Monday 14 February 2011

Love Buns

Hi all, I am back from a bit of an extended break from the blogging world. I will not go into the why’s etc but I've just been busy with life and enjoying my beautiful grandson.

Its Valentines and what a perfect excuse for a bit of baking and blogging! I’ve been thoroughly spoiled by my hubby with roses, chocolates and some David Smallcombe sterling silver cuff bracelets I have been lusting after. He worked from home today so he wouldn’t be late home from the office to enjoy a lovely dinner together. My intention was to bake his favourite Custard Cream Heart cookies but everywhere was sold out of vegetable shortening. So I decided to bake these Love Buns to mark the occasion. I’ve baked these in the past and they have a very light and fluffy sponge. I never make the white frosting the recipe specifies. Personally I can’t stand it and I prefer to use buttercream, which tastes and looks so much more appealing. Of course I had to dye my buttercream pink and add some Valentine sprinkles. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Valentine’s Day and being spoiled rotten.


Love Buns

Ingredients
For the buns
125g soft butter
125g caster sugar
2 eggs
125g plain flour
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp real vanilla extract
2-3 tbsp milk

Buttercream Icing
150g (5oz) butter, softened
300g (11 oz) icing (confectioners) sugar, sifted
1 tbsp milk
¼ tsp vanilla extract
Edible pink food colouring
Sprinkles for decoration of choice

Take everything out of the fridge to bring to room temperature - this makes a huge difference to the lightness of the love buns later - preheat the oven to 200oC/fan oven 180oC/gas mark 6.

Put all the ingredients for the buns, except for the milk, into a food processor and blitz until smooth. Pulse while adding the milk down the funnel, to make a smooth dropping consistency.

Divide the mixture into a 12-bun muffin tin lined with muffin papers or heart patterned cases, and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes. They should have risen and be golden on top: you want a little peak if possible.

Let them cool a little in their tin on a rack, and then take them carefully out of the tin to cool in their papers, still on the wire rack.

To make the buttercream, beat the butter until soft. Add the icing sugar and stir until it’s just mixed in, then add the milk and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Add few drops of food colouring and beat.

Spread the icing on thickly with a palette knife on top of each cupcake or put the icing into a piping back and make a large swirl on top of each cupcake. Decorate each cupcake with your chosen sprinkles.


Ollie my grandson is now 3 months and a bundle of love and joy in my life!


14 comments:

Chele said...

Woo hoo, so pleased to have you back again!! The love buns look great, perfect for sharing with the ones you love!

Anna's kitchen table said...

Maria, it's lovely to see you back- though I can completely understand why you've been away - your grandson is gorgeous!
Nothing like some pink buttercream on Valentines day!
X

MaryBeth said...

Glad your back...we have missed you. The baby and cupcakes are both adorable, I would be very happy to have one for my Valentine treat.

cocoa and coconut said...

Welcome back Maria! We've missed you. It's great that you've been enjoying family time.

Happy V Day. Your creation is very sweet

Petit Filoux said...

Hello! Nice to have you back and hear that you are ok - life does get in the way, or just more important than blogging sometimes!

Rhyleysgranny said...

Lovely to see you back Maria. Such a gorgeous wee boy. You must just adore him. Isn't being a Granny just the best? Lovely love buns x

Abitofafoodie said...

So pleased to have you back, Maria. Your grandson looks like such a lovely little chap. How wonderful.
The love buns look so pretty too - just perfect for Valentine's Day.

Anne said...

Yey its great to see you back blogging again! :)

The buns look delicious and light, love the pink frosting and sprinkles!

Your grandson is a real cutie too, I'm sure he is thoroughly spoiled ;-)

Also your bangles are stunning! Might have to drop some hints...

xx

Feeling Food said...

Love these cupcakes and love your blog. Congratulations on being a yummy Granny!! ;-)

FFX

Nickki said...

Hi Maria! So lovely to see you back blogging - your grandson is just gorgeous!

This is the perfect recipe for Valentine's Day! I'm the same as you, I don't really like the meringue frosting for the original recipe. A little too sweet for me!

Helen said...

Welcome back. Your cakes look fab.

Beth (jamandcream) said...

Welcome back - I've missed your recipes. These look fab.

Kelly-Jane said...

Great to see you back again, and your gorgeous little man too :)

Anonymous said...

delighted to see you blogging again :) your grandson is sooo adorable!
I bet you just can't wait to spoil him with your recipes:)