More Diamond Jubilee inspiration! Although this time in the form of cupcakes, rather than posh trifles.
I seem to have been very busy baking cupcakes lately, so far I have baked close to sixty British-themed cupcakes and it isn’t even the Jubilee weekend yet! I’ve had lots of fun experimenting with different toppings, decorations and accessories and there are more ideas to come, too. 
This post features a batch of strawberry cupcakes – a variation of my lemony cupcakes, using a good quality strawberry essence to flavour the cakes instead of vanilla essence and leaving out the lemon zest. I did also spot some freeze-dried strawberries in the baking section at the supermarket and they would work equally well sprinkled into the cake mixture.
I used a basic vanilla butter cream (beating together double the quantity of icing sugar to butter e.g 125g butter to 250g icing sugar and a tablespoon of milk) to pipe swirls of icing onto my cakes with a round nozzle. If butter cream is not your thing, you can also cut of small discs of ready-to-roll icing and pop those on top of your cupcakes too. If your cupcakes are peaked, simply slice the tops off. I usually dot a small amount of butter cream just to hold the disc of icing in place. There is no shortage of Jubilee-inspired sprinkles and toppers around. All of my decorations and wrappers were bought from either Lakeland, John Lewis or Waitrose.
As usual, the little chubby hands wanted a piece of the action…
A few strawberries, simply quartered and placed on top of some piped (or dolloped on) butter cream can look quite pretty, too.
And it’s always a pleasure to dig out some plates, vintage and Jubilee crockery, pretty cloths and cake stands to create an impact!
Since my cupcakes are Jubilee-themed, I’m sending them across to Fleur at Homemade by Fleur who is hosting a Blogging Jubilee Baking Competition, sponsored by Appliances Online and judged by Vanessa Kimbell.
I was also inspired to add a special ‘floral focus’ with a few pretty sugar paste red and blue flower decorations so that they could join Karen’s Tea Time Treats table over at her lovely blog, Lavender and Lovage.
Hopefully there are some ideas here to inspire you all!
Have you caught the Diamond Jubilee baking bug?! Are you having a street party?
Josef says
The Brits know how to pack a smashing picnic—and a Diamond Jubilee hamper from Fortnum Mason is stocked with everything one would need, from champagne to bunting. Starting at ?120.
Regula @ foodwise says
Love these cakes!!!! Fabulous Ren 🙂
Talking Tables says
Hi there!
A friend checked out your blog to read your Jubilee cupcakes piece and saw that you had used our cake wraps and toppers!
Your cupcakes look absolutely delicious and rather regal!Perfect for the Jubilee.
Its wonderful for us to see our products being enjoyed.
Hope you’ve had a fab Jubilee weekend.
TT
Jaime says
Ren, these are so gorgeous and very fitting for the occasion!! Beautiful photography too. Love it to bits.
Ren says
Thank you so much, Jaime! Have a great weekend x
cupcakes Nottingham says
What a fab selection of cupcakes!
I bet they taste great!
Ren says
Thank you 🙂
A Trifle Rushed says
Ren, what wonderful cakes and so inspiring, I’m baking 100 for my daughter’s school, but they won’t be as elegant and as pretty as yours! It’ll be a bit factory like here tomorrow!
Have a fabulous weekend 🙂
Jude x
Ren says
100, wow, that’s quite a mission! Hope it all goes well. Have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by Jude x
Laura@howtocookgoodfood says
Love all your cupcakes and I think you have managed to find some brilliant decorations that all work perfectly for this weekend’s Jubilee. Look forward to seeing what else you have prepared !
Ren says
Thanks Laura, it’s not over yet! More cupcakes to bake this weekend and I’m determined to bake a flag cake!
kellie@foodtoglow says
These all look absolutely sensational. You could give Fiona Cairns a run for her money! Unfortunately Jubilee fever has not spread to Scotland, so no street parties. But that doesn’t stop us here at food to glow from making regal looking cakes. Must check out the Jubilee section at my local Waitrose. I have a new dehydrator so might christen it by drying the Alpine strawberries growing wild in the garden and use those.
Ren says
Oh wow, a dehydrator, yes I’ve seen one of those recently. I think strawberries would be great in there and added to some cake! I thought there would have been some celebrations going on in Scotland…shame. Hope you have a lovely weekend in any case. xx
Mary says
So pretty and delightful – infact truly fit for a Queen! Lovely post
Mary x
Ren says
Thank you, Marym such a kind comment. Have a great weekend!
Fiona Maclean says
Very pretty ren:) good luck with the Jubilee bake off
Ren says
Thanks Fiona, I am taking your lead it seems with entering competitons!! Have you won any lately?! x
Cakeboule says
They look great! I’d be happy with one of those in my hand at the weekend!
Ren says
Aah I hope you get to eat some cupcakes over the weekend!
Magnolia Verandah says
These look very celebratory – fit for a Queen! Love the little cardboard cut-outs.
Ren says
Thank you Denise 🙂
Homemade by Fleur says
Wow! These look so pretty and I love the idea of a strawberry flavoured cupcake. Where do you get strawberry essence from? I don’t think I have seen it. The ‘mix and match’ style is gorgeous and they look fab on that lovely vintage green cake stand. Thank you so much for entering my jubilee baking competition.
Ren says
Hi Fleur, thank you for hosting such a lovely competition! You can buy Silver Spoon Strawberry Flavouring, I have seen it in Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. Strawberry Essence is stronger and you can find that online. The freeze-dried strawberries were at Waitrose. I am sure you could add pureed strawberries too, but that would be a subtler flavour. Enjoy the Jubilee weekend!