Royal Cupcakes

This past Tuesday, April 21, was the 94th birthday of Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, or as you more likely know her, HRH Queen Elizabeth II.

Today we wanted to share what the Queen enjoyed on her special day…dessert fit for a queen … literally! The Royal Family’s social media accounts shared a cupcake recipe in honor of Queen Elizabeth’s 94th birthday on Tuesday.

The post on the Royal family’s official Facebook page read:
“Happy birthday to Her Majesty! To celebrate The Queen’s birthday we are sharing a chocolate cupcake recipe from The Royal Pastry Chefs. If you or a loved one are celebrating a special occasion during isolation why not treat yourself to some #royalbakes?”

Three different decorated versions of the same chocolate cupcake were made and presented to Her Majesty who is known to be an avid “chocoholic”.

So if you are celebrating a birthday soon or just want a reason to celebrate anything or if you too happen to be a chocoholic as Queen Elizabeth is, why not whip up some yummy chocolate cupcakes and treat yourself. There is always something to celebrate….right?

Royal Chocolate Cupcakes*
(measurements are converted from the original British recipe)

1/8 cup vinegar
1 1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup melted butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/8 cups self rising flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups superfine or baker’s sugar
2 tsp baking soda
2/3 cups white chocolate chips

Cake sponge method: 
-Preheat the oven to 300 degrees
-Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder and baking soda into a mixing bowl
-Whisk the eggs in a separate bowl, with the vanilla, melted butter, oil, milk and vinegar
-Slowly add the wet mixture into the dry mixture, little by little
-Ensure the batter is smooth with no lumps
-Finally add the chocolate chips (alternatives could be nuts, dried fruit)
-Lay the cupcake liners onto a tray
-Use a metal spoon to equally divide the mixture into the liners
-Bake for around 15-18 minutes, take out of the oven when golden and springy on touch
-Leave to cool

Butter Cream Icing
1/2 cup dark chocolate, melted
1/2 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar

Buttercream icing method:
-Cream the sugar and butter together, until light and creamy
-Add in the warm melted chocolate
-If you have a piping bag on hand, pipe the icing on the top of cakes for decoration (otherwise gently use a teaspoon or small spatula to ice)

Now enjoy …you may not live at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, but you are after all the King or Queen of your castle 🙂

(* These cupcakes pictured above appear to have royal icing as decoration covering the buttercream)