Few things denote celebrations like the cupcake. With some basic skills, equipment, and ingredients, you can make a batch of cupcakes for every occasion that is a cause for celebration and the end of your weekday is a reason for celebration. Cupcakes are a generally loved that can be customized with sprinkles, flavor mix-ins, frosting, cake-mix variations, and much more. These indulgent treats provide a sweet personal touch with different methods to design and decorate. Every cupcake provides the best ratio of cake to frosting also. Because they are festive and very easy, they are the best treat for bake sales, showers, birthdays, parties and even weeknights. You can alter the flavor with few ingredients and you can utilize a cake mix for a rapid fix.

What Are Cupcakes

Cupcakes are individual, cake-like desserts prepared in a muffin tin and are generally topped with frosting. No one knows when the first cupcake was invented, and even the specialists argue about when the 1st cupcake recipe appeared in a cookbook. It was in the late 1700s or the mid-1800s, relying on the source. There is even some confusion about how cupcakes obtain their name. It was so since dainty treats were made first in cups or because of the measurements utilized to make them? While there are variations on cupcakes in several cuisines, the British have fairy or Queen cakes, the Dutch are popular for their traditional cakes, what everybody knows is that cupcakes are tasty and delicious. Cupcakes are a good choice for children’s birthday parties, but lately, the cupcake has become more popular and appearing at adult dinner parties also.

What Is the Difference Between Cupcakes and Muffins?

Although cupcakes and muffins are the same in appearance, both flavor and texture are quite different. Cupcakes are a small and individual cake. They are light, sweeter, and cake-like. Muffins are a quick bread, generally denser. Another variation between cupcakes and muffins is that cupcakes are always topped with frosting while muffins are not.

Different Cupcake Flavors

Along with the explosion of the cupcake’s fame, there has been a creative revolution when it comes to flavors. While the classics endure, yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting and sprinkles, devil’s food dripping with fudgy deliciousness, red velvet topped with cream cheese frosting, you will now discover cupcakes that are prepared with adults in mind. You also can find different cupcakes at Cupcakes Columbia SC .

Different Types of Cupcakes

Cupcakes are easy-to-personalize desserts that you can prepare. For one, you can select to prepare mini cupcakes, standard size or huge cupcakes, relying on the muffin pan that you utilize. 2nd, you can follow a from-scratch recipe or begin with a cake mix. Beyond that, you can alter the flavors with ease by adding in different ingredients or by utilizing different cake mixes. And of course, the frosting options and decorating thoughts are endless.

Cupcake Substitutes

If you would like to prepare a cupcake that is lower in fat without sacrificing the decadent taste, there are various replacement you can consider. Applesauce and plain yogurt are better fat substitutes in most recipes . For maximum texture and taste, replace no more than half the amount of the fat listed in the recipe. If a recipe calls for the half cup of butter, you can replace ¼ cup applesauce, which will save 44 grams of fat and 400 calories.

Mashed ripe bananas also do well as fat substitutes if you are preparing carrot cake or banana cupcakes. You may also mix in fruit puree mixtures for spice, chocolate and carrot cake cupcakes.

For an egg alternative, try replacing 1 full egg with ¼ cup of fat- and cholesterol-free egg product or 2 egg whites. By swapping these egg substitutes in, you will save more than 10 grams of fat and around 100 calories.

Best Baking Pans for Making Cupcakes

A usual cupcake recipe makes 24 cupcakes in regular-size muffin cups. Muffin pans with regular-size cups come in 6- 12 muffin sizes. Some pans contain mini, large and jumbo muffin cups. Mini muffin pans prepare 24 cupcakes while big and jumbo pans prepare 6 cupcakes each.

Pan Size


Cup Size (inches)

Mini    1 3/4 x 1

Regular    2 1/2 x 1 1/4

Large    2 3/4 x 1 1/4

Jumbo    3 1/2 x 1 3/4

If you have 1 muffin pan and a recipe needs for more cupcakes than your pan will prepare, cover and refrigerate the remaining of the batter while baking the 1st batch. Cool the pan for 15 minutes after you take out of the oven and then bake the remaining of the batter adding 1- 2 minutes to the bake time.

How to Make Cupcakes

You can either prepare cupcakes from scratch or a box of Betty Crocker cake mix. You can discover directions for easy cupcakes on the back of the box. We shall show you how to prepare one of the 5-star cupcakes from scratch, it is easy than you think. These Cupcakes of Texas Sheet are a twist on a traditional Texas Sheet Cake. It is a from-scratch recipe that is easy to master once you know how. Here is how it is done:

What You Will Need: 

  • Regular-size muffin pan (12 counts)
  • Paper baking cups
  • Big bowl
  • 1/4 saucepan
  • Ingredients for Texas Sheet Cake Cupcakes

How to make

Step 1

Collect your cupcake ingredients.

Step 2

Heat oven to 325°F. Put paper baking cups in 24 regular-size muffin cups.

Step 3

In a big bowl, mix the granulated sugar, flour, and salt with a whisk.

Step 4

Utilize a 1/4 saucepan, heat 1 cup of butter, water, and 3 tablespoons of baking cocoa to boiling.

Step 5

Remove from heat and pour into the flour mixture. Mix to combine. Add buttermilk, vanilla, bourbon, baking soda and eggs. Mix in a better way to combine and then fold in chopped pecans. Divide the batter evenly between muffin cup, filling them 2/3. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Step 6

Meanwhile, collect your ingredients for the frosting.

Step 7

Utilize a one-quart saucepan, baking cocoa, heat butter and milk to simmering. Remove from heat, put powdered sugar and bourbon. Spoon icing (warm) over warm.

Author's Bio: 

Health experts