Alphabet cupcakes

Chocolate cupcakes

• 250 g unsalted butter, cut into pieces and softened
• 250 g water
• 50 g Dutch cocoa powder
• 150 g buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp natural vanilla extract
• 300 g plain flour
• 1 pinch salt
• 300 g white sugar
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Chocolate buttercream icing

• 500 g icing sugar (see Tips)
• 40 g Dutch cocoa powder
• 240 g unsalted butter, cut into pieces and softened
• 1 tbsp boiling water
• 1 tsp natural vanilla extract

Modelling paste

• 40 g water
• 3 tsp gelatine powder
• 100 g glucose syrup
• 15 g glycerine (see Tips)
• 620 g icing sugar, plus extra for dusting (see Tips)
• natural food colouring of choice
• 1 ½ tsp tylose (see Tips)

Assembly

• sugar glue (see Tips)