Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

I've made cupcakes, but how do I REALLY make cupcakes? Like, awesome ones. The kind that look incredible and taste amazing.

Help fast! I have to figure out something really (REALLY) soon (like within a day-ish) for my DH's birthday.

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

What flavor do you want? I'm sure we can help you track down an awesome recipe.

Some ideas....oreo cookie cupcake, black forest cupcakes, pink lemonaid...so many yummy things!

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

here are some fun ideas, and awesome looking frosting recipes. :D
http://bakeitinacake.com/

I think cupcakes may all be about a mountain of frosting...but I've never done that. i think I would with an awesome frosting recipe that doesn't just taste like powdered sugar.

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

Any cupcake that doesn't have food coloring basically. And I do want to know how to do a mound of frosting on top.

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

The key to any good cake is to beat plenty of air into it. You know that part of a recipe that says "Beat on high for 2 minutes..." or whatever? You have to do that. ;) It rises higher and lighter. You're also better off using a cake flour for cupcakes so they're lighter and fluffier.

The secret to good buttercream is a pinch of salt. It cuts that sickly sweet taste to a mound of frosting. :yes

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

To do a mound of buttercream, I presume you mean the swirled-top high buttercream? It's a VERY basic piping technique, you just need the right nozzle and start from the outside in one long swirl.

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

I don't like buttercream but I make a really good sturdy whipped cream frosting!!!! Once you beat it you can scooP into ziploc and cut end off and swirl;-)

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

I don't bake very good cupcakes. Mine never get that nice round dome on top, and they usually bake unevenly. (Meaning that the ones on the outside of the pans seem to get more brown than the ones on the inside of the pan. I have tried rotating them, but it doesn't help.)
The key to really good cupcakes is filling! And the big swirl of icing. That makes the mediocre baking unnoticeable. :shifty
In fact, I won a bakeoff for cupcakes this summer, because of the filling and icing. They were chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes. Just the name alone sounds awesome!

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

Well, first you go to the Cupcake Bakeshop blog. :yum
http://cupcakeblog.com/

I can *personally* vouch for the Hummingbird cupcakes, the Mint Cream filled cupcakes with Raspberry Mousse, and the Late Summer Peach, Blueberry & Thyme cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting.

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

:popcorn I sooo want to be able to make great cupcakes!

Recipe? Whipped is my favorite too. :yes5

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

Check out the picture on here with the comparison of the two cupcakes - http://sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com/...ecipe-and.html

and here are two great posts on frosting - http://www.eatliverun.com/how-to-fro...-pastry-queen/ and http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/08/...t-my-cupcakes/

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

um, you canNOT post that, and skip posting the recipe!!

:shifty

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

Yes, recipe please.:yes

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

We had a cupcake tower at our wedding and the cupcakes (that my mom and I made) were chocolate-lavender flavored and INCREDIBLE. The flavor combo was sooo good, and the frosting was a very lightly sweetened whipped cream, so the big mound of frosting (with extra lavender :yum) was just delicious rather than too sweet. Best cupcakes I've ever had - and not just because they were at my wedding. :giggle We made an unnecessary amount of "test batches". :shifty

Re: Help! How do I make awesome cupcakes?
 

Ok, really wanting recipes here....