Cupcake assistance please?

[mrsmopsmissingmojo]

I'm a good baker of cakes but can't make successful cup cakes. I'd really like to make some with a lemon curd middle and either lemon drizzle top or another lemon icing.

My attempts have come out like fairy cakes? Where am I going wrong?

Slimjim, tell me more, custard buttercream? you have my attention now.

I've been wanting to have a go at meringue cakes. They look delicious.

I will be needing the custard buttercream recipe too slim.

Queues up for custard buttercream recipe.

White chocolate or mocha cup cakes are big favourites here.

Custard buttercream here too please

Hugo, whats your white choco cakes like? and your mocha ones?

OMG yes please, custard buttercream :)

Slimjim, if you were on FB now you'd have 5 likes!

Custard AND buttercream? In the same sentence? Yes please!!

I'm off to buy new cupcake tin? Any recommendations? Are those floppy ones any good?

I normally use a silicone muffin pan and it works fine. I use a thin baking sheet underneath it to keep it level in the oven.

Mine was about £2 on amazon.

RE the custard buttercream, nigella has a recipe for it. Have a Google for it.

sorry, I posted and went offline. Its really easy, I use Nigella's recipe

125 Grams Icing sugar
4 Tsp Custard powder
75 Grams Unsalted butter
2 Tsp Hot Water

Blend the first 3 together, then add the water slowly til its piping consistency. Its lush, and makes enough for 12 generous rose swirls

Mrsmop, if you're meaning the silicone ones, yes they're great. I prefer tins but only because I'm a traditionalist. Just make sure they're big enough, most of them are fairy cake size rather than muffin

Im going to have lots of fun this afternoon and get very fat thanks for the recipe! Yum yum!!!

Mocha Cupcakes:
110g Melted butter
110g caster sugar
80g plain flour
30 Cocoa powder
2 tsp coffee dissolved in a tbsp hot water
2 Eggs beaten
1 tsp baking powder
Icing:
12 chocolate buttons
60g soft butter
225g icing sugar
2 tsp coffee dissolved in a tbsp hot water
1-2 tsp milk
1 tsp (or so) of cocoa powder

1. Beat all cupcake ingredients together with an electric mixer. 2) Divide between 12 muffin cases bake for 15 mins at 180C 3) When cool make icing: Beat everything except the buttons with an electric mixer. 4) Swirl icing onto cupcakes and top with a button and sprinkle with a little bit of cocoa powder.

White chocolate Cup Cakes:
100g SR Flour
100g Soft butter
100g Caster sugar
2 Beaten eggs
1tsp vanilla essence
45g White chocolate chips

Icing:
75g White chocolate
15g Butter
175g Icing sugar
3 tbs milk
Sugar flowers or chocolate buttons to decorate

Makes 12 large or 15 small

1. Beat all cupcake ingredients together with an electric mixer. 2) Bake at 180 C for 12 mins. 3) For the icing melt chocolate, milk and butter. Stir in icing sugar. 4) Ice the buns while the icing is still soft and top with a sugar flower or a button.

Wonders if am obsessed

Thanks Slimjim, will try that i know doubt, however i'm in kitchen as the weathers so bad, i'm making that struedel cake, sorry i cant remember whose recipe its is, and i've got a sponge in also cooking away for my footie cake.

Thanks Hugo, i'll give those a go too if i haven't run of eggs!!

hugo, they sound divine, will definitely be trying those

Can anyone recommend cheap but effective cup cake trays? Was going to buy silicone yesterday but I'd have needed to buy 4 trays, a minimum batch needs to be 24 or else I may never leave the kitchen. If amazon what I looking for. They were £7 for a silicone 6 tray!

The one I use is 3.70 including delivery on amazon. Silicone. First one that comes up when I search for muffin tray.

Cant link sorry.

I use metal ones as the silicone ones are quite bulky and I find that they tend to produce cupcakes with a greasy crust.

If you want silicone though these at amazon look good and are a good price.

I actually got mine from poundland! They're really sturdy (6 tray ones) I've had them well over a year and they get used quite a lot.