How to Make Cupcakes 

I learned how to make cupcakes when I was quite young. The simple reason is that they were quicker to bake than a cake. This meant that I could eat them quicker!

How to Make CupcakesStrawberry Shortcake Cupcake

Cupcake recipes can be traced back to the 1700’s in England. In the nineteen century the love for this small cake began to grow and after the middle of the century these recipes exploded. I believe the growing popularity of cupcakes, much like other foods such as the sandwich, was a “sign of the times”. Due to the growing work force in the factories, time was becoming more valuable. These small serving, sometimes make ahead recipes, became important in the lives. Quite often they were packed in lunch boxes to take to work.


There became such a demand for these small cakes that even the Hostess Company learned how to make cupcakes. Their chocolate devil’s food and my favorite, the orange ones still stand out in my mind. Both of these were filled with white cream and oh, they were so delicious and convenient to buy. The sales of these products soared; people were buying them to snack on and not just for lunches.


Of course, before the interest grew, there were no so called “cupcake pans” or the paper cupcake liners.  Even when I learned how to make cupcakes I had none of these conveniences.  Mom taught me to make half of a regular cake recipe and to bake them in two little (rejected) baking pans. I say “rejected” because my older sisters were always passing their older things to us to use. We only had two of these pans so I had to remove the cakes to bake the others. It was good thing that these little cakes baked quickly.


When I learned how to make cupcakes, I also never had any of those paper liners. Mom did buy me some of the paper liners when we saw them available at our store but I still did not have a cupcake pan. I could not wait to try these papers out. I made the batter, placed the papers on a tray and filled with batter. Have you ever tried this? Well I found out quickly that they do not hold the shape without the cupcake pan for support; I had flat cakes.


My older sister Gloria learned how to make cupcakes many years prior to my learning. When I was little I loved to go to her house; she always had the neatest things. One day when I was there she had made a lot of cupcakes and frosted them with all colors of icing. They were so beautiful and tasted so good!  Of course, she had all the pans, papers and everything to master the job; I was so envious. 


Eventually I learned how to make cupcakes with all the luxuries of baking them. The one thing that did bother me was back then the cupcake papers only came in pastel colors. Sometimes I just wanted white ones; not pink, blue, yellow or green. Needless to say, today I am stocked with cupcake liners in all colors and sizes.


TO MAKE SMALL CAKES: Fill flat bottomed ice cream cones half full with cake batter and bake. Top with frosting and decorating confections.


NOTE: When filling cupcakes for even sizing use ¼ Cup of batter for regular size cupcakes and ½ cup of batter for jumbo size.

ZUCCHINI CUPCAKE RECIPE (Shown with butter cream frosting)

Zucchini Spice Cupcakes with Buttercream FrostingZucchini Spice Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

Learn how to make cupcakes with shredded zucchini.

  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 1/3 cups sugar
  • ½ Cup vegetable oil
  • ½ Cup orange juice
  • 1 Teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 ½ Cups flour
  • 2 Teaspoons cinnamon
  • 2 Teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • ½ Teaspoon cloves
  • 1 ½ Cups shredded zucchini

Preheat oven to 350F degrees; line cupcake tins with paper liners.

In mixing bowl combine and beat eggs, sugar, oil, orange juice and almond.

In another bowl combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cloves.

Add dry ingredients to the egg mixture; mix well.

Add zucchini and mix well; fill prepared cupcake liners each with ¼ cup batter.

Bake about 20 minutes; makes about 18 regular size cupcakes.

ORANGE CUPCAKE RECIPE (Shown with orange flavored buttercream frosting)

Orange Cupcake Recipe with Orange Flavored Buttercream FrostingOrange Cupcake Recipe with Orange Flavored Buttercream Frosting

Learn how to make cupcakes with an orange cream flavor.

  • 2 ¼ Cups flour
  • 1 Teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ Teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ Teaspoon salt
  • 5 Eggs (Separated)
  • ¾ Cup butter
  • 1 ½ Cups sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ Cup orange juice
  • ¼ Cup milk
  • 1 Tablespoon grated orange peel

Preheat oven to 350F degrees; line cupcake tins with paper liners.

