How to Make Perfect Cupcakes

Ah, delicious cupcakes topped with frosting—simply perfect! Whether it’s for a birthday, wedding, or afternoon tea, cupcakes are the ideal individual treat. The fastest way to make cupcakes is by starting with cake mix, and we love to get creative with the mix. But if you really want to impress your family and friends, learning how to make cupcakes from scratch is also a great option. Keep reading for our test kitchen’s guide on how to make cupcakes, including how much batter you need, the right baking temperature, and more.

How to Make Cupcakes

If you’ve already mastered the art of making layered cakes, learning how to bake cupcakes will be a breeze. Before you begin, choose a cupcake recipe and preheat your oven to ensure even baking.

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Leave the butter and eggs out at room temperature for 30 minutes. This will make it easier to cream the butter, and room-temperature eggs will allow more air to enter the batter, making it lighter. Grease and flour twelve 2.5-inch muffin cups, or line them with paper baking cups. Set aside.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar

Many cupcake recipes ask you to cream the butter and sugar together with a hand mixer or stand mixer for about 1 minute. This process, known as “creaming,” incorporates air into the mixture, creating the light, fluffy texture that cupcakes are known for.

Step 3: Add the Eggs and Vanilla

After creaming the butter and sugar, most cupcake recipes require you to add eggs. Depending on the recipe, you may need to add whole eggs, egg yolks, or egg whites. Some recipes also call for additional flavorings, such as vanilla extract or other extracts.

Step 4: Alternate Adding Dry and Wet Ingredients

In a separate mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients such as flour, salt, and baking powder. Most cupcake recipes will have you alternate adding dry ingredients with wet ingredients (like milk or cream), mixing after each addition. Avoid adding all ingredients at once. Adding all wet ingredients at once can cause the batter to separate, and adding all dry ingredients at once will make the batter too thick, resulting in over-mixing.

Step 5: Fill the Cupcake Liners

When learning to make cupcakes, you might wonder how much batter to put in each liner. For standard 2.5-inch cupcakes, fill each liner with about ¼ cup of batter, or until it is about two-thirds to three-quarters full. Avoid overfilling, as the cupcakes may overflow during baking, creating a mess. Here are some simple methods for filling cupcake liners:

• If the batter is thick, use two spoons to scoop it into the cups.

• Use a medium ice cream scoop or cookie scoop to transfer the batter.

• Place the batter in a thick resealable plastic bag, then snip off a small corner. Gently squeeze the bag to fill each cup. Keep the hole pinched closed as you move on to the next cup.

• If the batter is thin, pour it into a large glass measuring cup. The spout will make it easier to pour the batter into the cupcake liners.

Step 6: Bake and Cool the Cupcakes

For chocolate, vanilla, and most other flavored cupcakes, bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes. To test if they’re done, insert a wooden toothpick into the center of a cupcake. If it comes out clean, the cupcakes are done. If there’s wet batter or moist crumbs on the toothpick, bake a little longer. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Here are some general guidelines for adjusting baking times for larger or smaller cupcakes:

• Mini Cupcakes: A recipe that makes 24 standard (2.5-inch) cupcakes will make about 64 mini cupcakes. Typically, bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.

• Giant Cupcakes: A recipe that makes 24 standard (2.5-inch) cupcakes will yield about 10-16 giant cupcakes. Typically, bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes.

Step 7: Frost and Decorate

To make your cupcakes look their best, start by using decorative cupcake liners. This is the simplest way to dress up cupcakes for special occasions. Afterward, use a piping bag to decorate your cupcakes with frosting.