Go Back
Blood Orange and Rose Water Fairy Cakes
Print

Blood Orange and Rose Water Fairy Cakes

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 12 small cakes

Ingredients

Cake Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup self-rising flour
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • 1 blood orange, zested and juiced (keep separate)
  • 1/4 tsp rose water

Blood Orange Glaze Ingredients

  • ¾ + 1/8 cup confectioner's sugar
  • 2 tbsp freshly squeezed blood orange juice (see above)
  • sprinkles for decoration

Instructions

PREP INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Line a 12-cavity cupcake tin with paper liners, or generously grease cupcake tin cavities.

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS

  • In a medium-size bowl, use an electric handmixer to whip the softened butter until creamy.
  • Zest the blood orange into the butter, then beat mixture until zest is incorporated. Wrap the zested orange in plastic wrap and set aside for later.
  • Add the granulated sugar to the bowl and beat mixture until light and fluffy.
  • Pour the lightly beaten eggs in slowly, then beat until mixture is light and creamy.
  • Add the vanilla and rose water, then beat to incorporate them in the batter. Now, you can put the handmixer aside (you’re done with it).
  • Gently fold the flour into the cake batter using a spatula or spoon.
  • Add the 1 tbsp of milk and stir gently to combine.
  • Scoop the batter evenly into the 12 cupcake cavities; each cavity should be only half-full.
  • Bake the fairy cakes at 350F for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Let the fairy cakes rest in the cupcake tin for 10 minutes, then remove them to a wire rack to finish cooling. It won't take very long!

BLOOD ORANGE GLAZE INSTRUCTIONS

  • Make the blood orange glaze while the cakes are baking.
  • Remove the zested blood orange from the plastic wrap, then cut it in half.
  • Juice one half of the orange, and rewrap the remaining half in plastic wrap for another use.
  • Pour ¾ cup + 1/8 cup of confectioner’s sugar into a small bowl, then whisk in 2 tbsp of the freshly squeeze blood orange juice until you have a thick but spreadable pink glaze.
  • Once fairy cakes are completely cooled, remove them from their paper liners (if you used them), then spoon a small amount of the blood orange glaze onto the top of each cake; it’s okay if it drips down the sides.
  • Decorate immediately with sprinkles since the glaze hardens pretty quickly.
  • Serve fairy cakes at room temperature.

Notes

*If you don't have self-rising flour at home, you can learn how to make it here.
Blood Orange and Rose Water Fairy Cakes recipe is adapted from BBC Food's Fairy Cakes recipes.