Combine and blend flour, baking powder, soda and salt; set aside.

Beat egg whites until stiff peak forms; set aside.

Cream butter with sugar; add egg YOLKS and vanilla and beat until fluffy.

Combine orange juice and milk; add dry ingredients to creamed mixture alternating with the liquid.

Fold in egg WHITES and orange peel; fill prepared pans each with ¼ cup of batter.

Bake 20 minutes or until pick comes out clean; makes 27 regular size cupcakes.

CARAMEL CUPCAKE RECIPE 

Caramel Cupcakes with a Chocolate Caramel FrostingCaramel Cupcakes with a Chocolate Caramel Frosting

Learn how to make cupcakes with this caramel recipe and a delicious chocolate caramel frosting.

  • 1 Cup softened butter
  • 1 1/3 Cups sugar
  • 1/3 Cup brown sugar
  • 4 Eggs
  • 3 Cups sifted flour
  • 2 Teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ Teaspoon salt
  • 1 Cup half and half 
  • 2 Teaspoons vanilla
  • Chocolate caramel frosting (Recipe below)

NOTE: I do not usually have half and half so I mix half heavy cream with half milk.

PREHEAT OVEN to 350F degrees; line cupcake tins with paper liners.

Combine butter and sugars in mixing bowl; beat on medium until fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition; set aside.

In another bowl sift together the sifted flour, baking powder and salt.

With mixer on low add dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternating with the cream.

Beat in vanilla; fill prepared pans each with ¼ cup of batter.

Bake about 20 minutes or until pick comes out clean; cool completely.

Frost with chocolate caramel frosting below.

Chocolate Caramel Frosting Recipe

  • 1 Cup butter
  • 2 Tablespoons Hershey’s cocoa powder
  • 2 Cups DARK brown sugar
  • 2/3 Cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 6 Cups powdered sugar

In a medium saucepan melt butter over low heat.

Add brown sugar and cream; over medium heat cook and stir until sugar dissolves.

Stir in the salt and bring to a boil; cook stirring occasionally for 2 minutes.

Remove mixture from the heat and let cool completely.

In a large mixing bowl beat the chocolate caramel mixture with the powdered sugar.

Frost cupcakes; makes 26 cupcakes.

STRAWBERRY CUPCAKE RECIPE

Strawberry Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream FrostingStrawberry Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Learn how to make cupcakes with fresh strawberries and buttercream frosting.

  • ½ Cup softened butter
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 2 Large eggs
  • 1 Cup whole buttermilk
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 Cups sifted flour
  • 1 Teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ Teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ Teaspoon salt
  • 2 Cups chopped fresh strawberries

Preheat oven to 350F degrees; line cupcake tins with 24 paper liners.

In large mixing bowl beat butter and sugar until fluffy.

Beat in eggs one at a time; beat in buttermilk and vanilla just to combine.

In a small bowl sift together the sifted flour, baking powder, soda and salt.

Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture beating just to combine.

Fold in the strawberries; measure ¼ cup of batter into each cupcake tin.

Bake 20 minutes; cool 10 minutes in pan and move to rack to cool completely.

Makes 24 regular size cupcakes.

HOW TO MAKE CARROT CUPCAKES

Learn how to make cupcakes with shredded carrots.

  • 2 Cups flour
  • ¾ Cup sugar
  • ¾ Cup brown sugar
  • 2 Teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¼ Cups vegetables oil
  • 4 Eggs
  • 2 Cups finely grated carrots
  • 1 Cup chopped pecans
  • ½ Cup sour cream
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla
  • Cream cheese frosting (Recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350F degrees; line 24 cupcake tins with paper liners.

Stir together flour, sugars, baking powder, soda, cinnamon and salt.

In a medium bowl whisk together eggs and oil; add mixture to flour mixture.

