Red double sugar heart decorations from Just Bake

I made vanilla cupcakes (using this very easy recipe) and coloured the sponge pink (using this trick). This is a really simple cupcake to make, but it looks really striking - especially if you pipe on bright white piping, which really shows off the bright sponge.

I then decorated the cupcakes with mega cute double hearts gifted from Just Bake, and smaller sprinkle hearts that I already owned. I added a tiny bit of edible glitter, and here you have it - perfect wee Valentine's cakes.


I've also picked out a few favourite items from Just Bake's website...


 1. Liv cupcake cases - ridiculously lovely. Imagine raspberry cupcakes with white frosting in these!

 2. Reuseable cupcake cases - this is the first time I've seen cupcake cases that you can reuse! Lovely and retro looking.

3. Gold dragees - everyone needs gold dragees (unless, random fact, you live in California where they are illegal).

4. Union Jack cupcake stand - I would like to use this at a tea party with flags please.

5. Red heart cupcake wrappers- almost too pretty to put food in. Perfect for a special occasion!

6. Marbled chocolate curls - yes! Chocolate curls are such an easy way to decorate. Put them on top of a chocolate mousse cake and you'll have the most decadent cake ever (a good thing).


Phew! If that has inspired you to bake then I have good news -  Just Bake are offering a 10% discount if you spend £20 or more. Just use the voucher code 'JULIET' when paying (this expires on 10th March 2012).

HELLO.

What you will need:
2 mixing bowls, hand whisk, a sieve, three 8-inch cake tins, baking paper and an icing bag/pipe.

For the Cake:

• 4 Eggs (Separated and  at room temperature)
• 4 Teaspoons Baking Powder
• 400g Plain Flour
• ½ Teaspoon Salt
• 227g Butter (at room temperature)
• 450g Caster Sugar
• 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 200ml Milk
• ¼ Teaspoon Cream of Tartar

For the Pink Coconut Icing:

• 500g Cream Cheese
• 200g Butter
• 50ml Natural Yoghurt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 270g Icing Sugar (approx.)
• Few Drops Red Food Colouring

To Garnish:

• 6 Strawberries
• 2 Tablespoons of Coconut Flakes
• 4 Green Candles

This is what we are aiming for.

Make your cake! 
Grease your cake pans, line with baking paper and preheat your oven to 175 degrees C.

In a mixing bowl beat together the butter and 350g of the sugar until it is pale and fluffy. Now add the 4 egg yolks (one at a time), followed by the vanilla extract. Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt, mix together, then slowly add the milk.

In a separate bowl add the egg whites and whisk until fluffy (Juliet note - make sure bowls are SPOTLESS before you try to whisk egg whites, or you'll have problems!). Add the cream of tartar and continue to whisk until peaks form. Gradually add the remaning 100g of sugar until the peaks stiffen. Then gently fold the egg whites into the cake mixture, and pour evenly into cake tins. Bake for around 25 minutes.

When the cake is baked (do the stabby/prodding tests to make sure), leave to cool then pop in fridge while you prepare the frosting.

Make your icing!
Beat the butter (poor butter) in a bowl until light, then add the yoghurt and vanilla. Gently stir in the cream cheese, being careful not to over mix (this will thin the frosting and make it runny). Gradually add the icing sugar bit by bit, adding more as you need it (to thicken or sweeten the icing). Then add the red food colouring and put it in the fridge to chill.

Construct your cake! 
Aim for flat and smooth cake layers (even out with a knife very carefully if needed). Ice the bottom layer, being careful not to go over the edges, place the next layer on top and continue this until you have a stack of three layers.

Set aside 3 tablespoons of icing and cover the cake in the remaining icing - this does not have to be neat. Now place the strawberries (with stalks trimmed) pointed end up evenly around the cake. Put the last bits of icing into an icing bag/pipe, using a large nozzle, pipe drops of icing between each of the strawberries around the cake. Garnish with the green candles and a sprinkling of coconut.

Tada!

Dani's instructions are so detailed it puts my recipes to shame (ha) but I can't wait to try this out!

I was absolutely addicted to Animal Crossing a little while ago - I'd definitely recommend it if you like quirky games (particularly if you happen to enjoy collecting fruit & fishing, & hanging out with grumpy foxes. It is cooler than this sounds).

Hope you enjoyed!