Everybody in the world loves cupcakes. What's not to like about them? They're tiny, adorable little cakes that you can eat in two bites! It doesn't get much better than that (unless they're emblazoned with your favorite TV character). The only problem is that cupcakes are usually baked in larger batches and eaten by dozens of people. Making cupcakes for yourself can seem almost impossible, but it's actually very simple! This article will discuss how to make perfect cupcakes at home.
The first step towards making your own perfect cupcakes is to gather all of the ingredients you'll need: 2 sticks of butter (softened), 1 cup of sugar, 3 eggs (lightly beaten), 1 tsp vanilla extract (pure), 2 cups all-purpose flour, ¼ cup cocoa powder, ½ tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, and ½ cup milk. Then, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. It is important that you do not try to bake cupcakes at a temperature any hotter as this will result in over browning of the edges and unevenly cooked cake.
While pre-heating the oven, you can do the following:
In a large bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer until it is smooth. Gradually add in the sugar while continuing to beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy. Slowly add in half of your eggs (make sure they are thoroughly beaten), then add in the other half at a slow speed. Add in the vanilla extract and beat until fully combined.
In a medium bowl, sift together your flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder. Gradually add this into your butter mixture, beating on low-speed until no streaks remain. Slowly add in your milk, beating it until everything is fully mixed together.
Place twelve treat cups or cupcake liners into the wells of a muffin pan. Spoon the batter into each cupcake liner, filling it up about ¾ of the way full. The cupcakes should be ready to go in the oven after this step! (Typically 12-15 minutes).
You can now bake your cupcakes in the oven for 12-15 minutes until they puff and crackle. Allow them to cool before you frost them!
After the cupcakes have cooled, it's time to frost them! Start by lightly beating together two cups of confectioner's sugar, ½ cup softened butter, and 2 tsp vanilla extract. If you need to, add more confectioner's sugar until the frosting reaches a good consistency. Once your cupcakes have completely cooled, frost them with your perfect cupcake mix! You can also use any other kind of icing that you'd like.
Share your cupcakes with friends and family and be sure to save the extras in an airtight container. Enjoy!