Tips for preparing Cupcakes

Cupcakes, those cute little muffins, can be a dessert that will turn heads with just a little imagination, and the best thing about cupcakes is that with just a few basic skills, utensils and ingredients, they can be made for all kinds of occasions. They are basically very similar to the well-known muffins, but topped with various sprinkles, creams and decorations. To make our cupcakes great, however, it is a good idea to start by learning the basics of cupcake making and the dough itself, so that in the end it is not just about looking good, but also tasting good. We''ve put together some basic tips to help you get started.

1. Quality ingredients

Always keep in mind that the better the ingredients, the better your final product will be. This is true for all desserts. If you think it will make any difference whether you use real or artificial vanilla extract, you are very wrong. It is when using extracts that the difference is most obvious, so give them at least a little preference when you buy.

2. Prepare the ingredients in advance

Make sure that the ingredients such as eggs, butter, milk are brought to room temperature some time before baking. When using products straight from the fridge, they do not mix as well with the other ingredients. This results in lumps forming in the batter, which of course we do not want. Poorly mixed ingredients can cause our muffins to be compact instead of loose and light. The temperature of the butter used is the most important, because the colder it is, the longer we have to mix it, and so there is a chance that our batter will be too soft. Of course, you don''t need a thermometer to check the temperature, as you can easily check and judge the temperature by touch. If the ingredients are still cold to the touch, wait a little longer before you start preparing the mixture.

3. Do not over-mix the mixture

Have you ever heard anyone say that baking is a science? Well,it''s quite true. The time it takes to mix the mixture is very important, because the length of mixing affects the amount of gluten released in the flour.

When the mixture is over-mixed, it breaks up some of the air bubbles that have formed in the mixture, making it more difficult for the rest of the bubbles to dissipate during the baking process itself.

As a result, the cake may crack during baking, but it will not be soft. Of course, at the same time, we must not mix the mixture too little, as this will not produce enough gluten and the cake will not form properly. So, to get the mixture just right, start mixing at low speed until the ingredients are mixed and then increase the speed.

4. Fill the moulds with a spoon

Always use a regular spoon to help you fill the moulds. There is nothing worse than taking a tray of muffins out of the oven, some of which are under-baked and others over-baked. At the same time, muffins of the same size will look much better than a multitude of different ones. It is recommended to use one large spoonful of batter for standard sized muffins and a small spoonful for small muffins. For best results, fill the cupcake cases 2/3 full.

5. Preheat the oven

I don''t think there is much more to be said about this last tip. Without a doubt, the oven should always be hot before you put your cupcakes in it.

6. Place the tray in the centre of the oven

Once the cupcake cases are filled and the oven is preheated, it''s time to bake. Place the tray in the centre of the oven. This will help the air flow in the oven so that your muffins will bake evenly. If your oven is not heating evenly on all sides, turn the tray 2/3 of the way through the baking time. Do not turn them too early as they will not have time to form properly. When you have a larger quantity of trays, place them side by side. If your oven is not wide enough, place the racks about halfway down the oven and then place the trays on their racks, but not directly under each other.

7. Resist peeking into the oven

I know we all want to know how our muffins are baking, but don''t open the oven while they are baking. Opening the oven will cause the bubbles in the batter to burst, which will cause the muffins to bubble. It is the gluten molecules and fat molecules in the batter that help to shape the batter and the resulting structure, so contact with cold air is not good.

8. Remove the muffins immediately from the baking tray

When you take the muffins out of the oven, make sure that you do not leave them in the tray for more than a few minutes. The heat of the baking tray causes the muffins to continue to bake and can cause them to dry out. So take the cupcakes out and place them on a wire rack until they are completely cooled. This is also important for our cream or icing, as the slightest contact with heat will melt it.

9. Be careful how you store them

Once your cupcakes are completely cooled, store them in a container that prevents air from getting in, as this will keep them juicy. Make sure that the container is high enough to prevent the cream on the top of the cupcake from sinking. They will keep fresh at room temperature for about 2 to 3 days, but for longer periods, refrigerate them.

10.Spread the cream over the entire surface of the cupcake

Since nobody likes dry cupcakes, it is a good idea to apply icing or cream. When applying the cream/glaze, make sure to apply it all over the early part of the cupcake, as this is what will give the cupcake its juiciness.

For the icing on the cake ...

something about decorations. We know very well that the decorations and the cream are what put the "icing on the cake" and make the cupcakes so stunning to look at. There really is a huge variety of options when it comes to decorating cupcakes, as they can be made for any occasion. The simplest of them is to sprinkle them with different sweets or to put chocolate pieces, biscuits on them. Then there are fresh fruits, such as strawberries (or strawberry topping), which can also be a simple yet healthy decoration. For the more experienced with a little more time, fondant is also an option, which you can use to make different shapes to perfect your cupcakes.