Chocolate Monkey Cupcakes

Fun cupcakes! I have also made other animals in a similar way. Easy to do and always met with smiles!

1. 1

   Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C and line a muffin tin with 10 - 12 paper cases (approx.).
   With an electric hand whisk, or in a stand mixer / food processor, cream together the butter and sugar for at least a minute until pale and fluffy. Crack the eggs into a cup, add the vanilla extra if using, and beat lightly with a fork. Sift the cocoa powder, baking powder and flour into another bowl. Add about half of the beaten egg and about half of the flour etc. to the creamed mixture and beat for about a minute until well mixed, then repeat with the rest.
   Spoon into the cake cases, filling each one about 3/4 full, and bake for about 20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool completely.
   
   For the chocolate cream cheese icing, beat the cheese and butter together in a stand mixer or with an electric hand whisk, then sift in about 100 g icing sugar and beat again, followed by the cocoa powder and another 100 g icing and beat again. Add the remaining icing sugar and beat for at least 3 minutes until really smooth and fluffy, adding more icing sugar / cocoa powder if needed, depending on the consistency / taste that you want.
   
   To make the monkeys, use the fondant icing to make a head, arms and a tail for each cupcake (see photo).
   
   Pipe or spoon the icing onto the cooled cupcakes and add a monkey to each one so that it looks like it has got stuck in the icing. Smile and enjoy!