BUTTERFLY SNACKS RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a cupcake tin with 10 cases. To make the sponge, tip the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking powder and milk into a large mixing bowl and beat with either a hand whisk or electric mixer until smooth, pale and combined. Divide the batter between the cases and bake for 15 mins until golden brown and a skewer inserted in the middle of a cake comes out clean. Leave on a wire rack to cool.
• While the cakes are cooling, make the buttercream by beating together the icing sugar, butter and vanilla until pale and fluffy. Mix in the extra milk if the icing feels too stiff.
• Once the cakes are cool, use a sharp knife to slice off the tops, then cut the tops in half. Pipe or spread the buttercream on top of the cakes, then gently push two semi-circular halves into the buttercream on each cake, doing this at an angle to look like butterfly wings. You can serve the cupcakes at this stage, or decorate them with a little blob of jam in the centre and a scattering of sprinkles, if you like.

Steps:

• Spoon 2 tablespoons peanut butter onto center of each of 4 individual plates. Shape peanut butter on each plate into a mound about 2 inches long and 1 inch wide. Place 1 carrot down center of each mound of peanut butter.
• Cut apple into quarters; remove core. Cut each quarter into 7 thin slices; cut 1 slice in half crosswise. Fan 3 apple slices on each side near top of each carrot to form upper wings. Place 1 half-slice on each side near bottom of each carrot to form lower wings.
• Place 2 strips of celery at top of each carrot to form antennae. Sprinkle apple slices with decorator sugar (optional).
• Decorate wings with raisins, craisins, peas, fruit loops or Cheerios.