As the long weekends beckon, we have one more awesome and super special DIY for you before you get whisked away in a flurry of (hopefully) doing nothing! The fabulous Annari from Nelle Cakes has joined the DIY team to create a cute-as-a-button DIY which will be perfect for two lovebirds to share on an Autumn sunset picnic (to catch the last bit of sun before winter sets in?). Or use only one cupcake in a smaller jar and serve with your Easter meal. You can even use it as a wedding favour!

First comes the baking part and Annari has perfected this easy to bake recipe :

CUPCAKE RECIPE

Yield 12 | Oven temperature: 180˚C

Ingredients

For Cupcakes

140g unsalted butter, soft

200g light brown sugar

1 large egg (50g)

50g plain yoghurt

½ tsp vanilla extract

180g cake flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp ginger

pinch salt

150g grated carrots

50g pecan nuts, roughly chopped

For Frosting

145g butter, soft

130g cream cheese, room temperature

500g icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Baking Directions

Preheat oven to 180ｰC. Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners. Using an electric mixer, beat together butter and light brown sugar. Add the egg, vanilla and yoghurt, mix well.

In another bowl weigh all dry ingredients together and mix. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mix until well combined. Stir in the grated carrots and chopped pecan nuts.

Divide among paper cups. Bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from pan to wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

To Frost

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, cream cheese and icing sugar until smooth. Add vanilla extract. Beat until frosting is pale and fluffy.

And now the fun really starts:

Take one cooled cupcake, remove the paper liner and place in the bottom of your Consol jar. Now scoop in a layer of frosting. Add your second layer of cupcake, finishing up with a big dollop of frosting. Sprinkle with roughly chopped pecan nuts.

Pretty up your Consol jar with an Easter bunny cuff (fold a strip of paper into a consertina to make cutting easier. We have included a bunny template for you to use too) or simply use ribbon and lace. Add the message disc to the top by sticking it down onto the lid with double sided tape and there you have a wonderful and yummy Easter dessert to enjoy.

Have fun (and drive safe!)

xx Anelle from Seven Swans and Annari from Nelle Cakes

Easter cupcakes in a jar decorations – Afrikaans

Easter cupcakes in a jar decorations – English