Cupcake Help!

[achase123]

Hey, I don't normally post on here, or I haven't in awhile, but I'm in dire need of a great cupcake recipe. We're doing cupcake wars (our own version) at my firm and I really want to win. The theme is Summertime.

Any great ideas or recipes would be very much appreciated! I have always had a difficult time with cupcake baking, even though I consider myself a good cook and baker. So any tips would also be wonderful!

[watermelon]

This is my go to - it is light, moist and easy to make and easy to cut in half. Super yummy.

www.food.com/recipe/White-Almond-Sour-Cream-Wedding-Cake-69630

[udscoobychick]

I've got a few in my blog:

Champagne cupcakes with pineapple buttercream (would be awesome with an orange or peach frosting, too!)
Caramel apple cupcakes
Vanilla bean cupcakes with orange curd and vanilla swiss meringue buttercream
Green tea cupcakes with pink lemonade frosting
Mulled wine cupcakes

The champagne, vanilla bean, or green tea ones are probably the most summery!

I think the most important tip is to make sure your butter is softened, but not too soft. I leave it on the counter for 30 min-1 hr, depending on how hot the house is. Requires a bit of forethought, but microwaving it warms it up too unevenly. Cream the butter and sugar(s) together very, very, very thoroughly--no such thing as overbeating at this point! When you add dry ingredients, mix just until they're combined, and not a second more. I use an ice cream scoop to measure out my batter. It gives me a consistent size, so they all cook evenly. If you're using dark muffin tins, drop the oven temp by 25*. Keep an eye on your cupcakes as they bake, and they're done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Good luck!

[achase123]

Aug 8, 2012 8:17:40 GMT -5 udscoobychick said:

I've got a few in my blog:

Champagne cupcakes with pineapple buttercream (would be awesome with an orange or peach frosting, too!)
Caramel apple cupcakes
Vanilla bean cupcakes with orange curd and vanilla swiss meringue buttercream
[url=http://browniesandblondies.blogspot.com/2011/09

/green-tea-cupcakes-with-pink-lemonade.html]Green tea cupcakes with pink lemonade frosting

[/url]
Mulled wine cupcakes

The champagne, vanilla bean, or green tea ones are probably the most summery!

I think the most important tip is to make sure your butter is softened, but not too soft. I leave it on the counter for 30 min-1 hr, depending on how hot the house is. Requires a bit of forethought, but microwaving it warms it up too unevenly. Cream the butter and sugar(s) together very, very, very thoroughly--no such thing as overbeating at this point! When you add dry ingredients, mix just until they're combined, and not a second more. I use an ice cream scoop to measure out my batter. It gives me a consistent size, so they all cook evenly. If you're using dark muffin tins, drop the oven temp by 25*. Keep an eye on your cupcakes as they bake, and they're done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Good luck![/quote]

Thank you so much for the tips!

[cookaholicwife]

these were incredibly easy to make.

cherry almond filled cupcakes

[heyney]

Hey girl!

Nothing screams summertime to me more than Margaritas & Strawberry Lemonade, so...

www.thecakeblog.com/2011/07/strawberry-lemonade-cupcakes.html

annies-eats.com/2010/05/04/margarita-cupcakes/

GL!