Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F), Gas mark 5 and line a muffin tin with muffin cases.

Using a hand-held electric whisk or a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment, whisk the butter,sugar,flour,baking powder and salt together on a low speed until consistency of fine bread crumbs.

Mix the rosewater with milk in a jug, then add the eggs and whisk together by hand. Pour three quarters of thiss milk mixture into the dry ingrediants and mix on a low speed to combine. Increase the speed o a medium and continue to mix until smooth and thick. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the ramaining milk mixture and keep mixing ona meduim speed until all the ingedients are incorporated and the batter is smooth once again.

Divide the batter between the muffin cases, filling each case by two-thirds. Any remaining batter can be used to fill up to four more paper cases in a second muffin tin. Pop in the oven an bake for 18-20 minutes or until well risen and springy to the touch, then allow to cool completely whilst your making the frosting.

Using the electric whisk or freestanding mixer with the paddle attachment, slowly beat together the icing sugar an the butter until the butter has been completely mixed in. (The mixture will still be pwdery still at this stage.) Mix he rose water with the milk and, with the machine still running, gradually pour this into the beaten icing sugar and butter. Once added, increase the speed to high and whisk until light and fluffy.

Divide the frosting between the cupcakes, smoothing it over the tops with a pallet knife and, if you like, making a swirl in the frosting to finish.

Decorate the cupcakes with the candied rose petals or decorations of your choice.

Variations: Violet cupcakes- Follow the previous recipe, raplacing the rose water with 2 drops of violet essence. Decorate with candied violet petals or other floral decorations of your choice. Jasmine cupcakes- Make as in the rose cupcakes recipe, replacing the rosewater with jasmine tea in both the cake batter and frosting. Place 3 white jasmine teabags in 35ml of just-boiled water and leave to draw for about 30 minutes to make a very strong brew, then add the tea to the milk and eggs in the jug, as in step 3. Retain the teabags for the frosting, steeping them in the 50ml milk for 30 minutes before adding the tea-infused milk to the beaten icing sugar and butter.