I need ot make 48 faircakes/cupcakes/whatever you call them for a party a week today. Come and talk to me PLEASE!

[MamaG]

Here's what i need.

1. A foolproof recipe and an idea of size (fairycake size or muffin tin size)

1. Ideas for decoration. Have ordered a decent piping bag which should come during the week. I usually cut the end off a plastic bag but thought I'd push the boat out

I was planning to use Nigella's lemon cupcake recipe but am happy to use something else if recommended

Am a bit stuck with decoration. I'd quite like to do 4 different colours/decorations.

Was thinking for one of them, I could do somehting like this

Looks simple, but effective no?

I can NOT spend ££££ as I've already spent over £40 making a fruit cake

I've got to make about a zillion for a party on saturday too, but as they are 3 yo's I was going to just do a basic recipe (is it that you weigh the eggs and then do the same weight in butter, flour and sugar? - something like that anyway) and just normal icing as I also have to make a Diego birthday cake for DD and butter icing will be such a faff.

Fortunately I have Friday off, so that is what I will be doing all day.

I've put a picture on profile of our efforts. Note the squashed ones that I made the children did.

Swans - your profile is not visable

I have had a trial with this before and wonder what I am doing wrong...
I've clicked all the 'save' thingies and everything

.

They look pretty swans - I like your artful photo!

If I was pushed for time, I would use ready made icing. A tub of that Betty Crocker stuff will do about 36 muffin sized cakes.

I do a standard mix - weigh the eggs, add the others - a 3 egg mix will do 12 muffin sized cakes so probably about 18 fairy cakes.

MamaG - I made a load of cupcakes (muffin sized tins) the day before I needed them and then decorated them all that evening. I bought a cardboard cake box (that has a lid) and they were absolutely fine overnight.

I the buttercreams that I piped were, chocolate, lemon and vanilla and white chocolate. I made some little decorations using fondant and tiny star and heart cutters. I also made some tiny roses too - very easy to make.

The recipe I used was the same one that I used for my dads birthday cake and I made and froze this and when defrosted you would have thought it would have been made that day.

If you want the recipe, I can post it on here for you.

Oh MamaG, the bunting was just out of shot .

The Devil's measurements work well-

6 oz of sr flour
6oz caster sugar
6oz butter
3 eggs

Whip them all together until the mix goes pale and fluffy.

180 oven for about 20 minutes.

Waitrose delivery party food. Fail safe recipe IMO

yes please bella

7oz softened butter or marg
70z caster sugar
7oz self raising flour
4 eggs
3/4 tsp vanilla extract

Beat the marg and sugar until fluffy, add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Sift in the flour and mix thoroughly. Add vanilla extract. Fill casees to two thirds full. Bake for 20 mins ish on 160C or 140 fan.

If they are domed slightly when you take them out of the oven, I just normally slice this off so you have a flat surface to pipe your buttercream on to.

There will be enough for 12 cupcakes.

Thanks luv

Did you get a "crispy" top? I made the custard powder ones from earlier in thread,but they have a bit of a crust - did dummy run today

No crispy top.

ta daaa