Late nights with cookies :)

For the past 2 days, I had been working late nights [ermm it is due to my busy schedule with meet ups and some miscellaneous stuff going on during the week. Hence, I gotta 'worked' OT (overtime) for the nights so that I am able to 交货 (aka producing the orders on time)].

I shall summarize to cut this post short, just so that I can rest before going to church (don't wanna fall asleep in church =x). A friend's daughter is celebrating her 3rd birthday. He had wanted 'Dora Themed' sweet treats which.....I don't think I am up for it and just by buying Dora toppers to place on cakes / cupcakes are just so not sincere. Hence, I suggested cookie toppers but it is just too much work to draw Dora on the sugar cookies. So we decided to do some cute cookie toppers to be placed on top of the cupcakes. 

Decoration of the cookies on my dining table, trying to be as tidy as I could. Seriously decorating cookies is somewhat therapeutic at times but also testing my PATIENCE at times.....

Malty Milo ^.^ Happy Birthday Middle O!

Milo lovers, this post is for you!

Milo is a malty chocolaty energy drink that I grew up with. Almost everyday, Mommy will always make a cup of hot Milo for me and my sisters (Morning before I leave house for school/work or at night before I head to bed). There is one habit that I cannot get rid off when making myself a cup of milo and that is to eat one or two big spoonful of Milo powder. You must be smiling and nodding to yourself as you read it right? keke...because you do that all the time as well!!! For those who didn't and have not tried eating Milo powder, don't look at me that way...you seriously are missing out BIG BIG time! The taste of Malty Chocolate is just like heaven! (not that I had been to heaven but it really just feel heavenly when you eat it. try it and you will know what I mean)

This recipe had been bookmarked for many years =x and since it is Middle O's birthday (12 June to be exact and btw she's my niece aka GodChild), I had decided to make milo Cupcakes instead of a fanciful castle that I had intended to make. The recipe is taken from this website. It is really easy to make. Quick and yummy :) You might want to alter the recipe a little as I did where I reduced the amount of sugar to my liking (I have a very low threshold when it comes to sugar). Also, I halved the frosting recipe and it was just right.

One thing I like about this recipe is that, the recipe contains MILO! ok yes that is one of the main reason. Another reason is...the recipe does not contain a lot of butter and sugar!!! ^^V

The cupcake tasted Malty, Chocolaty, Moist, Sugary sweet but not too sweet, HEAVENLY!

Below are the photos I had taken during the mini birthday celebration, followed by the recipe.

It is a tradition to eat eggs that are dyed in red for birthday..hence, Mommy dyed some red quail eggs for the children. 

This is Middle O

This is BB O

 This is Big O

She is 5!

 They love it to the max and wanted a 2nd serving..but...to be honest...Milo is kinda 'heaty' hence you need to drink lots of water after eating it.

Now photos of the Milo cupcakes!!!

MILO CUPCAKES
Time 20-40 minutes

Difficulty - Easy

Serves 12

Ingredients
Cupcakes
115g Plain Flour
140g Caster Sugar
1.5 teaspoons Baking Powder
Pinch salt
40g Unsalted Butter, room temperature
120 ml Whole Milk
3 tablespoons Milo
2 teaspoons Cocoa Powder
1 Egg
Milo Frosting
300g Icing Sugar
100g Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
40g Cocoa Powder, sifted
40 ml Whole Milk
2 teaspoons Milo
(Adapted from Vanilla Cupcake recipe, The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook)

Method
Preheat the oven to 170 degrees celsius. Line a 12-hole muffin tray with patty cases.

Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer until everything is combined.

In a jug, stir the Milo into the milk until the milk turns chocolate coloured. Add 60ml of the milk mixture to the batter and whisk until just incorporated.

Lightly beat the egg, the pour the egg and remaining milk into the batter and beat until mixture is smooth. Do not overmix.

Spoon the mix into the paper cases until two-thirds full. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the cakes bounce back when touched and a skewer comes out clean.

Leave cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack.

Frosting
Stir Milo into the milk until mixture turns chocolate coloured.

Beat the icing sugar, butter and cocoa powder with an electric mixer until well mixed.

Slowly add in the milk mixture. Once all the milk has been added, turn the mixer to high speed and continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy (around five minutes).

Have fun :) Try it out and let me know how it goes ;)

xx,

TBG