Happy Friday!  Welcome back for another fun filled Friday filled to the brim with foodie fabulousness!  Thank you to everyone who linked up with us last week, again it was really tough picking our favourites.

I couldn’t go past this Malteser Cake from TOMFO… How decadent does it look?  I think I’ve found the next celebration cake I will be making!

When I see gorgeous Thermomix recipes like these Healthy Banana & Caramel Muffins  from Mrs D Plus 3, I REALLY wish I had a Thermomix!

These Oatmeal Cookies from Just a Mum also caught my eye – it sounds like great recipe to make with a little helper and they look delicious too!

This yummy Chicken, Kale and Mushroom Stir Fry created by Mums Take 5 is going on our menu planner!

I love dumplings, but have always been a little afraid to make them….  I’m going to be brave and give these gorgeous Mushroom Dumplings from Good Food Week a try.

Don’t forget to visit Bake Play Smile and check out Lucy’s favourite recipes too..

These frosted M&M Vanilla Cupcakes were inspired by the pictures of ‘Funfetti’ cupcakes I have seen on Pintrest and Facebook.  Who doesn’t love a perfect frosted vanilla cupcake? To make these yummy and cute cupcakes even more fun, I decided to add Mini M&Ms to the batter.

The sound of these colourful little chocolate treats falling into the cupcake batter was enough to make me smile, and also gain the attention of my little helper.  My biggest tip – make sure you use the lowest speed when combining the M&M’s with the cupcake batter, you don’t want to crush them!

My little helper was quickly on the scene to help me spoon the cupcake mixture into these pretty cases I picked up from Aldi for a bargain.  These cases are a little smaller than a standard cupcake case and I ended up with 18 cupcakes, instead of the usual 12 this recipe makes – not that I was complaining!

The vanilla frosting is what really makes these special.  You can use any kind of nozzle to create whatever effect you like.  I don’t think you can go past a traditional circular swirl using a star shaped nozzle tip.

Because you can never have enough sugar, I sprinkled 100s and 1000s over the top of these cakes. They just look to pretty to eat!

Here is how to make them:

Print Recipe

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Frosted M&M Vanilla Cupcakes

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time40 mins

Servings: 12

Author: Lauren

Ingredients

• Cupcakes
• 120 grams unsalted butter – softened
• 2/3 cup caster sugar
• 1 1/2 cups self raising flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla essence
• 2 eggs
• 150 g bag of Mini M&Ms
• Vanilla Frosting
• 125 g unsalted butter - softened
• 2 cups of icing sugar - sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 100 s & 1000s to decorate

Instructions

• To make the cupcakes
• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees, and line a12 hole cupcake tin with paper cases
• Put the butter, sugar, flour, milk, vanilla and eggs in a bowl and beat with electric beaters on a low speed for 2 minutes or until well mixed
• Increase speed and beat for a further 2 minutes or until smooth and pale
• Add the bag of Mini M&Ms and on the lowest speed, mix into the batter.
• Spoon mixture in to cupcake tray and bake for 20 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
• Allow to cool completely on a wire rack
• To make the Vanilla Frosting
• Cream butter and sugar together using an electric mixer until white and fluffy. Add vanilla extract and continue to beat until combined.
• Put icing into a piping bag, fitted with a star shaped nozzle.
• Pipe icing onto the top of the cupcakes in a circular motion, starting from the outside edge until cupcake is covered.
• Sprinkle 100s & 1000s over the top to decorate.

And now it’s over to you!

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