It’s officially 12:09am as I start writing this… which means it is Valentine’s Day. Now, I don’t want you thinking I’m into the whole Valentine’s Day thing – but I can see how you might have jumped to that conclusion given the above image is not exactly subtle on the whole love theme.
To be honest, I am actually quite averse to celebrating Valentine’s Day. For my four years together with Scotty we have neither celebrated Valentine’s Day nor even our anniversary. I’m just not into being told when to express love and in fact I shower Scotty with love an affection on a daily basis – I’m not quite sure he could take much more!
In the lead up to Valentine’s Day each year Scotty checks in to see if I have decided I want to celebrate it – just in case. After four years you would think he wouldn’t have to ask anymore.
So, back to my reason for the very themed post. Just because Scotty and I don’t celebrate this day of love, doesn’t mean my love of novelty cooking is lessened! And for those of you who are keen followers of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to offer you a great recipe you can cook to surprise your loved one/s – and this is one heck of a surprise.
Secret Love Cupcakes
Makes 12
CAKES
3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
4 eggs
zest of 1 lemon
300g plain flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
90ml buttermilk (or full cream milk)
Red food colouring
BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
1 cup icing sugar, sifted
1 cup soft icing mixture, sifted
120g unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
2 tablespoons buttermilk
Red food colouring
CAKES
Preheat oven to 170° Celsius. In the bowl of an electric mixer (or using a handheld mixer) beat together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs individually mixing between each addition. Add vanilla bean paste and beat until combined.
In a separate bowl place lemon zest, flour, baking powder and salt and whisk with a hand whisk until combined. Turn the mixer on to a low speed and then alternate between adding the flour mixture and buttermilk a little at a time beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
Remove 1/3 of the mixture to a separate bowl and add a few drops of red food colouring. Stir well till colour is evenly distributed (add more till you have reached your desired colour. Add the red batter to a well greased baking tray and spread it evenly. Place in oven and bake for 12 minutes until cooked through. Remove from heat and using a small love heart cookie cutter, cut as many hearts as possible.
Fill 12 cupcake baking cups 2/3rds full with the uncoloured batter and then take a red heart and push it down the middle of each cup so it stands up in the batter (make sure you take note of the direction the heart is facing – I lined up the side of the hearts with the seam of the baking cups).
Top the 12 cups with the remaining uncoloured batter and bake in the oven for 20 minutes (or until a skewer inserted into the cupcakes comes out clean). Remove cakes from oven and cool completely (I popped mine in the fridge to hurry it up a little).
BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
Cream butter and vanilla paste until smooth in an electric mixer (or using a hand mixer). Decrease mixer speed and add the icing sugar and icing mixture slowly till incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then turn the mixer to high and add buttermilk continuing to mix for 3-4 minutes until mixture is light and fluffy. Add a few drops of red food colouring to turn the frosting pink and mix well.
Transfer frosting to a piping bag with large star shaped nozzle inserted and slowly pipe the buttercream frosting on top of the cooled cupcakes.
Serve with a knife and instruct the recipients of the gift where they should cut to see find the secret love.
These are just lovely!
These look so adorable! Happy Valentine's day to you!
aww so cute a surprise heart inside!
I attempted these too but yours look way more cuter! Happy Valentines day! x
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Every day around here is Valentine's Day! Although we take any excuse to celebrate anything, so we'll be doing something. Anyway, great looking cupcakes. And that heart inside is really cute. 😉
these are gorgeous! So pretty!
These are just too cute! Well done!
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These cupcakes are SO cute. The liners, the hearts, the pink buttercream… I love it all! I'm kind of with you on the Valentine's Day thing, but I am a sucker for pink and heart shaped treats.
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Really love how you have managed to keep the loveheart shape intact. http://www.drink-brands.com
That is so nifty! I hardly ever use that word, but I think it fits here. Must've been a huge hit on Valentines.
Absolutely gorgeous! For someone who isn't into Valentines, you have excelled yourself xx
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Aww… How lovely! Pun intended. These look SO perfect, Amanda. Looks too cute I'd be wrapped too if I got this from a girl for Valentine's =)
They are totally amazing. We don't really celebrate V Day either, except this year Roy did cook me a special nachos for dinner. It was rather a laugh, it was bland as you can get since he forgot a few ingredients. It is the thought that counts any time that he cooks me dinner.
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Thanks Afra! Happy Valentine's day to you too!
hehe
I'm sure yours looked fabulous! everything you make usually does 🙂
Haha I love the fact Scotty 'checks in' to see if you guys are celebrating, that is just way too gorgeous for words, and shows the love. Love love love these cupcakes of cupid, way too gorgeous.
Ahhh these cupcakes are so prettyyyy 🙂 I've made them before too but not sure why my hearts turned out looking more like apples hahhaa and I agree we don't need to celebrate and express our love when everyone else does 😛 having said that hahaha I'm a HUGE sucker for Valentines day and Ricky will never live another day if he doesn't try to organise something I'm so mean hehe
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