Weekend Cookbook: Beehive Cupcakes

I didn't have time this week to cook up a recipe (and I had tried to make this recipe last Friday only to find that one of my key ingredients had gone for a walk somewhere in the house) so forgive me for posting old pics I took over a year ago when I first made these cupcakes.

A while ago I went through a phase of recreating the Donna Hay covers (I really should start that again). Here was my effort at making her Beehive Cup cakes. Not only are the honey cakes really delicious on their own , but the meringue icing is amazing! I could just eat it on its own.

Give it a try and post a pic on Mummys Undeserved Blessings facebook page.

This is not my recipe but Donna's (I hope she doesn't mind me sharing it). 

Beehive Cupcakes

Makes 12

125g butter, softened

3/4 cup caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon of honey

2 eggs

1 1/4 cups of plain flour, sifted

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup milk

meringue icing

1 cup caster sugar

1/4 cup water

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

3 egg whites

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees. Place butter, sugar, vanilla and honey in a bowl of an electric mixer and beat until creamy. Add the eggs and beat until combined. Add flour, baking powder and milk and beat until combined. Spoon into 12 hole muffin tin lined with paper cases. Bake for 20 -25 mins. Cool on a wire rack.

2. To make the icing, place the sugar, water and cream of tartar into a saucepan over high heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 3 mins. Place egg whites into the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until soft peaks form. With the motor running gradually add the sugar mixture and beat until thick and glossy.

3. To assemble the cupcakes, use a 3cm round cookie cutter to cut a piece of each cupcake. Cut each round in half to form wings. Place the icing in a piping bag with a 1cm plain nozzle and pipe into the centre of each cupcake. Top icing with the wings.

4. (optional step) Give to a toddler and watch them make a massive mess!

What have you been cooking this week?