Today’s recipe for Vanilla Butterfly Cakes is one from my very favourite cookery book, a little scuffed and much thumbed Be-Ro book.
*Printable Recipe at the end of the post*
![Vanilla Butterfly Cakes](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_8763.jpeg?resize=828%2C1024&ssl=1)
Dainty Little Cakes – Perfect for Children’s Birthday Parties
![Vanilla Butterfly Cakes](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_8772.jpeg?resize=822%2C1024&ssl=1)
Jelly and icecream, meat paste sandwiches, little waxed paper bowls of trifle with jelly, a jolly birthday cake, bowls of crisps and a plate of Vanilla Butterfly Cakes.
These were the birthday party teas I remember when I was little. With game such as “pass the parcel“, “musical chairs” and “pin the tail on the donkey“.
Today’s recipe for Vanilla Butterfly Cakes is one from my very favourite cookery book, a little scuffed and much thumbed Be-Ro book.
Passed on to my late mum by her mum, my grandmother, this little vintage book is extremely precious and would be the first book I’d pack if the house was on fire.
![Be-Ro Cookery Book](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/P4234400.webp?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1)
The book is still used by myself regularly – for tea time treats, birthdays, picnics and when I want to immerse myself in baking for the weekly biscuit and cake tin.
Butterfly cakes, not to be confused with fairy cakes, are small individual cakes, topped with buttercream and “cake wings”.
Fairy cakes on the other hand are also small individual cakes, but are usually decorated with icing and hundreds & thousands” (multi-coloured sprinkles)
Both cakes were the mainstay of my childhood, and they made a regular appearance on the sunday tea time table, as well as for parties, Christmas and Easter.
![Summer Fairs & Fêtes and Cake Stall Cakes & Bakes for July's Tea Time Treats Challenge!](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/fairy_cakes.jpg?resize=500%2C335&ssl=1)
In the old days, or olden times as I used to say! They were made with vanilla essence, an artificial vanilla flavouring; nowadays I use vanilla extract, which is made from pure vanilla pods.
Before serving these Vanilla Butterfly Cakes after baking, don’t forget to give them a liberal dusting of icing sugar, and make sure you allow 2 cakes per person, as these are not like their overblown American cousins, cupcakes.
There’s nothing wrong with a cupcake, but they tend to have too much icing/frosting for my taste, making them too sweet and sickly.
![Vanilla Butterfly Cakes](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_8765.jpeg?resize=828%2C1024&ssl=1)
Plus, they are pretty enormous! I much prefer these dainty, elegant little cakes, which aren’t at all pretentious or gaudy.
I hope you enjoy making these if you try this old recipe, and don’t forget you need a SMALL patty/cake tin for these, with small cake cases – NOT muffin cases or a muffin tin.
The recipe is shared below, and PLEASE do let me know if you make these, Karen
Substitutions and Notes
- You can add colouring to the buttercream and other flavourings such as lemon essence, coffee essence etc.
- Sometimes a small spoon of jam is added to the top of the cake before the buttercream is added.
- Lemon makes a lovely addition – add the zest of a lemon the cake mixture and a spoon of lemon curd to the buttercream.
