Vanilla Cupcakes - and other variations

125g butter/margarine
125g sugar (caster sugar is best)
2 eggs
vanilla essence
200g flour (sifted)
2tsp baking powder

Beat butter, vanilla essence and sugar till creamy. Add eggs one at a time. Mix in flour and  a little milk  (by the tablespoon till batter drops off  a spoon) and baking powder. Pour batter into paper cups and bake at 170C for 10 - 15 minutes or until a skewer  comes out clean.

Variations:

Chocolate cupcake:
 replace 50g flour with 50g cocoa powder.

Red Velvet cupcake:
add 25g baking powder and 10ml dark red food colouring to the batter.

Apple and spice cupcake:
peel, core and grate 2 medium size apples. Add to the batter with 2 tablespoons cinnamon, mix well and bake as above.