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    Home » Recipes » Cakes

    This site contains affiliate links to various websites, including Amazon.com. read more

    Vanilla Fairy Cakes are a Fun Way to Celebrate

    Published: Mar 25, 2020 · Modified: Sep 1, 2022 by Audrey · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Vanilla Fairy Cakes are small British cakes, similar to an American cupcake. Perfect treat for birthday parties or afternoon tea.

    This post is sponsored in conjunction with #SpringSweetsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to help in the creation of the #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

    Vanilla Fairy Cakes are a delightful treat for birthday parties or afternoon tea.

    Be sure to enter the Spring Sweets Week Giveaway and to keep going past the recipe for more Spring Sweets recipes.

    cupcake with sprinkles on a plate with text overlay "vanilla fairy cakes"

    Fairy cakes are the British version of American cupcakes. The key differences are cakes tend to be a sponge cake and no gobs of buttercream on top, just a light glaze with some decorations.

    The first time I made these they were a disaster. Yes, you really need superfine/caster sugar to make them. And be sure to sift the flour before measuring. It is a step I often skip, but the extra weight from the flour and undissolved sugar made a disaster.

    Made special thanks to Adams Extracts and Fresh April Sprinkles

    cupcake with sprinkles on a plate with text overlay "vanilla fairy cakes"

    I used plenty of Adams Extract vanilla in the fairy cakes and icing as well as the food coloring. John A. Adams began making and selling his Green Plant Sarsaparilla extract in 1888 in Battle Creek, Michigan. In 1905, he moved his family to Beeville, Texas.  Working with just $6.71 worth of materials on top of an old icebox, John A. Adams created a new formula for vanilla. His wife tested it by whipping up a cake and announced, “John, this is the BEST flavoring I have ever used.” “Well, that’s old man Adams BEST,” he responded. The name stuck, and Adams Best was born! Today, Adams manufactures and markets under several Adams Brand banners, including Adams Best®, Adams Extract®, Adams® Seasoning & Spice, and many more.  To learn more about Adams Extract, to shop their products, or to find delicious recipes visit https://www.adamsextract.com. 

    Fresh April Sprinkles was founded in the summer of 2019 by Lynn April who runs the food blog Fresh April Flours.  They produce small batch, hand blended sprinkles, like the Spring It On blend used in this recipe, in a suburb outside of Philadelphia.  Sprinkle blends are carefully crafted with beautiful desserts in mind and can be custom blended just for you!  Visit https://freshaprilsprinkles.com to see the collection of sprinkles available or to find recipes from Lynn!

    cupcake with sprinkles on a plate with text overlay "vanilla fairy cakes"

    Recipe

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • ⅓ cup caster sugar (superfine sugar) (see note)
    • 1 large egg
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¾ cup all-purpose flour, sifted before measuring (see note)
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • pinch salt
    • ⅔ cup powdered sugar
    • 1 ½ tablespoon water (or half water and half vanilla extract)
    • food coloring and sprinkles (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pan with wrappers.
    • In a mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Add egg and vanilla and mix until fluffy. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into the butter mixture and mix to combine.
    • Fill cupcake wrappers ⅔rds full. Bake until done, 10-15 minutes, depending on size. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.
    • In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and water. Add food coloring if desired. Pour over the fairy cakes and decorate with sprinkles.

    Notes

    I highly recommend using superfine sugar and sifting the flour before measuring and the shifting it again. I made this with granulated sugar and without pre sifting and they were hockey pucks. 

    Spring Sweets Week

    Welcome to #SpringSweetsWeek 2020 hosted by Heather from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks!  What better way to celebrate the warmer weather and flowers blooming than with food and a fun giveaway? 27 bloggers from around the country have come together to share over 100 sweet recipes perfect for spring!  So stop thinking about cold and snow and get ready to enjoy the best spring sweets like cupcakes, cookies, brownies, pies, and even beverages! Our #SpringSweetsWeek sponsors are helping us give away some great prizes. Thank you so much to Dixie Crystals, Millican Pecan, Door County Coffee, Anolon, Deiss Cookware, Adams Extract, and Fresh April Sprinkles for your generosity. We have an incredible giveaway below and would love if you would take a moment to read about it and the prizes you can win!