![Vanilla Butterfly Cakes](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_8771-1.jpeg?resize=829%2C1024&ssl=1)
More Small Cakes, Fairy Cakes and Butterfly Cakes
![Lemon Curd Fairy Cakes](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_1645.jpeg?resize=978%2C1200&ssl=1)
![An Autumn Baking Day - Redcurrant Fairy Cakes with Raspberries!](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA074659.jpg?resize=980%2C1192&ssl=1)
![Strawberry Iced Butterfly Fairy Cakes](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/TalaCake-91.jpg?resize=980%2C866&ssl=1)
- Blackberry Fairy Cake Buns (Muffins)
- Old-Fashioned Almond Rice Cakes
- Toffee Salted Caramel Fudge Cakes
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Blackberry-Fairy-Cakes-PIN.jpg?resize=352%2C470&ssl=1)
![Old-Fashioned Almond Rice Cakes](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/DD27FA96-ED4B-4E72-ACC4-0AF050736EDF.jpeg?resize=960%2C1200&ssl=1)
![Toffee Salted Caramel Fudge Cakes](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_0431.jpeg?resize=980%2C1054&ssl=1)
More Be-Ro Recipes
![London "Bath" Buns](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/London-Buns-Be-Ro-9.jpg?resize=980%2C735&ssl=1)
![Australian Crunchies (Traybake) - School Lunch Box Treats!](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/P8181421.jpg?resize=980%2C768&ssl=1)
![Hikers' Walnut Bread](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8795.jpeg?resize=968%2C1200&ssl=1)
![Old-Fashioned Milk Chocolate Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_0356.jpeg?resize=968%2C1200&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Rock-Buns.jpeg?resize=480%2C480&ssl=1)
![Drop Scones Scotch Pancakes](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Pin-Me-Drop-Scones.jpeg?resize=900%2C1200&ssl=1)
Pin me for Later Baking
![Vanilla Butterfly Cakes](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_8771.jpg?resize=829%2C1024&ssl=1)
Recipe for Vanilla Butterfly Cakes
![Vanilla Butterfly Cakes](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_8759.jpeg?resize=720%2C720&ssl=1)
Vanilla Butterfly Cakes
Jelly and icecream, meat paste sandwiches, little waxed paper bowls of trifle with jelly, a jolly birthday cake, bowls of crisps and a plate of Vanilla Butterfly Cakes.
These were the birthday party teas I remember when I was little. With game such as "pass the parcel", "musical chairs" and "pin the tail on the donkey".
Today's recipe for Vanilla Butterfly Cakes is one from my very favourite cookery book, a little scuffed and much thumbed Be-Ro book.
Passed on to my late mum by her mum, my grandmother, this little vintage book is extremely precious and would be the first book I'd pack if the house was on fire.
The book is still used by myself regularly - for tea time treats, birthdays, picnics and when I want to immerse myself in baking for the weekly biscuit and cake tin.
Ingredients
- Cakes:
- 2 large eggs, weighed in their shells
- butter or soft margarine - same weight as the eggs
- caster sugar/superfine sugar - same weight as the eggs
- self-rising flour - same weight as the eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Buttercream:
- 50g (2oz) butter or margarine
- 100g (4 oz) sieved icing sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
1. For the CAKES: Heat oven to 190ºC, 375ºF, Gas Mark 5. Have ready 12 to 18 small paper cases or well-greased patty tins.
2. Cream margarine or butter together with the sugar, until light and fluffy.
3. Beat the eggs, and then add them to the mixture, gradually and beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract, mix well.
4. Sieve the flour and fold into the mixture with a metal spoon.
5. Half fill the paper cases with the mixture and bake for about 15 minutes until firm.
6. When cold cut a slice from the top of each cake, cut this in half to make 2 "wings".
7. Spoon or pipe a little buttercream (see below) on each cake and arrange "wings" on the buttercream. Dust with icing sugar to decorate.
8. For the BUTTERCREAM: Place the butter/margarine into a mixing bowl, gradually add icing sugar and cream together until fluffy. Add the vanilla and mix well. Store in the fridge until needed.
Notes
You can add colouring to the buttercream and other flavourings such as lemon essence, coffee essence etc.
Sometimes a small spoon of jam is added to the top of the cake before the buttercream is added.
Lemon makes a lovely addition - add the zest of a lemon the cake mixture and the buttercream.
![Vanilla Butterfly Cakes](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_8758.jpeg?resize=852%2C1024&ssl=1)
Susan Graham says
Hello! I love your site, and really want to make these, but I’m worried if I understand the cake tin required. I’m in the US and it looks like you are recommending something like a small, shallow bun tin rather than a small mini-muffin tin with taller sides. Could you show a photo of the tin and estimate the volume? Thank you!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Hello Susan
It’s what you might call a small patty tin – not a small muffin tin, but I am sure that would work too.
Karen
sherry M says
these are so pretty and i bet delicious! love vanilla!
restaurantthatdeliversnearme.website says
Thanks for the vanilla butterfly cakes recipe.
Karen Burns-Booth says
My Pleasure
Anna says
Just made these with the egg weighing technique and they came out better than ever before. Thank you! I have photos but can’t see to share.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thank you for letting me know Anna! I’m do pleased you like this method ☺️ you can email me the photos if you like?