We asked Masterchef winner Mat Follas, of The Casterbridge, Dorchester, for a great recipe to entertain the kids when the sun's not shining this summer. 

Summer is well and truly on us and the sun is shining, well most of the time. If, like me, you’re often looking for childrens’ entertainment on those rainy days, then here’s a simple cupcake recipe.

Make a shopping trip to any supermarket and they’ll have a brilliant range of sprinkles and candy shapes plus colours and wonderful flavourings to make some fun cupcakes with. Do spend a little more and buy extracts, not essences, as these will give a true flavour.

Pick some rose petals to decorate your cupcakes, if you use an old or dog rose then the petals taste good to eat, as the shiny newer types of rose are bitter and unpleasant in flavour. I’m sure there’s a metaphor in that.

Send in a photo of your cupcakes and I’ll send a copy of my cookbook FISH to my favourite one. Send it to The Casterbridge, 49 High East Street, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1HU with a name, address and contact number.

12 CUPCAKES

For the cupcakes: 100g self raising flour 100g softened butter 100g caster sugar 2 eggs ½ tsp flavouring eg. vanilla extract

For the Buttercream: ½ cup unsalted butter 4 cups icing sugar 1/3 cup milk Pinch of salt 1 tsp flavouring eg. rose, violet extract or lemon juice

METHOD

THE CUPCAKES

Mix the butter, sugar and flavouring together until light and fluffy.

In a separate bowl, mix the eggs together then slowly add to the butter mixture (if the mixture starts to curdle, add a tbsp flour). Fold in the rest of the flour until it has an even consistency (if the mixture won’t drop off the spoon, it’s too thick, so add a little warm water). Place a spoonful into each paper cupcake case (they should be filled to approx 2/3).

Bake in an oven at 180°C for 10-12 minutes until golden brown on top.

Remove from the oven and cool on a rack. Decorate by piping a buttercream on top.

THE BUTTERCREAM

Mix the butter until it becomes a smooth paste. Add the icing sugar, salt, milk and flavouring and whisk until smooth and creamy.