Romantic Puppy Cakes

For the cupcakes: heat the oven to 200°C (180° fan) 400°F gas 6. Place 6 paper cases in a muffin tin.

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a mixing bowl

Whisk together the egg, sugar, milk, butter and vanilla.

Pour into the dry ingredients and stir quickly until just combined.

Spoon into the paper cases and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and risen. Cool in the tin for a few minutes, then place on a wire rack to cool completely.

For the icing: dust a surface with icing sugar and roll out the sugarpaste. Cut into 6 rounds with a fluted cutter, slightly smaller than the diameter of the cakes.

Brush 1 side of the sugarpaste rounds with a little water and place on top of the cakes, pressing and smoothing to remove any air bubbles.

For each dog: dust your hands with icing sugar. Cut a piece of white sugarpaste and mould into a flattened cone shape. Cut 2 more pieces of white sugarpaste for the back paws and shape into pear shapes. Brush with water and attach to the back of the flattened cone.

Cut 2 more pieces of white sugarpaste for the front legs and paws. Roll into sausage shapes and press the centres out a little to flatten into paws at the end. Brush with water and attach to the front of the cone.

Take another piece of white sugarpaste for the head and roll into a ball. Press out the ball to elongate and press out the bottom centre to make an indent.

Insert a wooden cocktail stick into the top of the sugarpaste cone and attach the head.

Roll a piece of black sugarpaste into a small ball and attach just above the indent on the head with a little water. Roll a small strip of black sugarpaste and brush with water. Attach to the indent for the mouth.

Roll 2 balls of black sugarpaste and press into long ovals for the ears. Brush the side of the head with a little water and attach the ears.

Roll small balls of black sugarpaste for the eyes and attach with a little water.

Roll 2 tiny balls of white sugarpaste, flatten with your hands and attach to the eyes with a little water. Attach 2 dots of black sugarpaste to the eyes as in the photo.

Roll small balls of black sugarpaste for the spots, flatten slightly and attach to the legs with a little water.