Cup Cakes- Jungle theme

I made these cup cakes for my son's 1st Birthday Party on June 16th. The theme for his party was Jungle Safari & hence I made Jungle themed cup cakes. Its a Chocolate cup cake with Butter cream icing. I used Wilton colors to match the theme. Mostly the cup cakes have grass shape icing & I used the grass tip to decorate.

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp cocoa powder

250 grams all purpose flour

1 Tbsp Baking powder

100 grams salted butter

1 Cup Milk

200 grams powdered sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Butter cream frosting

250 grams Butter room temperature

600 grams Icing sugar

2 Tspn Vanilla essence

1/4 Milk if required

(Beat the butter, icing sugar, vanilla essence for almost 5 to 8 minutes till its smooth. Add milk if the mixture gets very hard. Butter cream icing is ready. Use best quality butter for best results & taste) 

Method: In a bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour, Coco mixture and beat only until incorporated. Add in milk when required in between. 

Fill each cup cake cup about two-thirds full with batter and bake for about 16 - 20 minutes or until risen, springy to the touch, and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. (Do not over bake or the cupcakes will be dry.) Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost with icing. You can either spread the frosting on the cupcakes with a small spatula or if piping, use any tip that you want. I used the grass tip to go with the theme. These cupcakes are best the day they are made, but can be covered and stored for a few days. Mine lasted for 5 days & they were still moist.

Makes about 20 - 24 cup cakes