These snowman cupcakes are perfect for kids and adults to make this Christmas time. Rich chocolate cupcakes are decorated to resemble cute snowmen, which are ideal for adding a bit of fun to a party buffet or for gifting. They’re plenty of fun for the little ones to get involved with too!

Ready in: 1.5 hours

Makes: 12

Ingredients

200g caster sugar
175g plain flour
50g cocoa powder
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
Pinch of salt
100ml sunflower oil
2 large eggs
2 tbsp soured cream
125ml boiling water
For the buttercream
200g unsalted butter, softened
400g icing sugar
1-2 tbsp milk
To decorate
50g ready to roll white fondant icing
Red and orange food colouring
12 white marshmallows
Black writing icing, or melted chocolate
2 tsp desiccated coconut (optional)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170C. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.

2. First, make the cupcakes. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add the sunflower oil, eggs and soured cream and mix thoroughly, until smooth. Next, add the boiling water and beat again.

3. Equally fill the 12 paper cases with the cake batter. Bake in the pre-heated oven for around 20 minutes, until well risen and a wooden skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin for around 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Next, make the buttercream. Beat the butter in a bowl until light and pale, then gradually stir in the icing sugar and milk until smooth. You may not require all the milk.

5. Divide the white fondant icing into two. Carefully add the red and orange food colouring to each half to create coloured icing. Create 12 small carrot shapes with the orange icing to use for the noses. Divide the red icing into 36 small red dots to use as buttons. Set aside to dry for around 30 minutes.

6. Use the black writing icing or melted chocolate to draw eyes and a mouth onto each marshmallow then set aside to dry. Use some melted chocolate to stick the carrot nose to each marshmallow face.

7. Spread the buttercream on top of each cake and press a marshmallow face into the icing. Press the red dots into the icing in front of the face to resemble buttons and use the remaining chocolate / writing icing to pipe each snowman two arms. Scatter with the desiccated coconut (if using) to create a snowy scene.