My first time baking!

14th September 2013, Saturday.

While the bf was away for reservist, the bgf came over to stayover on a Friday night and we baked together the next day! It was really my first time baking, she was such a dear in guiding me.

I told her I wanna try to bake rootbeer cupcakes and she went to search for the recipe for me, aww. How to not love her?

Love the Polka Dots Cupcakes Cup Liners.

Ingredients needed for 12 Cupcakes:

• 1 cup of root beer
• 1/2 cup of root beer syrup (2cups of rootbeer simmered down to 1/2 cup)
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 2 cups of flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Simmer 2 cups of root beer until it reduces to 1/2 cup
2. Preheat oven to 180deg and line 12-cup muffin baking pan with cupcake liners
3. In a bowl of eletric mixer, beat eggs oil and sugar until well combined
4. Add the syrup and vanilla extract, mix well.
5. Sift in the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Mix, on low, until just incorporated
6. Add the root beer and mix until all incorporated
7. Separate the mixture between the 12 cups, filing them 3/4 full
8. Bake for 16-18mins, until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
9. Cool completely before frosting

Ingredients needed for Frosting (12 cupcakes): 

• 4 cups icing sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoon of milk or light cream

Instructions:

1. Beat butter until smooth with icing sugar
2. Add vanilla extract
3. Add milk and beat on high speed until frosting is light and fluffy

& we tried a simple one too, Butter Cake!

Ingredients for Butter Cake: 

• 250g unsalted butter, room temperature
• 200g plain flour/all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 200g castor sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoon fresh milk or yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Instructions:

1. Preheat over to 180-200deg
2. Lightly grease the pan/tray with some butter
3. Mix the flour and the baking powder together and sieve. Add in salt and mix well. Set aside.
4. Use an mixer to mix butter and sugar untill well mixed (pale yellow in color)
5. Add in the first egg. Beat well after each addition of egg until creamy
6. Add in vanilla essence and mix well
7. Fold in the flour into the mixture and mix well
8. Finally, add in the milk/yogurt
9. Pour the mixture into the greased pan/tray. Shake it lightly to distribute cake mixture evenly.
10. Bake until golden brown and cooked, around 40mins. 

The night before we baked, we dined at JEM Hongkong cafe.

And after baking, we dined at JEM Pastamania.

So.. Want some? =P

If you're trying out, do let me know if the recipe works for you!