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Interior and Designer: Liz Cosgrove
Art Producer: Hannah Dickerson
Editor: Laura Apperson
Production Editor: Ruth Sakata Corley
Photography 2020 Laura Flippen
Decorative patterns and icons courtesy of Shutterstock
Interior courtesy of Colleen Chrzanowski
ISBN: Print 978-1-64739-269-7
eBook 978-1-64739-270-3
R0
For Violet, George, Estelle, and Phoebe, my own tiny bakers
contents
Welcome to your very own book all about cupcakes!
I have four kids who love baking cupcakes as much as you do. While making this book, they tried every single recipe, and I promise, we devoured them all. Now its your turn.
In , youll learn everything you need to know to be a master cupcake baker. Packed with terms, tips, and tricks, this chapter will teach you everything from safety lessons to decorating techniques youll love.
starts with classics like rich chocolate, vanilla, carrot cake, and red velvet cupcakes. If youre a beginner, this is a great chapter to start with.
In , youll find cupcakes with creamy fillings, where every bite includes a surprise. These recipes are a bit more advanced, and you may need an adult to help, but the results are worth it!
Baking for a special occasion? Thats where the adorable decorating ideas from ). But thats just skimming the surface. Flip through these pages and bookmark your favorite ideas to try all year long.
Ready to get rolling?
Lets dig in.
With just a few simple techniques, youll be able to perfect your cupcake skills and dazzle friends and family for any celebration.
GETTING COMFORTABLE IN THE KITCHEN
Every project in the kitchen starts (and ends) with one thing: cleaning. Wash your hands with soap and scrub them for at least 20 seconds before rinsing, then dry your hands with a fresh towel. I also like to clear off the counters and wipe them down. Then its time to get organized:
. When I bake with my kids, we always wear aprons. It helps keep our clothes clean and makes us feel official.
. Set up a garbage bowl to toss eggshells, butter wrappers, and the like so you wont have to walk across the kitchen to throw anything away.
. Grab a wet rag for wiping sticky fingers at the counter.
. Read the whole recipefrom start to finishbefore you begin baking. Make sure you understand all the steps and the order to do them.
. Gather all the ingredients and materials youll need. Its better to find out that you are out of eggs before you start baking, rather than halfway through. Plus, youll save time not having to run repeatedly to the refrigerator and pantry. French chefs call this mise en place (meez on plahss), which means everything in its place.
Now were ready to bake.
ESSENTIAL CUPCAKE SKILLS
Master cupcake baking techniques with these simple skills. All it takes is practice.
Baking 101
Baking is actually science! When you combine the right ingredients and then apply heat, the whole recipe transforms from liquid to solid. These tips will help you become a better baker.
BE AN EXPERT BAKER
SAFETY FIRST
The kitchen is a delicious place, but it can also be dangerous. Always have an adult in the room while youre baking. From using the oven (turning it on and off, putting pans in and taking them out), to microwaving and measuring properly, the more supervision you get, the better your skills will getand the safer youll be.
And always be smart about food safety. Food poisoning occurs when you eat food thats been contaminated, typically by bacteria. It is real, and trust me, you dont want to experience it. But dont worry! Food poisoning is generally preventable with a few smart moves:
. Really wash your hands before you bake. Soap up and sing the ABC song while rubbing your hands together for at least 20 seconds. Rinse well with warm water and dry your hands with a fresh towel.
. Many recipes in this book call for butter thats warmed to room temperature. Its safe to let butter warm up on the counter (or in the microwave for 10 seconds), but never leave raw ingredients out for more than 4 hours.
