What you need
Ingredients
- Cupcakes:
- Decorations and frosting:
Allergens warning
- This product contains:
- This product is suitable for:
Method
First make your mango puree by taking the flesh from the mango and blending to a smooth puree with a hand blender or food processor. Make sure to reserve some for the frosting. Preheat your oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / gas mark 4. Place 12 paper cupcake cases into a cupcake tin.
Beat the butter or coconut oil until soft with the maple syrup. Add the mango puree and vanilla extract with 1 tbsp of the flour and beat in (you can use an electric cake mixer with the paddle attachment if you have one, or do it my hand in a large bowl with a wooden spoon).
Add the eggs one at a time, with 1 tbsp of the flour and beat in thoroughly (the flour stops the mixture from splitting, which happens if it’s too wet). Sift the rest of the flour in gradually and fold lightly into the mixture using a metal spoon. Keep as much air as possible in the mixture, so be careful not to over mix it.
Once all the flour is just combined, spoon a large tbsp of mixture into each paper case, the mixture should fill the case about ¾ full. Fill all the cases then place straight into the oven. The quicker you work the more air stays in the cupcakes, and the lighter they will be. Bake for 20 minutes until golden and springy to the touch. Insert a knife to check they are cooked – it should come out clean. Leave in the tin for 10 minutes to cool a little, then move onto a wire rack to cool completely.
The secret to this simple frosting is keeping everything as cold as possible, so the coconut cream stays fairly thick. The cupcakes should be completely cool. The coconut cream and mango puree should be used straight from the fridge and ideally place your mixing bowl in the fridge to cool for half an hour before using too .Beat the coconut cream and mango puree together with the tsp of vanilla until smooth (use an electric whisk if you have one).
Spread the cooled cupcakes with mango frosting, then add two raisins for the chicks eyes. Cut the dried apricots into small triangles, then add one to the cupcake to give the chick a beak. Add two flaked almonds for wings (leave these off for younger babies). Finally, add a sprinkle of desiccated coconut for fluffy feathers.
These tasty cupcakes aren't made with cane sugar they don't keep very long. They're best eaten on the day you make them. Otherwise, keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze and defrost in just an hour, then add frosting and decorations.