I know I have posted this recipe before, but I just had to share with you these pretty, but extremely simple Cupcakes, a perfect little Valentine’s gifts or just what you need for a Valentine’s tea time treat.

You can buy very cheaply online, individual cupcake boxes and most good supermarkets now stock cellophane baking gift bags, one cup cake per bag, tied with a gorgeous ribbon and a handwritten tag with a few perfectly chosen words would make anyone’s Valentine’s Day, a gift from the heart.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pack-Clear-Cupcake-Boxes-Incert/dp/B004T8H3TK/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid;=1328367926&sr;=8-32

Ingredients – Makes 12
150g caster sugar
150g soft butter or margarine
3 medium free range eggs
175g self raising flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method
Preheat oven to 160 degrees (fan assisted) or 180 degrees normal.
Beat caster sugar and butter together until creamed (well combined). Scrape down sides of bowl and add 1 egg at a time and a little flour until all mixture is combined.
Do not over mix as this makes the cake sponge tough.
Spoon equal quantities of mixture into 12 cake cases and cook in oven for 18 minutes or until lightly golden. Once cooked, cool on a wire rack.
Vanilla Buttercream frosting & decorating ingredients
240g icing sugar
125g good quality soft butter (unsalted) Splash of whole organic milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 packet of Love Heart sweets
Method
Place soft butter and 1/3 of icing sugar into a bowl and beat on low for 10-15 seconds in a free-standing mixer. Once partially mixed, turn up the speed to high and beat until well combined. Repeat this process until all sugar has been incorporated, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl often.
Scrape down a final time and turn the mixer up to medium speed. Add your vanilla extract, wait until combined and then add the milk to blend all the ingredients together. The milk also helps to loosen the mixture and make it light and fluffy.When ready put your frosting into a piping bag, pipe a swirl of frosting onto each cupcake, top with one Love Heart sweet per cupcake, add a sprinkle of edible glitter and hey presto.. Valentine’s Cupcakes.