Butterfly Cupcakes (British Butterfly Cakes)
Butterfly cupcakes are a quintessential treat that was served at almost every child’s birthday party in the UK when I was growing up. Traditional British butterfly cakes are (apparently) sometimes called fairy cakes, but no matter the name, they are simply delightful.
Originally published April 9, 2014.
If you want to have an ex-pat Brit begin to wax nostalgic about food, just mention butterfly cupcakes (we called them butterfly cakes) or fairy cakes.
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However, mention them to a non-Brit and they will probably give you a tilt of their head, and look of confusion.
As a child growing up in the UK, these were standard fare at birthday parties, along with custard creams, Bourbon biscuits, and Party rings. Practically everyone’s mum made butterfly cakes (which is what they are called the UK); it was just a given. The butterfly cupcakes on a cupcake stand can give you an idea of how to use them as a butterfly birthday cake.
However, as you can see, they’re also perfect for wedding showers, and baby showers! You could even put them on top of another cake to make a butterfly birthday cake itself. So many wonderful party ideas!
What about flower cupcakes to go with your butterfly cupcakes?
These cream buns are another example of a classic, yet simple, and favorite food of many Brits. Like so many other British baking creations “across the pond”, sadly they have never caught on in the US.
Cream buns, a Scottish favourite
Each time I’ve made these delicate, butterfly-like creations, they are met with gasps of delight. And if you think they’re just another pretty cupcake, think again. Inside is a little dollop of raspberry jam hiding below a bigger dollop of freshly whipped cream! The flavor is outstanding! Please use good quality ingredients, or the results will be disappointing; good jam and real, fresh, unsweetened cream are so important.
Please don’t think that butterfly cupcakes are difficult to make as they are truly one of the easiest cupcakes to decorate; even children can make them.
Looking for something completely different? Try a chocolate chip cookie cake instead of a traditional cake!
You can use any flavor cake, but I think butterfly cupcakes look the nicest when using a white or vanilla cake (light colored).
Butterfly Cupcakes
(Traditional British Butterfly Cakes)
Cake recipe is a Victoria Sandwich makes 3 dozen cupcakes
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
Cake Batter
- butter
- superfine or Baker’s sugar
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups (300g) self-rising flour (or all purpose flour with 2 tsp baking powder), SIFTED
- a good pinch of salt
Decoration
- raspberry jam or strawberry jam
- heavy whipping cream
- sugar, for sprinkling on top of the cake
Directions
Prepare cupcake tins with paper liners.
Preheat oven to 350º F (175º C)
In a stand mixer or using a handheld mixer, cream the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy. It will begin to pale in color, too.
Add about one third of the beaten eggs, and mix well at medium speed.
Then add about a third of the sifted flour. Repeat this step. Add the rest of the eggs and mix well, then turn the mixer to low and add the final flour.
Just mix until well combined.
Fill the cupcake liners half full with the batter and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when placed in the center of a cupcake.
Remove butterfly cupcakes from the tin, place on cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
When ready to decorate, cut out the center of each cupcake, angling the knife at a 45º angle.
Then cut the loose piece in half to resemble butterfly wings (not shown in photo.)
Place a small amount of jam in the center. It doesn’t have to be homemade, but just use a good quality jam.
Follow with a dollop of cream (or buttercream, if desired). You can also pipe the cream like I did.
Next, place the “wings” on top.
TIP: If you need to have the butterfly cupcakes out for more than half an hour (for example a bake sale), then I’d advise using buttercream so that the cream won’t spoil This also works, and still tastes very good, but the authentic way (and my favorite way) is to use cream.
Repeat with all of the butterfly cupcakes, then dust each one generously with powdered/confectioner’s sugar.
Serve immediately, especially if using fresh cream, as it can spoil quickly, especially in warm weather. Keep refrigerated if you do not serve them right away.
NOTE: I did some research and although some people in Scotland and the UK call these “fairy cakes”, the majority of us know these as butterfly cakes. Fairy cakes are flat-topped cupcakes with plain icing on top.
Another fun cupcake recipe with a hidden truffle inside! Triple chocolate cupcakes.
