Easter choc chip cupcake nests

I made these for Easter to take to a friend's house for dessert. They went down really well although they were rather large and one small complaint was that there was too much frosting - something I didn't have a problem with!

The small eggs are Cadbury's mini-eggs (which I adore...), which you can't get over here. But feel free to substitute. Traditionally people break up Cabury's flake bars to make the nest like texture, and so you would then only use frosting to stick the flaky chocolate to the cupcake. However since we don't get Cadbury's in any form here I tried to make the nest like texture by using a piping nozzle from Ikea and the cute cupcake/muffin cases that I used were the Drömmar, also from Ikea. I think these were probably on the big side for these cakes. Sadly we don't get shop bought chocolate chips so I had to improvise and make some of my own by cutting up a chocolate bar with a knife, which actually works out quite well!

Ingredients 

For the cupcakes

• 150 g softened butter (I usually take it out of the fridge and let it soften while I get the other ingredients ready)
• 150 g caster sugar (siro erikoishieno sokeri)
• 175 g self-raising flour (or 175 g plain + 2.5 tsp baking powder)
• 3 large free-range/organic eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract or substitute some of the sugar for vanilla sugar
• 50 g milk or plain chocolate chips

For the icing

• 150 g softened butter
• 250 g icing sugar
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tsp very hot water

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 180C
2. Line a 12 cupcake pan with cupcake papers
3. Crack open the eggs into a cup and beat gently with a fork
4. Put all the cake ingredients in a large bowl
5. Beat with an electric mixer until light and creamy
6. Spoon the cake mix evenly between the cake cases
7. Bake until risen and firm to the touch, about 18-20 mins
8. Allow to cool briefly and then transfer to a wire rack to cool thoroughly before icing
9. Now to make the icing while the cakes are cooling.
10. Beat the butter and icing sugar together with  the electric mixer
11. Combine the cocoa powder and the hot water and then add them to the butter and sugar mix, beat until smooth and creamy.
12. Use a piping bag and nozzle of your choice to frost/ice the cakes. If you are not sure how to use one of these just google "how to use a piping bag" and there's some nice videos and how to guides around to help.
13. Finish decorating by adding a couple of eggs to the top of each nest.

Hyvää ruokahalua!