Mary Berry Chocolate Butterfly Cakes Food

MARY BERRY'S MALTED CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas 4. Grease 2x20cm round sandwich tins with butter and line the bases with baking paper.
• Measure the malted chocolate drink powder and cocoa powder into a large bowl, pour over 2 tablespoons of water and mix to a paste. Add the remaining cake ingredients and beat until smooth.
• Divide evenly between the prepared tins and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Set aside in the tins to cool for 5 minutes, then turn out on to a wire rack to cool completely.
• To make the icing, measure the malted chocolate drink powder into a bowl, add the hot milk and mix until smooth. Add the butter, icing sugar and melted chocolate and mix again until smooth, then add the boiling water to give a gloss to the icing.
• Place one cake on a plate and spread over half the icing. Sandwich with the other cake and spread (or pipe) the remaining icing on top, using the tip of a rounded palette knife to create a swirled effect from the centre to the edge of the cake.
• Arrange the Maltesers over the top and dust with icing sugar before serving.

BUTTERFLY CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/gas 6. Place fairy cake cases into a 12-hole bun tin, so that the cakes keep a good even shape as they bake. Measure all the cake ingredients into a large bowl and beat well for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is well blended and smooth. Fill each paper case with the mixture. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cakes are well risen and golden brown. Lift the paper cases out of the bun tin and cool the cakes on a wire rack. To make the icing, beat the butter and icing sugar together until well blended. Cut a slice from the top of each cake and cut this slice in half. Pipe a swirl of butter cream into the centre of each cake and place the half slices of cake on top to resemble butterfly wings. Dust the cakes with icing sugar to finish.

GLUTEN FREE FAIRY CAKES

Steps:

• make sure you have 12 paper cases handy.
• Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
• Cream together margarine and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Beat in eggs and vanilla, followed by the sifted baking powder, sifted flour and milk.
• Half fill paper cases standing on baking tray.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes.
• When cold, decorate the top with jam or icing or just icing sugar, if desired.

CHOCOLATE FAIRY CAKES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 12-hole bun tin with paper cases. Put the sugar and butter in a bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Gradually mix in the eggs and vanilla until combined.
• Add the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder to the bowl and mix to make a smooth batter. Fold the milk through to loosen. Divide the mixture between the cases using a spoon. Bake for 20 mins, or until a cocktail stick poked into the centre of one of the cakes in the middle row comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 5-10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely
• While the cakes are cooling, make the icing. Beat together the butter, icing sugar and cocoa powder in a bowl for 5-10 mins, until you have a smooth, creamy consistency. Add the milk to loosen if needed. Pipe or spread on top of the cooled cupcakes.

BUTTERFLY CAKES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a cupcake tin with 10 cases. To make the sponge, tip the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking powder and milk into a large mixing bowl and beat with either a hand whisk or electric mixer until smooth, pale and combined. Divide the batter between the cases and bake for 15 mins until golden brown and a skewer inserted in the middle of a cake comes out clean. Leave on a wire rack to cool.
• While the cakes are cooling, make the buttercream by beating together the icing sugar, butter and vanilla until pale and fluffy. Mix in the extra milk if the icing feels too stiff.
• Once the cakes are cool, use a sharp knife to slice off the tops, then cut the tops in half. Pipe or spread the buttercream on top of the cakes, then gently push two semi-circular halves into the buttercream on each cake, doing this at an angle to look like butterfly wings. You can serve the cupcakes at this stage, or decorate them with a little blob of jam in the centre and a scattering of sprinkles, if you like.