Fairy Cakes
Small, light sponge cakes in paper cases, topped with a simple glacé icing. Twelve cakes in about 40 minutes, and a perfect first bake with children.
AI assistance: the introduction, ingredient list, method, tips and FAQ on this page were drafted with an AI writing tool, working from long-established traditional methods. Named editor who reviewed it: owner to supply How we work
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 18 min
- Total
- 1 hr
- Makes
- 12 fairy cakes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Course
- Cake
- Cuisine
- British
The total includes about 25 minutes cooling before icing.
Fairy cakes are the small British cousin of the cupcake: the same all-in-one sponge as a Victoria sponge, baked in paper cases in a bun tin. They are smaller and lighter than most cupcakes, with a thin layer of icing rather than a swirl of frosting.
Equal weights of butter, sugar and flour, with two eggs, make twelve.
Ingredients
Cups use the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart. Weighing is more accurate.
Cakes
- 100 g unsalted butter, very soft
- 100 g caster sugar (US: superfine sugar)
- 2 medium eggs, at room temperature
- 100 g self-raising flour (US: self-rising flour)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp milk
Icing
- 150 g icing sugar (US: powdered sugar), sifted
- 1½ tbsp water, roughly; add it gradually
- sprinkles, to decorate
Equipment
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- Digital kitchen scalesHow to chooseShop on Amazon(affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
- 12-hole bun tinHow to chooseShop on Amazon(affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
- Electric hand or stand mixerHow to chooseShop on Amazon(affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
- Large mixing bowlHow to chooseShop on Amazon(affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
Method
Cakes
- 1
Heat the oven to 190°C / 170°C fan / gas 5 / 375°F. Line a 12-hole bun tin with paper cases.
- 2
Put the butter, sugar, eggs, flour and vanilla in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes, until smooth and pale. Beat in the milk.
- 3
Divide the mixture between the cases, about a heaped dessertspoon in each, so they are half full.
- 4
Bake for 15–18 minutes, until risen, golden and springy when pressed lightly.
- 5
Lift the cakes out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
To ice
- 1
Stir the water into the icing sugar a little at a time until it is thick but spreadable. It should coat the back of a spoon.
- 2
Spoon a little icing onto each cake, let it spread to the edges, and add sprinkles before it sets.
Tips
Butterfly cakes: slice a shallow round off the top of each cake, cut it in half, pipe on a little buttercream and set the halves in it like wings.
A metal bun tin gives the most even bake. For a party, serve them on a cake stand.
Storage and leftovers
Keep in an airtight tin for up to 3 days. Un-iced cakes freeze well for up to 3 months.
If it goes wrong
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cakes peaked and cracked | Oven too hot, or cases overfilled | Fill cases only half full and check your oven with a thermometer |
| Cases peeling away from the cakes | Steam trapped while cooling in the tin | Lift the cakes onto a rack as soon as they come out of the oven |
| Icing runs off the cakes | Too much water | Add more sifted icing sugar until it holds its shape |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between fairy cakes and cupcakes?
Fairy cakes are smaller, baked in shallow paper cases in a bun tin, and usually topped with thin glacé icing. Cupcakes are larger, baked in deeper muffin cases, and topped with a swirl of buttercream or frosting.
Can I freeze fairy cakes?
Yes, un-iced. Freeze them once completely cool, then defrost at room temperature for about an hour and ice them on the day.
Can I make fairy cakes without an electric mixer?
Yes. Make sure the butter is very soft and beat everything together with a wooden spoon for 3–4 minutes.
Guides for this recipe
Some of these guides contain shop links, which are affiliate links (disclosure).
How-to
Essential Equipment for British Baking
Buying guide
Mixing Bowls: Glass, Steel or Ceramic?
Buying guide
Kitchen Scales for Baking: What to Look For
Buying guide
Hand Mixers: A Buyer's Guide
Buying guide
Bun and Muffin Tins: For Fairy Cakes, Mince Pies and More
Kitchen design
How Much Food for Christmas Dinner? Quantities Per Person
Kitchen design
How Many Calories Are in an Afternoon Tea?
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Card photos: Small cakes cooling on a wire rack, James Petts from London, England via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped; Stacked cream-coloured ceramic mixing bowls, RLiverpool2021 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped; A traditional mechanical kitchen scale, Berthold Werner via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped; An electric hand mixer resting on a kitchen worktop, Santeri Viinamäki via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped; A 12-hole non-stick bun tin, Evan-Amos via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain; A long table laid for Christmas dinner with crackers, glasses and starters, Ruth Hartnup from Vancouver, Canada via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped; A three-tiered afternoon tea stand with sandwiches, a croissant, pastries and fruit, Funknendai via Wikimedia Commons, CC0; Four tall, golden cheese scones with crisp cheesy tops, Matt Smith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped; Scones split and topped with clotted cream and strawberry jam, Andy Li via Wikimedia Commons, CC0; A slice of coffee and walnut cake with coffee buttercream, served with a cup of coffee, Andy Li via Wikimedia Commons, CC0. All credits: image credits.