Butterfly Cupcakes

Butterfly Cupcakes are soft, fluffy and delicious, and they can be filled with jelly, jam or lemon curd and whipped cream. They're my childhood wrapped up in a cupcake liner, and a special nod to my mum this Mother's Day!

It's Mother's Day on Sunday and no one knows whether they'll be able to spend time with their mum to celebrate.  Hopefully, restrictions are eased a little by then - I desperately want to see my mum, but I also want her to stay healthy and safe!

Today I'm sharing my recipe for Butterfly Cupcakes and a little bit about my mum, because I think she's pretty damn amazing.  They're not something new and you've probably made these cupcakes yourself or eaten them at some point, but they pretty much wrap up my childhood in a cupcake liner - it's an oldie but a goodie recipe!

My mum was barely eighteen when she became a wife, mother (to me), homeowner/renovator and housewife. She was thrust into the domestic/family life very young and money was tight, but I've never ever heard her complain about the life she was dealt - she just got on with it!

Growing up, I was in awe of what my mum could achieve. Give her some yarn and a cardigan would appear, fabric bundles would become your new church dress or gorgeous gowns for my nan. She could look in a half empty fridge and create a tasty and hearty meal or bake a cake with little in the pantry. Nothing was wasted and everything happened effortlessly.

Whatever she started, she finished, and everything she did she learnt through trial and error and perseverance. She could sew a ballgown including my wedding gown, decorate elaborate cakes, crochet or knit all of our winter woollies and she created a home that was spotlessly clean and organised, all the time!

To me, she was the cleverest mother in the world, and I wanted to be just like her. She had the patience of a saint, and all the time in the world to teach me a new skill. She introduced me to the joy of creating, and she's always been my biggest fan and cheerleader - I think she's kept everything I've created for her including that vase from Kindergarten!

I can clearly remember the first time she made Butterfly Cakes. She was hosting a birthday party for her mother, and she made cupcakes for the kids because there was lots of grown up food we apparently wouldn't eat.  It was a fatal mistake because from then on we pestered her to make them all the time ;)

They are the simplest of things, but you can imagine seven-year-old me being in absolute awe of my mum's creation - I thought they were the most amazing cakes I'd ever seen.  I know now that they became popular after appearing in a magazine, but I seriously thought my mum had invented them! I thought she walked on water, so there was no doubt in my mind that she was the first mother to ever bake a cupcake like this! :)

Butterfly Cupcakes are soft and fluffy, and you can fill them with either jelly, jam or lemon curd and top them with cream. Mum used jelly, so I do too, and it has to be raspberry jelly... just because!

You can use any cupcake recipe you like, but my recipe is seriously one of the best. The cupcakes are soft and fluffy and utterly delicious, and you simply cut out a circle in the tops, fill them with jelly and whipped cream, slice the cut out cake in half to make the wings and shower them with icing sugar. So simple and oh so pretty!

Just like mum, I bake them when I have leftover jelly and whipped cream. You only need small quantities, so this is a good recipe to ensure nothing goes to waste.

If you would like to try my Butterfly Cupcakes recipe, then simply click on the link to download the recipe card or right click on the photo below and save it to your computer.

These cupcakes tell the story of my childhood and how mum awed me with all her talents and creativity. She no longer sews, knits or crochets, but she still lives a creative life. She's passionate about her jigsaw puzzles and she loves to bake fun treats for the grandkids. She reads a lot and a few years ago she gave me the greatest gift ever - she delved into the world of scrapbooking and created an album of all my childhood photos, much love!

I hope I get to see mum on Sunday, and I hope you get to spend time with your mum too! They've shaped us into the wonderful creative people we are, they've given us guidance, showed us patience and showered us with love and adoration.  I wouldn't be the person I am today without her. Love you mum!

Happy baking and Happy Mother's Day!