I’m by no means an expert baker, but I love baking. There is a precise science to baking, you have to follow some rules. However, after you follow these rules you are free to explore the deliciousness of baking with a twist. Here are some tips I have discovered while baking from a box mix.
1.Preheat your oven! Don’t put your cupcakes into the cold oven, it will mess with the cupcakes cooking process and the cooking times.
2. Use cupcake liners and take your time filling them. Wouldn’t it be great to finish cooking and not have those stubborn cupcake pans staring you in the face. Sure, you will “soak” them, but they will be staring you in the face every time you walk near the sink. Use cupcake liners, and WIPE away the small blobs of batter that dropped onto the cupcake pans while filling the liners with a damp paper towel. This way the cupcake pans just need to cool down and they can be put back away.
3. Play around with adding things to your boxed mixes. I have created an amazing cinnamon apple cupcake from a vanilla box mix.I posted my recipe earlier this week.
4. If you use a box mix or any recipe if it says to cook for 10-15 minutes set your timer for 10 minutes then do the *toothpick test. If the toothpick isn’t clean, cook for 3 more minutes. The point is to bake it fully but not overcooking it.
5. Cupcakes should be removed from their pan immediately so they don’t “cook” from the heat of the pan. You don’t want an overcooked dry cupcake.
6. Don’t be afraid to add a filling to your cupcakes. I have put frosting inside the cupcakes, for a reverse cupcake. I have used jam, sprinkles with frosting mixed in, and even fruit. To fill the cupcakes, let them cook a bit after cooking, hollow out a bit of the middle and fill. SAVE the hollowed part to top the cupcake. This way the isn’t a huge hole.
7. Don’t try to frost your cupcakes too soon. They are hot, even if they are warm they will melt the frosting.
8. Mix frostings. Mix a chocolate frosting with a peanut butter frosting. Put a chocolate frosting onto an orange cake. You are the designer, have fun!
9. Always store your cupcakes in air tight containers. This will stop them from drying out.
10. Have fun and experiment. Explore and create!
Let me know of the different combinations you have made. What went well together?
*See my post on Fall Cupcakes for the toothpick test
briannajoycee 