Easy chocolate cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 180 C / Gas 4.

For the cakes: Beat the butter until it is soft. Mix the butter and caster sugar together.

Add the eggs to the mixture and beat. Add the vanilla essence at this stage if using.

Add the flour and mix well. Add the cocoa powder at this stage if using. Divide the mixture into cupcake cases.

Bake in the preheated oven until a skewer inserted near the centre comes out clean, about 15 minutes.

For the icing: Meanwhile, beat the butter until soft. Then add half of the icing sugar and beat until smooth.

Add the remaining icing sugar and beat. Add 1 tablespoon of milk and beat until creamy and smooth. Add the remaining milk if necessary to achieve the creaminess.

Add the cocoa powder or vanilla extract, mix well and leave to stand for 5 minutes.

Allow the cakes to cool for 30 minutes and then decorate with the buttercream.