Rainbow Connection Cupcakes!

My rainbow cake at Lily Pink Bakery has been a big hit, so I thought I'd try and see if I could make a more manageable, little version! I took the vanilla cupcake recipe I always use and adapted it slightly. I think they worked okay! They are very yummy indeed and I'm looking forward to selling them at St George's Market this Sunday :)

Recipe

110g unsalted butter, at room temperature

225g caster sugar, preferably golden

2 large eggs, free-range or organic

150g self-raising flour

125g plain flour

120ml semi-skimmed milk

1tsp good quality vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160deg C (fan)/180 deg C/350 deg F/gas mark 4.

2. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl until the mixture is pale and smooth. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing briefly after each addition. This can take a few minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure the mixture stays well combined.

3. Add the vanilla extract to the milk in a plastic measuring jug.

4. Combine the two flours in a separate bowl.

5. Add one-third of the flours to the combined butter and sugar mixture and beat well. Pour in one-third of the milk and beat again. Repeat these steps until all the flour and milk has been added.

6. Divide the mixture into six bowls (about 2.5 tablespoons of batter in each) and mix each of your colours with the batter. I use gel colours, you just can't achieve this bright effect with liquid colors. I got mine in a set from this ebay seller for around £15.

7. Carefully spoon one teaspoon of each colour into the cupcake case, one on top of the other. Don't attempt to spread the colour, just let the mixture do this naturally. Bake in the centre of the oven for approx 20 minutes. Check with a cake skewer in the centre of one of the cakes to see that they are cooked.

8. Leave in their tins for 10 minutes or so and then place carefully on a wire rack to cool. When completely cool, you can ice these cupcakes with vanilla buttercream icing.

I added a little cream cheese to the buttercream to make it nice and white. I opted for no fancy decorations as I think the white is a nice contrast with the bright colours, but a little glitter dusted on livened them up!

I made some minis with the little batter that was left, I think they're really cute :)

p.s. is anyone else as sad as I am over Picnik closing? I hardly managed these without it :( Any recommendations for a similar service, or will I have to attempt Photoshop?