Best Perfect Cupcakes Recipes

PERFECT CAKE-MIX CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Beat on low speed until moistened; increase speed to high and beat 2 minutes longer., Spoon half of the batter into a large resealable plastic bag; cut a 1/4-in. hole in corner of bag. Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Repeat with the remaining batter. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean., Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Frost and decorate as desired.

PERFECT CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 6 (or a medium temperature). Line your muffin tray with the muffin cases.
• Beat the egg in a mixing bowl and mix in the milk and vegetable oil. Add the sugar and whisk until sugar has dissolved.
• Sift in the dry ingrediants: flour, baking powder, salt - and mix together until smooth.
• NB: If you are adding colouring or flavouring add it now.
• TIP: If there are bubbles in your mixture giving it a mousse kind of appearance you will have light fluffy cakes!
• Fill the muffin cases TWO THIRDS full. This is important so as not to create small or overflowing mushroom looking cupcakes.
• Cook in the middle of the oven for 25 minutes (approx. depending on your oven!).
• Leave to cool and then decorate as you wish!

PERFECT CAKE-MIX CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
• Follow the box instructions, putting all the ingredients in a large bowl and using the buttermilk in place of the water specified (the box will call for more water than the amount of buttermilk that you are using), using the amount of oil that is called for, and adding the 4 eggs. Beat with an electric mixer until moistened, about 30 seconds. Increase the speed to high and beat until thick, 2 minutes longer.
• Spoon half of the batter into a ziplock bag. Snip a 1/4-inch corner from the bag and fill the paper liners two-thirds full (be sure the liners are filled equally). Repeat with the remaining batter. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the baking pans, place on a wire rack and allow to cool completely. When cool, frost the cupcakes, then decorate as you please.

PERFECT YELLOW/VANILLA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• beat the eggs and sugar on full speed until the sugar dissolves and the eggs are light and creamy.
• add the rest of the ingredients. (don't forget to sift the flour).
• on low speed, beat just until the ingredients are incorporated. DO NOT over beat.
• bake ate 180 C (355 F) for 20-25 min or until the tops are golden brown.

PERFECT CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Add sugar to a mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt into the sugar bowl. Whisk, and set aside.
• In a small bowl, beat the eggs, oil, milk and vanilla. Add this mixture to the sugar/flour mixture of the stand mixer bowl. Using the paddle attachment, mix the ingredients on low just until incorporated, about 30 seconds.
• With mixer off, pour in the espresso and boiling water. Mix by hand until all ingredients are incorporated. A few lumps are ok. The batter will be runny. Let batter rest for 5 minutes.
• Line muffin pan with cupcake cups. Fill each cup to 3/4 full. Use a #20 ice cream scoop to make portioning a snap! One scoop per cup. Or, fill each cup 3/4 full, about 3 Tbs. Bake cupcakes for 25 minutes (but start checking for doneness at 22 minutes using the toothpick test).
• Once out of the oven cool cupcakes, in pan, on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Then remove from pan and let cool completely before icing.
• In a stand mixer, using a paddle attachment, cream the butter until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• While the butter is creaming, sift together the powder sugar and cocoa powder. Once the butter is creamed, add the sifted cocoa and sugar alternatively first with all of the vanilla extract, then with 2-3 TBS of milk at a time reserving the last two TBS for consistency adjustment. The icing should be spreadable, not too stiff or loose.

MOIST HEALTHY CUPCAKES (PERFECT FOR CUPCAKE MENORAH)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350° F (180° C). Line 10 muffin cups with foil or paper liners.
• In a bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat together the sugar, butter and vanilla on high speed for about 2 minutes, or until well mixed. Add the egg whites, one at a time, beating for about a minute after each one. Now add the flour mixture alternately with the yogurt, in about 3 portions each, beating after each addition just until combined, and scraping down the sides to make sure everything is well mixed.
• Pour batter into the prepared cupcake pan and place in the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned on top and a toothpick poked into the middle of a cupcake comes out clean. Let cool completely on a rack.
• To assemble the Cupcake menorah, frost all the cupcakes with your choice of icing and decorate in any way your heart desires. Place 9 cupcakes in a row on a platter or foil-covered cardboard base. Raise the middle cupcake up higher than the others - the "shamash" or leader. Stick candles into each of the 9 positions. When it's time to light the candles - enjoy the flickering flames while you eat dinner, then eat the menorah for dessert!

PERFECT TRIPLE LEMON CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cupcake tins with liners (makes 15-16 cupcakes).
• Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Add melted butter to a large bowl and mix in sugar with a hand mixer for 30 seconds, until thick and yellow. Add eggs one at at time, beating after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract, lemon juice, and zest.
• Add the flour mixture and milk alternately, starting and ending with the flour. Don't over mix! Divide batter among liners, filling 2/3 full (about 1/4 cup of batter per cupcake). Bake for 13-18 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. (Mine took about 14 minutes.) Cool completely before frosting.
• To fill: cut out a small bit of the top/center of the cupcake. (Cut a hole that's about the size of a dime and the amount of cupcake you take out is a little larger than a marble.) Fill each hole with about 1/2 - 1 tablespoon of lemon curd. Replace a piece of the cupcake to cover.
• To make the frosting: Beat butter until creamy. Beat in salt and 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time until it's all added.
• Beat in lemon juice and zest. Add 1 tablespoon of heavy whipping cream and mix until smooth. Add more cream as needed for desired consistency. Frosting can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Make sure to let it come to room temperature before using.
• Frost cupcakes by placing frosting in a pastry bag. I like the 1M tip, it gives pretty swirls. Add extra lemon zest or sprinkles for decoration, if desired.