    Wednesday #SpringSweetsWeek Recipes

    • Blueberry Rhubarb Quick Bread by Palatable Pastime
    • Bunny Carrot Cakes by Simply Inspired Meals
    • Cake Batter Milkshakes by Kate's Recipe Box
    • Carrot Cake Bread by A Day in the Life on the Farm
    • Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
    • Chocolate Raspberry Mocha Cupcakes by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
    • Coffee Banana Breakfast Smoothie by Shockingly Delicious
    • Coffee Brownies by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
    • Coffee Chip No Churn Ice Cream by A Savory Feast
    • Easy Lemon Cake Mix Cookies by Books n' Cooks
    • Fairy Cakes by That Recipe
    • Gluten Free Pecan Shortbread Bars by Frugal & Fit
    • Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream by Sweet Beginnings
    • Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf by Blogghetti
    • Lemon Poppy Seed Madeleines by The Spiffy Cookie
    • Lemon Raspberry Cake Mix Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
    • Mini Funfetti Cheesecakes by Cheese Curd In Paradise
    • Mocha Cake by Fresh April Flours
    • Mocha Mint Chocolate Cream Puffs by Jolene's Recipe Journal
    • Spring Toffee Crack by Jen Around the World

    Check out the amazing prizes you can win in our #SpringSweetsWeek Giveaway!

    Prize #1:  Millican Pecan is giving one winner a Tower of Treats!  The Tower of Treats which includes 3 decorative gift tins stacked on top of each other: 2 lb. Chocolate Pecan Sampler, Flavored Pecan Sampler and 8 oz. tin of Milk Chocolate Caramillicans.

    Prize #2:  Door County Coffee is giving one winner 20 full-pots of coffee and a Door County Coffee mug.  Full pots will consist of seasonal flavors, flavored coffee, and non-flavored coffee. 

    Prize #3:   Dixie Crystals is giving one winner a set of Nordic Ware Bundt Pans.  This set contains one Chiffon Bundt Pan and one Vaulted Cathedral Bundt Pan perfect for decorative baking.

    Prize #4:  Anolon is giving one winner an Anolon Advanced 5 piece Bakeware set.  This nonstick bakeware set includes two 8 inch round cake pans, one 8 inch square cake pan, a 10 x 15 cookie pan, and a 9.25 x 14 cooling rack!   It’s the perfect set for any baker.

    Prize #5:  Fresh April Sprinkles is giving one winner their choice of three 4 ounce bags of sprinkles!  Winner can choose from favorites like the Birthday Party Blend, Cotton Candy Blend, Pink Lemonade Blend, and so many others!

    Prize #6:  Adams Extract is giving one winner an Adams baking pack with 4-6 items including their amazing 4oz Adams Best® Vanilla Flavor.   This prize package is great for anyone who loves to bake!

    Prize #7: Deiss Kitchenware is giving one winner a kitchen utensil prize package!  The winner will receive a digital thermometer, a grater, an apple slicer and corer set, and a 5 piece utensil set!

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Thank you #SpringSweetsWeek Sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Millican Pecan, Door County Coffee & Tea Co., Anolon, Fresh April Sprinkles, Deiss Kitchenware, and Adams Extracts for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are my own. The #SpringSweetsWeek giveaway is open to residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older.   All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Seven (7) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The #SpringSweetsWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #SpringSweetsWeek posts or entry.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Hezzi-D

      March 25, 2020 at 7:13 am

      Great tips for making these. They look so pretty!

      Reply
    2. Megan Marlowe

      March 25, 2020 at 8:27 am

      I have a 7 year old who would be very happy to make and decorate these fairy cakes and a couple of guys who would be very happy to eat them! They look delicious!

      Reply
    3. Lynn @ Fresh April Flours

      March 25, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      They're so cute! Love how you used our sprinkles on top 🙂 thanks for participating, Audrey!

      Reply
    4. Dorothy Reinhold

      March 25, 2020 at 4:49 pm

      I love how pretty and festive these are! I love the pink paired with the sprinkles. They look like the perfect treat.

      Reply
    5. Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck

      March 25, 2020 at 5:29 pm

      The name alone makes me love this recipe! And just so adorable too!

      Reply
    6. Christie

      April 02, 2020 at 6:07 am

      They look so pretty! I love those colors together. And the cake so delicious!

      Reply

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    audrey humaciu in kitchen

    Welcome, I'm Audrey, an avid "maker" that believes home made is better.

    Whether it's cooking, crafting, gardening, home décor, even blog design, I love getting my hands dirty and trying new things... even if I make a mess in the process.

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