Easy Breezy Late Night Coffee Cake

Last week, a friend had her baby shower and I made red velvet cupcakes (this recipe works every single time - will blog this soon) and coconut cupcakes with lime buttercream. V wanted to eat one but I had to stop him. Poor thing. I then promised him I'll make him some cupcakes and we can ice those with the leftover icing.  Came Saturday, and I was at work the whole day and we went out to dinner with a friend. And then came Sunday, and I totally forgot...At about 9.30 pm, i myself felt like eating cake. So i picked up my humble "padmini" (iPad) and googled for a simple vanilla cupcake recipe. When I found Nigella's recipe, I was like a happy child, prancing around (in my mind of course!) and went to the fridge to take some butter and eggs out. Then came that dreadful thought! I'll have to wash up a whole load of stuff! The cake mixer, the ladles and spatulas, the mixer bowl and the list goes on! So I made some modifications. And wait for it......No cake mixer involved! Just 1 bowl, 1 spatula, 1 tbsp, 1 balloon whisk, 2 measuring cups, sieve and some elbow grease!


Ingredients:


1  cup / 125 g    self-raising flour
9 tbsp  /  125g   very soft butter (softened in the microwave for 20-30 seconds)
1/4 cup              soft brown sugar (might want to add more for those who have a sweet tooth) (Nigella's recipe called for 2/3 cup / 125g caster sugar)
2                        eggs
1 tsp                  instant coffee mixed in 2 tbsp warm water
1 tsp                  vanilla extract
4 tbsp                milk




Method:

1. Turn oven on at 200 degrees C.
2.Add softened butter and sugar and whisk well until combined.
3. Add eggs one by one and whisk again.
4. Follow with vanilla extract and coffee.
5. Sift flour into butter and sugar mixture and mix with a spoon. Add milk and mix well. Do not over mix.
6. Pour batter into cake tin (I used 2 15cm by 5cm loaf tin; You can also make cupcakes)
7. Bake for 23 minutes. If making cupcakes, bake for 15 - 20 minutes.

Note: Please note that different ovens will require different baking times. After baking for a while, you will get the hang of it. My oven for instance, if the recipe calls to bake for 15-20 minutes, I would set my timer for 18 mins.