Love Cakes

These are just adorable. I have taken the recipe from Nigella Lawsons book Feast but made a couple of very tiny changes. They are just wonderful for a special occasion.

PS: Nigella calls them buns but I reckon they are really a cake.

Before making please take all the ingredients and have them come to room temperature. Turn oven on to gas mark 6 or 200 degrees c.

Ingredients:
125g of butter softened
125g caster sugar
2 eggs
125g plain flour
1/2 tsp bicarb soda
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp real vanilla extract (don't use imitation - it has a yukky after taste and it will not taste as good)
2-3 tbspn milk

Topping Option 1 (the easiest):
Whipping Cream
Strawberry Jam


Topping Option 2 (slowest but really yummy):
2 egg whites
4 tbsp golden syrup
100g caster sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp real vanilla extract


Method:
Using a food processor put all the incredients excepting the milk into the bowl and wizz until smooth. Then pour milk down the funnel and blitz until smooth.

If you don't have a food processor do the following using a conventional mixer:
- Blend butter and sugar until butter changes colour.
- Add eggs one at a time mixing between additions
- Add all other ingredients including milk and mix until smooth

Using a muffin tin line each hole with a paper muffin paper.

Divide the mixture evenly between the muffin holes. (Use a 12 hole muffin pan)

Cook for for 15 - 20 minutes - they should rise and be golden with a little peak.

Cool them a little before taking out of the pan.

Let them cool then put on your favourite topping...

Topping Option 1 (the easiest):
Spread strawberry jam over the top of each cake
Whip the cream until quite stiff - swirl and mound high onto each cake

Topping Option 2:
Over a double boiler put all ingredients into the pot except the vanilla. Continually wisk over the boiling water until firm peaks form. Use a hand or electric whisk. Then take off heat add the vanilla and keep wisking until it cools a little.

Swirl over the cakes - piling the topping high on each cake.