Decorated cupcakes

I went to the annual WI supper and dance last night and my contribution was to be 12 cup cakes. I learned how to do these when I attended a cake decorating course a few years ago. A very thoughtful present from one of my sons! They are very easy but look spectacular.

I made the cupcakes with a basic Victoria sponge recipie
8oz Self Raising flour
8oz Sugar
8oz Soft Margarine such as Stork
4 eggs.

You also need

Butter icing Make some butter icing by mixing 8oz icing sugar with 4oz margarine until combined.     (Using soft margarine gives a softer consistency which you need for these cakes.)
1 pack of mini marshmallows
Silver or coloured dragees, mine were pearl pink and white
Coloured sugar (Two teaspoons of sugar and 1 drop of food colouring, mix well and leave overnight. Just before using, break up the sugar crystals with the back of a teaspoon.)

Cream the margarine with the sugar until it is turns light in colour and is all mixed in. Add an egg with a little of the flour and mix in. Do the same with the other eggs and finally add the rest of the flour. I used large cupcake cases and this mix made 20 cupcakes. Fill each case about three quarters full as you need a level top on the cake. Bake for aprox. 20 minutes at gas mark 5

Place the cakes on a wire trivet to cool.
Using the mini marshmallows cut them diagonally across.

I did about 50 at a time. Holding each half marshmallow by the tip dip the cut side into your coloured sugar, if using. Starting at the top of the cake place the marshmallows in the 12, 3, 6, and 9 positions of the clock. This gives you a rough idea of symmetry. Add more marshmallows around the rim until it is full.

Do the second inner ring the same and then the third.

Finally add three dragees to the center.
All done!

As you can see you can vary the colours and use different coloured sugar as well. It is also possible to get a fuller look by doing four circles of marshmallows but I didn't have enough time for that!