Quick and Easy Recipes

Any cake recipe can be converted to a cupcake one. Consider cupcakes as mini cakes of whatever type of cake you are found of and using that cake's recipes, create delicious mini cakes. With a box of cake mix, the whole process is made a lot easier. One box will make between 24 and 30 cupcakes baked in a regular size cupcake pan. But mixing the ingredients is where the real fun of making cakes is, so let's equip you with what you will need.

Ingredients (Basic Cupcake Recipe)

21/4 cups flour

3 tsp baking powder

11/3 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup shortening

Floor coloring (optional)

It's easy to vary this basic cupcake recipe. For instance, the simplest way to make chocolate cupcakes is to add 1/4 of cocoa to the above ingredients. By adding other ingredients to the basic ingredients above, you can alter the flavor of your cupcakes to suit your palate. Commonly added flavorings include cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, lime, shredded coconut, bananas, raisins, and nuts. This is by no means an exhaustive list and you may add many other ingredients (orange or lemon rind, peppermint essence, frozen raspberries etc), provided that the flavors you use blend well.

You will also need a cupcake pan, cupcake pan liners, mixer, large bowl and an oven.

Begin by preheating the oven. Add flour, baking powder, salt and sugar, milk, vanilla and shortening into the large bowl and beat for a minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Mix thoroughly for around 3 minutes or until a smooth consistency is achieved.

Line the pan with the cupcake liners then fill 2/3 of them with the mixture. An ice-cream scoop will help you get precise amounts of mixture in the pan. For regular-size pans, use a scoop that measures 1/3 so you only put two. As they rise, they will occupy the remaining space to form a mound. Place the pan in the oven and let it bake for around 23 minutes. If you need to make more but do not have another cupcake pan, store the mixture in the refrigerator as the first batch of cupcakes cooks. When ready, remove, cool the pan for about 15 minutes then add the remaining mixture. On average, a pan makes 12 cupcakes at a time.

Allow the cupcakes time to cool completely before you can frost them. In the meantime, work on the cupcake frosting recipes you are going to use. There are four basic types of frosting: butter cream, chocolate butter cream, dark chocolate ganache and lemon cream cheese frosting. For butter cream frosting, you will need to mix150g soft butter and 12g confectioner's sugar. Add 1 tsp vanilla and 2 tsp hot water or milk to make a creamy mix. To make chocolate butter frosting, substitute the vanilla with 2 tsp cocoa.

Chocolate ganache is a rich, dark chocolate frosting. To make it, have ready 1 ounce of bittersweet chocolate, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 3 tbsp butter and 3 tbsp brandy (optional). Melt the chocolate, cream and butter, and mix well in a bowl. Next, if you are using brandy, add it to the mixture. Allow the chocolate ganache to cool before you apply a generous cover to your cupcakes. Many people love the distinctive taste of lemon cheese frosting, which you can use to add special flavor to basic cupcakes. To make it, mix together 30g softened butter, 80g softened cream cheese, 11/2 cup confectioner's sugar and 1 tsp grated lemon rind. Beat until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy then spread over the cupcakes (remember, these should not be hot). Using a pastry spatula makes it easier to spread any of these frostings evenly unto the tops and sides of the cupcakes. You can also use a pastry bag to make decorative designs with the frostings.