Easter Nest Cupcakes
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Cook time: 
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Serves: 15 Cakes and extra nests
 
Ingredients
  • ***For the cakes***
  • 130g all-purpose flour
  • 200g granulated sugar
  • 65g cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 120 ml milk
  • 60 ml vegetable oil
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 120 boiling water
  • ***For the nests***
  • 300g Plain Chocolate
  • 3-5 Large Shredded Wheat
  • 1 Packet of Cadbury’s Mini Eggs or equivalent non-brand.
  • ***For the Frosting***
  • 100 grams good quality unsalted butter
  • 200 grams icing sugar
  • a little milk
  • Dribble green food colouring
Instructions
  1. ***For the Nests***
  2. Either in a microwave or in a heatproof bowl over simmering water (make sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water), melt the chocolate until it’s smooth.
  3. Break in the shredded wheat and mix together, coating the shredded wheat well.
  4. Transfer spoonfuls of the mixture to cupcake cases, allowing to cool slightly before adding the eggs.
  5. Chill in the fridge to set.
  6. ***For the cakes***
  7. Preheat the oven to 150°C and line your cake tray with cases.
  8. Mix together the flour, sugar, cocao powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Whisk until it’s well mixed.
  9. Add the “wet” ingredients, apart from the boiling water, and mix on a medium speed until well combined.
  10. Reduce the speed and very carefully add the boiling water. Slowly up the speed until it’s on high and allow to mix for around 1 minute. This will get a good amount of air into the mix.
  11. Distribute the batter evenly into the cases. Fill to around ¾ of the case. Depending on the size of the case you’ll get between 12 and 18 cakes, but always fill to about ¾.
  12. Bake for 12-25 minutes. The cakes will be done when a tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  13. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly in the tray before transferring to a rack.
  14. While they are cooling prepare the frosting.
  15. Cream the butter and sifted icing sugar together until smooth. Add in the colouring and milk and mix until well combined.
  16. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag with a very small/fine round tip. Pipe a small amount into the center of each cake so you can stick the nests on. Before you do, pipe the grass around the edges of each cake. Around 3 rows will do.
  17. To do this press the piping tip gently against the cake and pull away gently, twisting off to make it look like a short blade of grass and move round to the next.
  18. Push the nests onto the top of each cake.
  19. You will have extra nests, and I'm not sorry.
Recipe by The Bearded Bakery at http://www.thebeardedbakery.com/baking/cupcakes-muffins/easter-nest-cupcakes/