I've lost my way with fairy cakes

[LatinForTelly]

I wondered if anyone could help. I seem to be unable to bake a decent fairy cake / cupcake, and now have tweaked and fussed over so many recipes, that I'm not sure which way is what now.

So, my most recent batch, the ones on the top shelf of oven have sort of risen but have a hardish crust. They are ok but not like the nicely rounded pictures you get on t'internet.

The ones on the second shelf have sunk slightly in the middle, but when I cut one open in the manner of Mary and Paul, it is cooked through. But very aesthetically unpleasing.

So I used a recipe from on here (Tobytoes?) because Delia seemed to stop working: 5 oz flour and sugar, 4 oz butter, 2 eggs, 3 tbsp milk, vanilla extract. I did 1.5 times the recipe, but added just 1 tsp baking powder for extra lifting oomph. I did the all in one whizz up method with hand mixer. All ingredients are quite new and in date. All at room temp.

Cooked in a fan oven at 160 dec C for 26 minutes. Bought an oven thermometer recently and oven is true to temp.

When I look at old recipes, I used to cook them at a higher temp (175 fan) for much shorter (15 mins) and the Mumsnet cookbook has a recipe where you cook them at 180 fan.

Sigh, I must've reduced the temp over time because cupcakes were going wrong.

Does anyone have any wise words? Sorry for such a long post about cake.

I think 160 sounds too low. I cook at 180 and they always come out well. I'd try again with a higher temp.

I also just use a basic sponge recipe (which I use all the time) which is equal parts everything. 6oz butter, 6oz sugar, 6oz SR flour, 3 eggs (1 egg to every 2oz) and a tsp vanilla extract. Cream the butter and sugar together then add the eggs and sift in the flour. Whizz it all up with the hand mixer.

Same as Felix except I stick in some baking powder and don't bother with creaming, just mix it all at once. Then cook at 180 for 20-25 mins. Never ever fails. I can whip out a batch while boiling the kettle for a coffee.

Thanks Felix and Shelagh. So that's 180 fan presumably? I'll try that next time.

Yes fan for me.

Yes 180 fan. I now have an oven without a fan and use a slightly higher temperature (miss my fan oven )