Today I looked outside and noticed the rain was pouring down. So I looked in my kitchen at what I could do and decided I would try Mini cupcakes. I have never made mini cakes before but I won a baking tray in a Neff competition last month so thought it was about time I used it.
Here is the view from my kitchen and my little car as well :P so knowing that I was inside in the warm made we want to bake even more.
1. First of all I gathered all my ingredients and measured them all out.
To make 24 mini cupcakes I measured:
4 oz Self Raising Flour
4 oz Caster Sugar
4 oz Unsalted butter
2 eggs
2. I then lined my baking tray
3. In a mixing bowl I beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy and soft. I then slowly added the eggs and beat it to a smooth mixture.
4. Once smooth sift the flour and fold into the mixture using a metal spoon.
5. This part of the recipe is optional I divided the mixture into three bowls, in two of the bowls I added some food colouring. I choose pink and green but I did not add enough as you will see in the next couple pictures the colour did not show that clear once cooked, but was noticeable when close up.
6. I spooned the mixture into the cases, I used about a teaspoon in each case.
I placed in the oven for 10 minutes and tested they were cooked with a stewer.
7. Once cooled I cut the top of the cakes and made a small hollow inside. In each different coloured cake I spooned in roughly 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of jam and placed the top of the cake back on.
Raspberry Jam 
Apricot Conserve
Blackcurrent Jam
8. I prepared the icing. I used 10 oz of icing sugar, 6 oz of unsalted butter and 1 tsp of vanilla extract.
Mix with a electric mixer the butter and vanilla extract together into a fluffy mixture and slowly add the icing sugar (beware it makes a mess, I tend to add a little bit at a time because if to much is added it will just consume in the air and cover you and your surface. I learnt from experience). Once smooth and slightly stiff spoon into a piping bag and pipe onto your cakes. I have done just plain icing as I find it stays more consistent. Add some balls and sprinkles if you want to and voila they are complete
