World Cup Green & Gold Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 180°C (fan-forced). Place 12 cupcake papers in a 12-hole cupcake tin.

Using a stand mixer (or electric beaters), whip butter, vanilla, lemon zest, and sugar together until pale and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating between each addition until well combined. Add flour and milk, mixing until combined.

Using a spoon, distribute batter evenly between cupcake papers, filling each to ¾ full. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.

Remove from oven. Transfer cupcakes to a cake rack and allow to cool completely.

Using a stand mixer (or electric beaters), whip cream, vanilla bean paste, and icing sugar together until soft peaks form. Transfer to fridge until ready to serve.

Using a stand mixer (or electric beaters), beat butter until pale and creamy. Add icing sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt, beating on a low speed for 30 seconds until icing sugar has begun to mix in. Increase mixer speed to medium-high and beat for 5-10 minutes until frosting is light and fluffy, and icing sugar has dissolved.

Using two bowls, divide buttercream into equal portions. Add green food colour to one bowl and yellow to the other bowl until desired colour shade is reached.

On a bench, lay out some plastic wrap. Using a spoon, spread a thick line of green-coloured frosting on the wrap. Repeat with the yellow frosting next to the green. Gently wrap buttercream up like a sausage, sealing the ends by twisting the plastic wrap firmly at each end.

Using a sharp pair of scissors, snip one end of the buttercream sausage. Place a piping nozzle into a piping bag, followed by the snipped end of the buttercream sausage.

Once cupcakes are completely cooled, begin assembly.

Using the larger end of a piping nozzle, twist a section of cake out of the top of each cupcake and discard (or eat!). If required, make the cavity larger with a teaspoon. Fill cavity with vanilla bean cream. Starting from the outside of the cupcake, pipe green and gold buttercream in a spiral motion towards the middle.