Wednesday 23 June 2010

Rose Cupcakes


The birthday season continues and this time I decided to make rose cupcakes with a rose buttercream icing.  The recipe is from 'Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery' and turned out very well but perhaps a little too sweet.  I bought a Molton Brown rose granati gift set for my friend's birthday so I thought I'd theme it around roses. As it turned out, our other friend bought gifts in the same theme! What a lovely coincidence :)
The cupcakes are essentially a plain vanilla sponge with a hint of rosewater. I put a lot more than suggested which is perhaps why it was a little too sweet? It smelled great though.

lovely batter ready to go in the oven

pink and girly :)


added heart sprinkles just for the birthday girl

Presents! See what I mean about the theme? We didn't even talk about it beforehand. Clearly great minds think alike :)

Happy Birthday Roselle!!

Rose cupcakes
110g unsalted butter, at room temperature
225g golden caster sugar
2 large eggs
150g self-raising flour, sifted
125g plain flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon good quality rosewater, or to taste
120ml semi-skimmed milk, at room temperature

Rose buttercream icing
115g unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 tablespoons semi-skimmed milk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
500g icing sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon good-quality rosewater, or to taste
pink food colouring (optional)


  • Preheat the oven to 160C

  • In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until mixture is pale and smooth.

  • Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

  • Combine the two flours in a separate bowl.

  • Mix a little of the rosewater with the milk in a jug and test it: rosewater varies in quality and strength, so taste the mixture and adjust the amount you add accordingly.

  • Add one-third of the flours to the creamed mixture and beat well.

  • Pour in one-third of the milk and beat again.

  • Repeat these steps until all the flour and milk have been added.

  • Carefully spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases, filling them to about 2/3 full.

  • Bake in the oven for 25 minutes until slightly raised and golden brown.

  • Remove from the oven and leave the cakes in their tins for about 10 mins before carefully placing on a wire rack to cool.

To make the icing

  • In a large bowl, beat the butter, milk, vanilla extract and half the icing sugar until smooth. This can take several minutes.

  • Gradually add the remainder of the icing sugar and beat again until the buttercream is smooth and creamy.

  • Add the rosewater at the very end and beat thoroughly, tasting to check if it is scented enough.

  • To colour, simply beat in a tiny drop of pink food colouring.

13 comments:

  1. What a wonderful present, so sweet!

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  2. Wow these look lovely and I love the heart sprinkles :) I've been seeing a lot about this type of flavouring - mainly the lavender ones - have you ever made lavender ones and would you make the rose ones again? :)

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  3. @leanne - I've not tried lavender but would love to. I'd definitely make these rose ones again, with a little less sugar though. It had a slight crispy crunchy top. Plus I have a whole bottle of rosewater now!

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  4. Thanks for the recommendation, I might have to give rose cupcakes a go sometime :)

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  5. Oh thanks, I was happy with how it turned out! That's so cool you made my Oreo cupcakes, they are always a winner for me too! I just had another order today to make some for a birthday actually. Looking forward to seeing your blog post! I am never brave enough to try anything like rose...the thought of eating something that may taste floral just puts me off!! but I know they're pretty popular in the cupcake world! I love the sanding sugar you decorated with, I want to get some in every colour - I love that stuff!

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  6. I bet these were delicious! I have never had a rose cupcake, but I sure want one now!!

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  7. These are so pretty! Perfect for a girl's birthday treat :)

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  8. How gorgeous! And so coordinated too! I was in Molton Brown the other day and I saw so manny things I wanted to get! :D

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  9. Wowo such beautiful looking cup ckaes. I wanted to grab them from my screen.

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  10. Very pretty and beautifully girly!

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  11. these are sweet and adorable. i love the touch of edible glitter

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