Cupcakes

How to make cupcakes plus lots of Cupcake Recipes

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What are Cupcakes?

Cupcakes are small sweet individual sized sponge cakes which are often decorated with icing,  frosting and other decorations. In the UK cupcakes are often  referred to as fairy cakes - perhaps because of their small size.

How to make cupcakes - general instructions for making cupcakes

Basic Cupcake Mix

The basic mixture for a cupcake recipe is the same as for many other large sponge cake recipes with the basic mixture consisting of

50g/2oz self raising flour

50g/2oz Caster sugar (superfine)

50g/2oz Butter or margarine (shortening)

1 Egg

These quantities are enough to make about 10 very small cupcakes, about 5cm/2-inches in diameter and can be doubled or trebled as required, however make sure to keep the same proportions of ingredients i.e. if you wish to treble it to make 30 small cakes the amounts would be

150g/6oz  Self Raising Flour

150g/6oz  Caster Sugar (superfine)

150g/6oz  Butter or Margarine (shortening)

3 eggs

Mixing the cupcake ingredients

Although the traditional method is to cream together the butter and sugar, then add the egg, mixing well, before adding the flour, good results can be achieved by just placing all the ingredients in the mixing bowl at the same time (with the exception of any additional fruit if using) as does mixing the cupcake ingredients in a food mixer or processor.

How much mixture to put in the cupcake paper case or tin

A heaped teaspoon of cupcake mixture in each paper case or cupcake hole will make small cupcakes about 5cm/2-inches in diameter.  You can maker larger and deeper cupcakes by placing more of the cupcake mixture in the cases or cupcake hole however, never fill the case or hole more than 2/3rds full.

At what oven temperature should cupcakes be cooked ?

In general 190C, 375F, Gas Mark 5 although if you have a fan assisted oven, you should reduce the temperature accordingly.

For how long should cupcakes be cooked?

If you are using the above guidelines or a heaped teaspoon of cupcake mixture per cake, 15 minutes should be long enough however, you can test whether the cupcake is cooked through by pushing a wooden toothpick into the centre.  If it comes out clean, then the cupcake mixture has cooked through. If you decide to make slightly larger cupcakes, they will need an extra 5 minutes or so.

Decorating Cupcakes - How to decorate Cupcakes

Before you decorate your cupcakes, it is important to allow them to cool completely by removing them from the baking sheet or tin, and placing on a wire rack. Once cool, the options are endless, but here are just a couple of ideas for decorating cupcakes:-

Light Glacé icing or frosting

Simply mix icing sugar (confectioners Sugar) with a very little water until the mixture is smooth but not too runny, then spread thinly over the tops of the cupcakes. Flavourings can be added to the icing mixture such as lemon, orange or coffee, as can colourings and you can sprinkle the icing with chocolate vermicelli, hundreds and thousands or small sweets before it sets on the cupcake. Click here for lots of Glace Icing Recipes

Butter cream (butter icing)

Mix up your favourite butter cream flavour and spread or pipe on the tops of the cupcakes. Click here for lots of Butter Cream recipes. As with the simple icing above, further decorations can be pressed into the butter icing.

Fairy cake wings

Once the cupcakes are cold, cut a thin slice from the tops and cut them in half down the centre. Place a teaspoon of jam or butter cream (butter icing) on top of the cut surface of the cupcake then set the two cut pieces into the jam or butter cream at an angle to form wings.

Cupcake Recipes

Below are lots of cupcake recipes plus a video showing you how to make and decorate these scrumptious Easter Chocolate cupcakes in easy to follow steps.

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