Who doesn’t love a cupcake? There’s something so satisfying about these sweet treats: They’re made of cake, they’re topped with frosting and, best of all, they’re individually sized for personal perfection.
Cupcakes are experiencing a surge in popularity, and bakeries—and cupcakeries—are popping up all over the U.S., taking a page from the book of the famed Magnolia Bakery in New York City. In Sarasota, Cupcakes-a-Go-Go has taken flight, offering a delectable array of confections in traditional flavors and frostings, as well as more exotic icings, including lime. Sprinkles, the well-loved Beverly Hills-based cupcakerie, has experienced a phenomenal growth in popularity, and their pre-packaged cupcake mixes are now sold en masse at Williams-Sonoma stores all over the country (shoppers can choose from chocolate, vanilla, banana, lemon, spice and red velvet flavors). Cupcake cakes have become increasingly popular at weddings and parties, as well.
But the home cook need not despair—you don’t need to be a pastry chef to whip up a delightful batch of cupcakes. Here some tips to make your cupcake-making experience even more fun:
- Use an ice-cream scoop to fill your cupcake liner. It will make the whole process neater.
- Fill your liner ½ to ¾ full, otherwise your cupcake will bubble over.
- You don’t need a “cupcake recipe” for tasty cupcakes. Traditional cake recipes will do.
- Place your treats in the middle rack of your oven for an even baking experience.
- Get festive with your frosting. A basic buttercream recipe can easily be altered to add color and flavor. Experiment and have fun!
Just for fun, here are a few of our favorite cupcake recipes:
Doughnuts and Coffee Cupcake: http://cupcakeblog.com/?p=86
Magnolia Bakery’s Vanilla Cupcakes: www.recipelinks.com/cookbooks/2005/0743246616_2.html
Ina Garten’s Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/chocolate-cupcakes-and-peanut-butter-icing-recipe/index.html
Happy baking!
-Judi Gallagher