Beat with mixer on medium speed; add carrots, pecans, vanilla and sour cream and mix until blended.

Spoon batter into prepared cups filling 2/3 full.

Bake until pick comes out clean 16 to 18 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on rack.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1 Package (8 ounces) softened cream cheese
  • ¼ Cup softened butter
  • 1 Cup powdered sugar
  • 1 Container (8 ounces) thawed whipped cream topping

Combine in a medium bowl and beat the cream cheese and butter on medium speed.

Gradually add powdered sugar while beating and beat until smooth.

Add whipped topping and continue beating to blend.

HOW TO MAKE CUPCAKES like this
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CUPCAKES

How to Make Strawberry Shortcake CupcakesHow to Make Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
  • ½ Cup softened butter
  • 1 Cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar divided
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 Cups flour
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ Teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 Cup whole buttermilk
  • ¼ Teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 ¼ Cups fresh strawberries
  • 1 Teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2/3 Cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons sour cream

Garnish: powdered sugar and mint leaves

Preheat oven to 375F degrees; line 18 muffin tins with paper liners.

Combine and beat on medium speed the butter and 1 cup sugar until smooth and fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time beating well after each.

In a small bowl stir together flour, baking soda and salt.

Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternating with buttermilk; mix until blended.

Divide batter among prepared muffin tins; bake about 18 minutes or until pick comes out clean.

Remove from pan and cool.

Combine in a small bowl the strawberries, 2 teaspoons sugar and lemon juice; let stand 30 minutes.

In another small bowl beat cream until soft peaks form.

Gradually add powdered sugar beating until stiff peaks form; fold in sour cream.

Holding a small sharp knife with the tip at a downward angle cut around the tops leaving ¼ inch border.

Remove cupcake tops and set aside.

Fill centers with 1 tablespoon whipped cream mixture topped with strawberries.

Replace cupcake tops; garnish with powdered sugar and mint leaves.

Strawberry Shortcake CupcakesStep 1
Strawberry Shortcake CupcakesStep 2
Strawberry Shortcake CupcakesStep 3
Strawberry Shortcake CupcakesStep 4
Strawberry Shortcake CupcakesStep 5
Strawberry Shortcake CupcakesStep 6

CHOCOLATE MACAROON CUPCAKES

  • 2 Egg whites
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/3 Cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 ¼ Cups flour
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 1/3 Cup cocoa powder
  • ½ Teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ Cup buttermilk

Filling:

  • 1 Cup ricotta cheese
  • ¼ Cup sugar
  • 1 Egg white
  • 1/3 Cup shredded coconut
  • ½ Teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 Teaspoons powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350F degrees; coat 18 muffin cups with cooking spray.

Combine egg whites, egg, applesauce and vanilla in a bowl.

In another bowl combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder and baking soda.

Gradually add egg white mixture to flour mixture alternating with buttermilk; blend well.

Spoon half of batter evenly into prepared muffin tin.

To make filling: In another bowl beat ricotta cheese, sugar and egg white until smooth.

Stir in coconut and almond; spoon 1 tablespoon into center of each cupcake.

Divide remaining batter on top of each cupcake; bake for 28 to 33 minutes until pick comes out clean.

Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely and dust with powdered sugar.

SPICED CUPCAKE RECIPE

How to Make Cupcakes like this Spiced Cupcake RecipeHow to Make Cupcakes like this Spiced Cupcake Recipe
  • 1 Cup softened butter
  • 1 ¼ Cups brown sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 1/3 Cups flour
  • 1 Teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 Teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ Teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 Teaspoon ginger
  • ½ Teaspoon allspice
  • ½ Teaspoon cloves
  • 1 Cup milk

Cream butter and sugar together until creamy and smooth; add eggs and beat until blended.

Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt and spices; add to creamed mixture alternating with milk.

Mix until blended; spoon batter into paper lined cupcake tins.

Bake in preheated oven at 350F degrees about 15 minutes or until pick comes out clean.

Cool and frost with favorite icing.

Makes 21 to 25 cupcakes.