Smarties® Mini Cupcakes

Method

Now that your ingredients are ready, let’s bake!

1. First, make the topping. Put the dark chocolate and the whipping cream into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds on high and stir together until smooth and combined. If the chocolate is not yet fully melted, microwave for 10-second intervals, stirring each time. As the bowl gets hotter, you may need to wear oven gloves to remove and stir. When ready, set aside to cool.
2. Preheat your oven to 160°C fan and line a mini cupcake tin with mini cupcake cases.
3. Next, make the cupcakes. Put the light spread and caster sugar into a big mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to mix for 3 minutes, until fluffy and aerated. If you’d like to get the kids involved, give them a hand whisk and let them have a go until they’re tired. You can always finish it off with when they’re done.
4. Add the egg and vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
5. Add the self-raising flour and fold in gently with a spatula. This is another fun activity for the kids!
6. Divide the mixture between the cupcake cases. The best method is to use a piping bag, but you can also use a small spoon.
7. Bake the mini cupcakes for 15 minutes, or until risen and lightly golden. Transfer them to a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.
8. When you are ready to decorate, whisk the ganache either by hand, or with an electric mixer until it is lighter in colour and has a mousse-like texture. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with the nozzle of your choice.
9. Pipe the whipped ganache onto each cupcake and decorate with Smarties®.