how to make perfect cupcakes!

[beforesunrise]

can you pls post your favourite cupcake recipe here? and also any tips etc? in particular when it comes to icing etc... mine always tend to look a bit weird...

also, what is the difference between cupcakes and fairycakes?

thanks in advance!

Bumping for you.

thre is no difference between cupcakes and fairy cakes unless

A) You live in America, in which case fairy cakes is a term that might confuse you

or

B) You are in 1978 and purchasing plasticky mr kiplings type offerings

I use weight of an egg cake meself- easy to up in size (have many small children to malnoursih). Am sure its not 'proper' but oh well

6oz self raising flour
6 oz caster sugar
6 oz softened butter
4 eggs

Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric whisk, then add the eggs one at a time with a spoonful of flour with each egg. Stir in the rest of the flour.

This mixture makes 12 big, muffin sized cakes or 24 smaller ones.

Bake for about 20 minutes, or until risen, brown and firm to the touch.

I ice mine with butter cream (2:1 icing sugar and butter beaten together) or glace icing (icing sugar and water or lemon juice mixed together)

Then I go completely mad with decoration - jelly beans, smarties, dolly mixture, sugar flowers, glitter, hundreds and thousands.... less is most definitely NOT more when it comes to cupcakes!

I have discovered that to make really light fluffy ones you should use equal quantities I use 180g to make 12 cakes; flour,caster sugar, margerine (butter makes them heavier) and eggs with no yolk weighed to match and a tsp vanilla essence. Delicious and light. Sieve the dry ingredients and then fold in the wet

for icing I make butter cream which is very easy as long as you have an electric whisk- butter mixed with icing sugar. Not sure of measurements I just mix until it looks rights- fluffy.

I also read not to open oven in first 10 minutes because it effects how much the cakes rise. I dont know how true it is,

thanks guys, will try and report back!

try this recipe in last weeks t
Times - I tried them with dd and worked very well. Makes 12 small cakes which is a good quantity