Quick and Easy Cupcake Recipe

Having an easy cupcake recipe or two can come in quite handy especially if you have been asked by your kids if they could make cupcakes.

If you want something that is quick and easy you can use pre-packed cake mixes they are a perfect and are an easy way to introduce small children to baking.

There is very little measuring to do with these pre-packed mixes and are relatively mess free and usually always come out perfect.

You will get about 12 normal sized cupcakes out of one packet that makes about a 20cm sized cake.

But if you are like me and don't like the taste of pre packed cake mixes the following cupcake recipes come out perfect every time. I have inclued a a vanilla cupcake recipe and a chocolate cupcake recipe for you.

These cupcake recipes are also ideal if you are baking cupcakes in large numbers for fetes or other occasions. For added quickness you can use a food processor to quickly make the following recipes.

For best results when baking any cupcake is to have everything at room temperature that includes the eggs, butter and any liquids that you are using. See How to Make Cupcakes from Scratch for more tips.

Easy Cupcake Recipe 1

Vanilla Cupcake Recipe

This recipe makes 24 cupcakes - I used cases with a base of 5cm (2inch) and height of 3cm (1 1/4inch)

Vanilla Cupcakes

225g (8oz) castor sugar
225g (8oz) salted butter cut into cubes
225g (8oz) sifted self-raising flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 medium eggs
1/3 cup milk or more

 

 

For a coffee cupcakes
You can substitute the vanilla extract with 1 tablespoon of instant coffee powder dissolved in 1 tablespoon of milk.

Preheat the oven to 180C (350F)

Line two 12 hole cupcake tin with cupcake cases

You can use an electric mixer or food processor to make the batter.

If you have a food processor place the sugar, flour, butter and vanilla extract into the bowl and mix together on a medium speed until it is well combined. (Alternatively you can use an electric mixer to combine).

Using the pulse setting on the food processor add the eggs one be one. If you are using and electric mixer beat until combined.

If you find that your food processor is struggling to mix the batter, it is too thick add some milk a little at a time until the blade rotates freely. The batter should be a soft dropping consistency.

Spoon the mixture into the paper cases filling about half full.

Place in the oven and bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until the tops of the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched.

Place on a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.

Easy Cupcake Recipe 2

Chocolate Fairy Cupcakes

This recipe makes 12 cupcakes - I used cases with a base of 5.5 cm (2.16 inch) and height of 3.5 cm (1.37 inch)

Chocolate Cupcakes

150g (5oz) softened salted butter
150g (5oz) caster sugar
160g (5.65 oz) self-raising flour
15g (1/2oz) cocoa powder
3 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

 

Preheat the oven to 180C (350F)

Line a 12 hole cupcake tin with cupcake cases

Sift the flour and cocoa powder together into a large bowl,

Add all the other ingredients to the flour.

Using and electric mixer or a food processor mix for a 1 -2 minutes until light and creamy.

Divide the mixture between the cupcake cases. I find that using an icecream scoop does the job nicely for this.

Place in the oven and bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until the tops of the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched.

Place on a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.

Cupcake Decorating Ideas

You can find these and more cupcake decoating ideas on our simple cupcake ideas page for beginners.