Pretty Vanilla Cupcakes

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to gas 4, 180C, fan 160C Line a 12-hole bun tin with cupcake cases.
2. 2
   Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric beater until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3. 3
   Beat in the eggs one by one and then beat in the flour and vanilla extract, plus a pinch of salt.
4. 4
   The mixture should fall easily off your spoon; add a drop of milk if it is too stiff.
5. 5
   Put the mixture into the cupcake cases.
6. 6
   Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cakes have risen and are firm.
7. 7
   As soon as you can, lift out of their tins and cool on a wire rack.
8. 8
   For the icing, beat the butter until it's soft, then beat in the icing sugar until you have a soft buttercream.
9. 9
   Divide the mixture into 3 portions, and colour each one pale pink, green, or yellow.
10. 10
    Ice the cakes with the different colours, either using a palette knife or piping it on.
11. 11
    Decorate with the pearl swirls or silver balls, or decorations of your choice.