Butterfly cakes for Comic Relief

How can you resist these gorgeous little butterfly cakes, ready to fly away (into the mouth of a passing colleague more than likely!). These were an on-the-spur-of-the-moment type cake, and consequently must be extremely easy. The recipe was a standard vanilla sponge cake mixture with a vanilla buttercream icing. Simple is beautiful and these were really popular with my colleagues. I'm also raising money for Comic Relief at the moment, and these cakes are part of that effort. Why don't you do something funny for money for Red Nose Day on Friday 13th March???

Butterfly cakes
Ingredients
120g butter
120g caster sugar
120g self raising flour
2 large eggs
1tsp baking powder
1tsp vanilla extract

Method

- Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4 and line a muffin tin with 12 cases.

- Place all ingredients in a large bowl. NB butter must be very soft, or use margarine.

- Mix well using an electric hand mixer until thoroughly combined, light and fluffy.

- Divide between cake cases and bake for 20-25 minutes until light golden brown.

- Allow to cool.

For the buttercream. Cream 90g softened butter (not margarine here, it's important to use butter for flavour) with 180g icing sugar and a dash more vanilla extract until very light and fluffy.

Cut a circle out of the top of the cake and then cut it in half to make two wings. Place a blob of buttercream in the hollow of cake you've created, then gently but firmly squash the wings back in place as in the photo below.

Complete your creation by dusting with icing sugar. Irresistible.