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

Vanilla Fairy Cakes

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

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/3 cup caster sugar (superfine sugar) see note
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted before measuring see note
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • pinch salt
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon water or half water and half vanilla extract
  • food coloring and sprinkles optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pan with wrappers.

  2. 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.

  3. Fill cupcake wrappers 2/3rds full. Bake until done, 10-15 minutes, depending on size. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

  4. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and water. Add food coloring if desired. Pour over the fairy cakes and decorate with sprinkles.

Recipe 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.