Critters and crawlers

Cupcakes

• 300 g sugar
• 250 g unsalted butter, cut into pieces and softened
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 250 g buttermilk
• 4 eggs
• 430 g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 pinch salt

Buttercream icing

• 500 g icing sugar (see Tips)
• 240 g unsalted butter, cut into pieces and softened
• 1 tbsp boiling water
• 1 tsp natural vanilla extract
• natural food colouring of choice (approx. 6 colours)

Assembly

• lollies of choice, for decorating