Pimm’s cupcakes

This was fun to make and tasted lovely.. the colours are vibrant and remind you of summer...

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

• 150g self-raising flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• zest of 1 small orange
• 175g soft unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 175g caster sugar
• 3 medium eggs, lightly beaten
• 12 strawberries, hulled             

For the Pimm's syrup:

• 150ml Pimm's
• 50g caster sugar

For the Pimm's buttercream:

• 250g unsalted butter, softened
• 50ml semi-skimmed milk, at room temperature
• 2 tbsp Pimm's
• 350g icing sugar

To decorate:

• a few mint leaves
• thin slices of orange, cut into quarters
• thin slices of lemon, cut into quarters
• 6 strawberries, sliced in half
• 12 blackberries 
• Straws 

Method: 

• Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a 12-hole cupcake tray with cupcake cases.
• Sieve the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Stir in the orange zest.
• In a separate bowl, using an electric whisk, cream the soft butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy. Alternately whisk in the beaten eggs and the flour mixture until combined. 
• Divide the mixture evenly among the cupcake cases. 
• Insert a whole strawberry into each cupcake 
• Bake in the oven for 25 minutes.
• While the cupcakes are baking, make the syrup. Gently heat the Pimm's with the sugar in a medium saucepan, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Increase the heat and let it bubble for 5-7 minutes until thick and syrupy. Pour the syrup into a small jug.
• As soon as the cupcakes come out of the oven, prick the tops a few times with a toothpick and brush them with the Pimm's syrup. Leave to cool in the tray for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
• While the cupcakes are cooling, make the buttercream. Using an electric whisk, mix together the butter, milk and Pimm's in a medium bowl until smooth. On a low speed, gradually add the icing sugar and continue to beat until smooth and thick. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a 1cm star nozzle.
• Once the cupcakes are completely cool, generously pipe each one with the icing, then decorate with sliced strawberries, orange slices, lemon , blackberries and the baby mint leaves.