Fergal Connolly - 500 Cupcakes: The Only Cupcake Compendium Youll Ever Need

Every generation seems to love them, and even the most curmudgeonly among us will find it hard to fight off a smile when presented with a plateful of cupcakes. Cupcakes come in many shapes and guises, but the one thing they all have in common is that theyre small, individual-sized cakes baked in a muffin pan or cup-shaped molds, which are often lined with pleated foil or paper baking cups. You can make cupcakes by baking almost any cake batter in a cup-shaped mold. Classic yellow cake or pound cake mixtures are particularly popular, but gingerbread, carrot cakes, fruit cakes, yeasted cakes, and brownies can all be transformed into cupcakes. They can be frosted, decorated, glazed, dusted, or left unadorned and whichever you choose, theyre sure to be delicious. As well as making traditional baked cupcakes, you can steam some mixtures to make dense, moist desserts, like bread pudding.

You can make other cupcakes using the no-bake method, in which you spoon a mixture of melted and dry ingredients into cupcake molds and chill or leave them to set. These unbaked cupcakes are usually served unfrosted, or simply dusted with a little confectioners sugar or unsweetened cocoa powder. types of cupcakes Cupcakes go by many different names. Some describe specific types of cakes, while others are more generic, but whatever name they go by, cupcakes can be found worldwide. Even in Southeast Asia youll find little cupcakes. In the Philippines, mooncakes rice cakes steamed in banana leaf cups are a delicious treat.

Many great classic cupcakes can be served frosted . Queen cakes are a traditional British cupcake made with a creamed butter mixture combination not unlike the vanilla cupcake mixture, with currants, and lemon zest added. Traditionally, Queen cakes were baked in small, fluted molds, but today they are usually baked in paper-lined or greased muffin pans. frosting cupcakes Although some cupcakes are served plain, it is the frosting that makes many cupcakes. Whether its a thick smear of cream cheese frosting or an intricately decorated cake topped with fondant decorations, its the topping that often causes the greatest delight, not just for the sweet, luscious flavor it adds to a simple cake. Once frosted, cupcakes are best eaten right away, and if you intend to store or freeze them, dont frost them first.

Whether you are a child or adult, beginner or advanced baker, once you get started on the recipes in this book, youll realize just how fun baking and decorating cupcakes can be!