• 115 gms butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla essence/extract
• Topping:
• 3 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp peanut butter
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 2-4 tbsp milk
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 vanilla essence/extract

1. preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius/350 degrees fahrenheit
2. beat butter til soft. add sugar beat til light and fluffy
3. add eggs one at a time and continue beating in between
4. whisk flour, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl
5. add the vanilla essence to the milk
6. add 1/4 of the flour mix to the butter and beat
7. add 1/3 of the milk to the mixture and combine
8. repeat, alternating between flour and milk and ending with flour
9. scoop into cupcake papers til about 3/4 full (depending on whether you want flat or domed cupcakes)
10. bake for 20 - 22 minutes til cake tester comes out clean
11. put on wire rack to cool
12. Topping: in a bowl, beat all the ingredients well. add more milk if needed to make a fluffy spreadable frosting
13. use a butter knife/small spatula to spread topping on cooled cupcakes

I've always been a big fan of cupcakes and this recipe is was my first attempt on making some of my own. I perused through loads of recipes and experimented and came up with this real easy to make cupcakes for first timers.