This is my tried and trusted vanilla cupcake recipe. Makes 24 cupcakes. I use an ice cream scoop to get equal quantities of cake mixture per case. Add 3tbsps of cocoa powder to the cake batter to make chocolate cupcakes
Put all of the ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat with an electric whisk for 3 minutes until smooth, pale and fluffy.
Divide the mixture between the cupcake cases. (see notes above)
Bake for 20 minutes until golden and risen.
Leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
To make the buttercream
Add the softened butter to a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer.
Slowly sift in the icing sugar until combined.
Whisk in the milk (or lemon juice) and vanilla extract. Then add a few drops of food colouring at a time to get the desired shade. Add some food glitter to the mix too.
You should find that the buttercream will form stiff(ish!) peaks and can be used in a piping bag.
To assemble
Only decorate the cupcakes when they are completely cool.
Place some of the buttercream icing into a piping bag with a star nozzle attached (don't overfill the bag) and pipe a swirl on top of each cupcake.