Strawberry Milkshake Cupcakes

Phew, what a week!

My Uni work load is getting ridiculous. I'm pretty much sleeping, eating and working at the moment :(

I spent nine house researching and writing the other day. Nine hours! I had blisters on my hand and serious cramp! Not fun at all, but unfortunately I only learn things when I write them down, there's no point reading or typing stuff as it just doesn't go in!

I wish I had a photographic memory, it would be so much easier!

The thing is, in one module we still don't actually know what we're doing entirely, the design brief isn't even finished and we're about to go into week 5. Ridiculous. We've been told to research, but last term we were told we did too much research and it wasn't focused enough, so I have no idea, I'm just trying to research something as if I sit there doing nothing I panic because I know I should be doing something, even though I'm just confused. Everyone is, so it's not me being dumb!

Ah well, I'm just going to do as much as I can every day and try and get some baking time at the weekends!

Speaking of baking, I made these last weekend. I got the new Hummingbird Bakery book last week and I couldn't wait to get started making things from it! What I love about their books is that you always find something new! You all know I'm addicted to cookbooks and I love reading them, I know it means I probably have about 100 vanilla cupcake recipes, but I like to make different ones and choose my favourite, but it's also so great when you don't just get the same type of recipes in a book!

Once I saw these cupcakes I knew I had to make them right away. I am addicted to strawberry milkshake, I never get chocolate or banana, it's always strawberry. This recipe actually has milkshake powder in it!! The frosting actually tastes like you're drinking a strawberry milkshake, I'm surprised any ended up on the cupcakes...

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Recipe from Home Sweet Home by Tarek Malouf

Makes 12

Ingredients for the cupcakes:

> 70g butter/marg
> 210g plain flour
> 250g caster sugar
> 1tbsp baking powder
> Pinch of salt
> 210ml milk
> 2 eggs
> 40g strawberry milkshake powder (I used Nesquik)

Ingredients for the frosting:

> 500g icing sugar
> 160g unsalted butter, softened
> 65ml milk (this was for pipable frosting, if you're spooning the frosting on use 50ml)
> 100g strawberry milkshake powder
> 12 milk bottle sweets to garnish, optional

Method:

> Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C and line a cupcake tray.
> Place the butter, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a large bowl or the bowl of your mixer and mix until it resembles sand.


> Place the milk, eggs and milkshake powder into a jug and whisk lightly.


> Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix on med-high speed until well incorporated and smooth.
> Divide the batter between the cupcake cases, 2/3 full.


> Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes until risen, slightly golden and an inserted skewer comes out clean.
> Transfer to a wire rack as soon as possible to stop papers peeling away from cupcakes and leave to cool completely.
> Once cooled, make the frosting. Sift the icing sugar into a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer and add in the butter.
> Mix, starting on a slow speed and increasing as the mixture combines, until light and fluffy. Place the milk and milkshake powder into a jug and whisk until combined.
> Pour into the buttercream and mix until well combined and perfectly smooth.
> Pipe or spoon the frosting onto the cupcakes and place a milk bottle on top to garnish, if desired.
> Cupcakes will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.



Enjoy :)

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