And what about these healthier pumpkin carrot cake cupcakes (or muffins)?
Let me know if you make these delightful butterfly cupcakes in the comments below!
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Butterfly Cupcakes (Traditional British Butterfly Cakes)
Ingredients
- 10 oz unsalted butter good quality, at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups superfine or Baker’s sugar caster sugar in the UK
- 6 eggs beaten
- 2 cups self-rising flour or all purpose flour with 2 tsp baking powder, SIFTED
- a good pinch of salt
To Decorate
- 1 jar raspberry jam good quality; I like Mackays or Bonne Maman (you won't use the entire jar)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream whipped
- powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare cupcake tins with paper liners.
- Preheat oven to 350º F (175º C)
- In a stand mixer or using a handheld mixer, cream the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy. It will begin to pale in color, too.
- Add about one third of the beaten eggs, and mix well at medium speed.
- Then add about a third of the sifted flour. Repeat this step. Add the rest of the eggs and mix well, then turn the mixer to low and add the final flour. Just mix until well combined.
- Fill the cupcake liners half full with the batter and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when placed in the center of a cupcake.
- Remove cupcakes from the tin, place on cooling rack and allow to cool completely. When ready to decorate, cut out the center of each cupcake, angling the knife at a 45º angle.
- Then cut the loose piece in half to resemble butterfly wings. Place a small amount of jam in the center. Follow with a dollop of cream (or buttercream, if desired). You can also pipe the cream like I did. Next, place the "wings" on top.
- Repeat with all of the cupcakes, then dust each one generously with powdered sugar. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
More cute party cupcake ideas!
Almond Cupcakes with Cherry Almond Cream Cheese Frosting
and for adults only: White Russian Cupcakes
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Hi didn’t make them yet definitely brought back memories. I was born in 1942 so our fairy cakes were just the little cakes..no decorations..love the decorations on yours ..I was in charge of making the Victoria sponge with jam in the middle n sprinkled with icing sugar..the best were the cream buns..my Mum would put out on table and my brother n I would lick the cream off then squish them so some more cream would come out and they looked normal…Thanks for the memory!!
Awww, food memories are the best, Sheila! THank you!
These Butterfly Cakes take me right back to the 70’s as were the centrepiece of every Birthday party back then:-) Thank you for the trip down memory lane.
My mum used to make these for our birthday parties in Australia. She used to also have a sliver of jelly between the wings for the body of the butterfly. I just showed your pictures to my daughter. The tradition is going to continue in our family.
Awww, that’s the sweetest thing I’ve received in a long time, Tam! Thank you, I’m sure your daughter will love them as much as we did!
I just made recipe as per instructions weighing all ingredients and only got enough for 24 cupcakes? I admit I filled them closer to 3/4 full but in the end they didn’t rise any further than yours. If I had only filled 1/2 full would they still have rose to the same height? It’s a bit baffling to me. They smell delicious, but haven’t tasted them yet. I’m looking forward to adding the filling and serving tonight.
Hi Katherine, there are multiple variables when baking. Size of your eggs, if ingredients are at room temperature, and oven temp variances so there will definitely be some difference between your cupcakes and mine, and it’s hard to say without doing the recipe over and over and working out the variables. Hopefully the cupcakes end up being a recipe you’ll want to make often and you can experiment with :) Let me know how you like the end result!
I’m not a big fan of buttercream so loving that you use fresh whipped cream in these Butterfly Cakes which, like you, I grew up with and were centre stage at every birthday party:-)
Thanks, Camilla!!
Standard Victoria sponge recipe (equal quantities by weight of flour, sugar, butter and eggs) is my usual for butterfly cakes too, but tomorrow I am using the Edmonds 3-minute sponge recipe (my absolute favourite fast cake recipe) because I haven’t got any coconut to make what I originally wanted, Lamingtons, and I’d got all the cakes ingredients ready to make this afternoon. I have a memory of replacing the coconut after my last lot of lamingtons used up the lot, but obviously it was a false one. What an idiot I am. I’m not British but these were a staple part of children’s parties when I was a kid too.