How to Make Cupcakes from Scratch

Are you after ideas on how to make cupcakes from scratch that taste great every time? By following a few simple tips you will be making perfect cupcakes every time.

There is no point in putting all your efforts into decorating your cupcakes when they have not been baked properly. So it is important to be familiar with the way your oven bakes and the type of ingredients that go into your cupcakes.

Some ovens are hotter than others which can cause your cakes to cook quicker and if you are not aware of this they will become overcooked, dry and possibly burnt, so you need to adjust the temperature.

Some ovens have hot spots in them that brown cakes unevenly, you need to turn your cupcake tins around during the cooking process to avoid this.

How to make cupcakes
3/4 fill cupcake liners

Where you can, always use the freshest ingredients in your cup cake recipes. You can easily be disappointed in the end result by using an ingredient that is not at its freshest.

Take butter for example if left in the refrigerator for some time it tends to pick up flavors from the other foods in there, these flavors can then be tasted in you cupcakes. So if in doubt taste or smell your ingredients before adding to your recipe.

When making cupcakes the temeprature and fat content of your ingredients is also important as to how your cupcakes turn out.

Butter- should always be used at room temperature, unless otherwise stated.

If your butter is too cold and hard, microwave it for 5 seconds at a time until it is soft but not runny.

Eggs - are best when used at room temperature and use large eggs (67 - 70g).

Vanilla - vanilla extract has a more intense flavor than essence. If you choose to use essence add a little extra to the recipe.

Milk - full cream milk with give a better flavor to the cake because of its high fat content, this too should be used at room temperature.

Flour - always choose a good quality flour and sift well before using.

Dark Chocolate - use the best quality that you can afford one that contains at least 32 percent cocoa butter (the higher the cocoa content the better the chocolate).

White Chocolate - use one that has a cocoa butter content of about 20 percent. White chocolate take longer to melt than dark chocolate.

How to Make Cupcakes Step By Step

1. Careful reading of the recipe method is one of the most important parts of baking a great cupcake.

2. Always prepare your cupcake pans before you begin, as the cake mixture will start to rise immediately and should go into the oven as soon as possible after mixing.

Line the cupcake pan with paper cupcake liners or grease and flour the tins if you are not using the cupcake liners.

3. When creaming the butter and sugar, always beat the butter first for a minute or two using an electric mixer and then add the sugar in two or three batches, beating for about two minute before the next addition.

Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl after each addition to make sure that the mixture evenly beaten. The mixture should be light and fluffy.

4. Eggs should be added one at a time and beaten well into the mixture before adding the next egg. You should end up with a light and fluffy mixture.

5. The dry ingredients should be sifted together and then mixed into the batter alternately with the wet ingredients until combined.

Do not over beat the mixture as you will end up with a dense heavy cupcake.

How to make cupcakes
Cupcakes baked in silcone molds

6. Additions of nuts, chocolate chips and berries should be carefully folded into the mixture after the wet and dry ingredients.

7. Spoon the mixture into the cupcake papers filling about 3/4 full. The amount of cupcakes that you get from a recipe can vary from the one stated. The number that you will get will really depend on the size of the cupcake liners that you use.

8. Bake your cakes for the specified time and temperature recommended for the recipe or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

9. Remove from the oven and cool on wire rack before decorating.

Now that you know the steps of how to make cupcakes, why not give it a try.