Origin of Fairy Cake Cafe

Dearest cupcake lovers

I was thinking yesterday that some of you are probably wondering why "fairy cake" instead of "cupcake." I am English born and raised and now dwell in Pennsylvania, (where I have discovered many many wonderful new baking recipes that I had never heard of eg bearclaws/monkey bread/etc) and for as long as I can remember, Mommies, Grandmommies, Aunts in the UK introduce their kids to baking by making fairy cakes with them. A fairy cake is just a classic vanilla cupcake but with royal icing, not cream cheese or butter cream icing. I used to make them with my Nan & Mom, and now I make them with my girls who love to lick the icing off the spoons afterwards! Fairy cakes are a staple at birthday parties, coffee mornings, get-togethers and now of course brides all over are reminiscing back to childhood by having fairy cakes in layers at their weddings! So when I was thinking of a name for the cafe, I had to bring a little bit of my British childhood to my little space in America, so "The Fairy Cake Cafe" was born.

Here is the recipe for English Fairy Cakes ( the measurements are in ounces, so sorry to everyone for having to convert to cups!)

Chat soon

Cake Fairy xx


Fairy Cakes
Makes 20-24

Preheat oven 350 degrees
Line cupcake pans with liners

8oz Self rising flour
8oz fine granulated sugar
8oz butter (at room temp)
4 eggs
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
(food coloring optional)

Royal icing:
Confectioners sugar
warm water
a few drops of food coloring

I have always made these by hand, but you can use an electric mixer if you wish.
Cream together the butter & sugar until light in color and fluffy. Add the eggs & vanilla, and beat to mix. Add flour & salt & powder and mix using a figure of 8 stroke. Add food coloring if you want. Fill liners 2/3rds full, and bake for 20/22 mins until light golden brown. Let cool completely before icing.

To make the icing, put about 2 cups of confectioners sugar in a bowl, and add warm water a teaspoon at a time to make a thick-ish paste. If it's too runny it will not sit on the cake. Add food coloring and decorate to your hearts content! Add sprinkles/jemmies etc. Enjoy!