If you’re looking for something a little bit special for a birthday, or maybe to bake for mum for Mother’s Day, you’ve come to the right place as the royal chefs share their special birthday cake recipe that’s, literally, fit for a queen.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II recently celebrated her 94^th birthday, and in celebration the palace released the recipe they use to bake chocolate cupcakes in the royal kitchen.

Ingredients cake sponges – (serves approximately 15)

15g vinegar
300ml milk
50ml vegetable oil
60g butter (melted and cool)
2 eggs
5ml of vanilla essence
250g of self-raising flour
75 of cocoa powder
300g caster sugar
10g bicarbonate of soda
100g white chocolate chips
cupcake cases

Ingredients Buttercream Topping:

90g of high percentage dark chocolate
100g butter
125g icing sugar

Option to also use Royal icing, instead of buttercream:

Royal icing available pre made in shops
Add food colouring to create different colours

Cake sponge method:

Preheat the oven to 150 C.
Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder and bicarbonate of soda into a mixing bowl.
Whisk the eggs in a separate jug, with the vanilla essence, melted butter, oil, milk and vinegar.
Slowly add the wet mixture into the dry mixture, little by little.
Ensure the batter is smooth with no lumps.
Finally add the chocolate chips (alternatives could be nuts, dried fruit).
Lay the cupcake cases onto a tray.
Use a metal spoon to equally divide the mixture into the cases.
Bake for around 15-18 minutes; take out of the oven when golden and springy on touch.
Leave to cool.

Buttercream icing method:

Cream the sugar and butter together, until light and creamy.
Add in the warm melted chocolate.
If you have a piping bag to hand, pipe the icing on the top of cakes for decoration (otherwise gently use a teaspoon or small spatula to ice).

Royal icing method:

If decorating with royal icing, roll the icing out and cut into circular disks. Lay the disc over the cupcake and mould to required shape.
Eat and enjoy!

The recipe came out at a perfect time, with many people stuck home due to COVID-19 related restrictions taking up baking to pass the time. The palace also asked bakers to share their attempts using the hashtag #RoyalBakes.