Very Berry Cupcakes

June 29th, 2007 by Not Quite Nigella
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Very Berry cupcakes

I adapted these as I didn’t have any dried berries, only frozen mixed berries and I gave it a buttercream icing instead of the cream cheese icing in their recipe as I didn’t have any cream cheese in the fridge. I used the Magnolia Bakery’s Buttercream icing but I halved the sugar as I find the original recipe way too sweet.

The icing was the important bit as I wanted to try out my new Tonkin Thermo Tubes star nozzles and piping bag. Now perhaps you aren’t supposed to use frozen fruit for the sugared fruit because mine turned out to be a runny mess, nothing like the frosted beauties in the Womens Weekly cookbook. If anyone knows how to perfect sugared fruit please drop me a line!

The icing is not perfect, its an ok first attempt at using my new star nozzles which will hopefully improve over time.

Very Berry cupcakes

Berry buttercake

  • 125 butter softened
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup (150) caster sugar
  • 2 eggs at room temp
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen mixed berries
  • 1/2 (70g) slivered almonds
  • 2/3 cup (100g) plain flour
  • 1/3 cup (50g) self raising flour
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) milk

Sugared fruit

  • 150g fresh blueberries
  • 120g fresh raspberries
  • 1 egg white beaten lightly
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla sugar
  1. Prepare sugared fruit
  2. Preheat oven to moderately slow (170C/150C fan forced). Line 12 hole standard muffin pan with paper cases
  3. Beat butter, extract, sugar and eggs in a small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy
  4. Stir in fruit and nuts then sifted flours and milk. Divide mixture among cases and smooth surface
  5. Bake for about 35 minutes. Turn cakes onto wire rack to cool.
  6. Make frosting
  7. Spread cooled cakes with frosting. Decorate with sugared fruit.

Sugared fruit
Brush each berry lightly with egg white, roll fruit in sugar. Place fruit on baking paper lined tray. Leave about 1 hour or until sugar is dry.

Magnolia Bakery’s Buttercream frosting

Makes enough for one 2-layer 9-inch cake or 2 dozen cupcakes

  • 1 cup (250grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 6 to 8 cups icing sugar (I halved this to 3 cups)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes.

Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar.

If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. (Use and store the icing at room temperature because icing will set if chilled.) Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Very Berry cupcakes

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14 Comments | Add your own

  • 1. tuulikki | September 30th, 2007 at 8:39 am | #

    Your cupcakes are truly beautiful works of art! My favorite one is the butterfly cake

  • 2. Not Quite Nigella | September 30th, 2007 at 10:50 pm | #

    Hi tuukilli-thankyou so much! :)

  • 3. Elise | October 16th, 2007 at 12:40 am | #

    Hi there,
    I work with your friend Gillian and she said you loved cupcakes… I mentioned there was a cupcake shop in my neighbourhood called ‘My Little Cupcake’ in Neutal Bay. If you haven’t already, it might be one to visit!

  • 4. Not Quite Nigella | October 16th, 2007 at 1:17 am | #

    Hi Elise- Nice to meet you :) Yep I’ve been to My Little Cupcake as its not too far away from me too. Their cupcakes are delicious and their store really is so pretty. I’m due for another visit methinks!

  • 5. Saloni | July 2nd, 2008 at 3:20 am | #

    Hi! What’s self-raising flour and caster sugar? Can I just use all-purpose flour and cane sugar? I’m eager to eat cupcakes filled with berries

  • 6. Not Quite Nigella | July 4th, 2008 at 8:32 am | #

    Hi Saloni-Self raising flour is plain flour that has a baking agent added to it like baking powder. Caster sugar I believe is granulated sugar in the US-or a fine sugar (but not icing sugar). Hope this helps! :)

  • 7. Kim Quinlivan | May 18th, 2009 at 4:51 pm | #

    Hi Not Quite Nigella

    I live in Perth, where can I buy the tonkin thermo tubes and nozzles, like the one you have used above?

    thanks

    Kim

  • 8. nora@ffr | May 28th, 2009 at 8:44 pm | #

    those cup cakes are looking amazing.. cant wait to try them.. m sure my kids gonna love this.. they are a huge fan of cup cakes.. way to go!! excellent photography.. very creative.. :)
    cheers!1

  • 9. Not Quite Nigella | May 30th, 2009 at 10:42 am | #

    Hi nora-Thankyou so much! That’s very kind of you to say :)

  • 10. Marilyn | June 24th, 2009 at 6:16 pm | #

    Nigella, Your blog is absolutely gorgeous! The photgraphy, the recipes, and the design. I love it!
    Nice to meet you. I found you on twitter. Aloha,
    Marilyn
    @jamarilyn
    & jamarilyn on facebook too!
    http://www.amaryllisofhawaii.com

  • 11. Lo | December 17th, 2009 at 8:54 am | #

    I’ve just come across this site and think it’s FAB. Plus a huge thanks for putting measurements in grams – much appreciated by us Brits!

  • 12. samantha | November 10th, 2010 at 12:14 am | #

    hi there, may i enquire where you got the paper cases from? i’ve been looking for these particular cupcake cases and i havent been able to find them. i would greatly appreciate it if you could tell me where u got them!

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