your cupcake in half horizontally first - then cut out the hearts from the top half and the bottom half separately (its neater this way rather then trying to do both top and bottom in one go)

spread one side with jam and sandwich with another piece.

Sift icing sugar into a small bowl and add butter. Stir in enough hot water to form a firm paste. Stir through vanilla and red food coloring until a runny icing forms. Stir till smooth.

Spoon icing over cakes allowing it to drizzle over sides. Top with decoration and set aside until the icing has set.

I actually ran out of butter, so my icing came out slightly translucent! But these cakes were so fun to make (it took me about 2.5 hrs all up but cos i was also watching a movie at the same time tee hee).

I had bought these heart shaped cookie cutters a few months back (impulse spend) so i'm glad i finally got to use them.

Another thing i did a lot over my break was play the new super mario on my DS - I'm totally addicted to it, that i sometimes snap at anyone who tries to ask me anything while i'm playing :)