one almighty cupcake information place
You know, I really did start making cupcakes just because I liked them and I wanted to cheer up some coworkers. I ask my team to come to work ten minutes early every Thursday to discuss student progress, and I figure if they are all giving that ten minutes, the least I could give was a bit of a treat. And that’s how Cupcake Thursdays came to be.
But cupcakes can be pretty (well, if I manage to make the icing properly, anyway) so I started photographing them and sticking the pictures on my blog. Because, in case the pink wasn’t a dead giveaway, I have a great appreciation for photos of cute things. Like cupcakes. Some like minded friends do too. That’s what blogging is about, right?
And now, I get emails for my cupcake recipes! This humbles me so. I enjoy making cupcakes, but you ought to hear me slamming about and arguing with the batter sometimes. I am not quite at one with the cupcake. But usually they are yummy, so it’s all good.
What you really wanted: The Cupcake FAQ
Do you use a cake mix?
Very, very rarely. I keep one in the cupboard just in case. I think it just makes me feel better. This is partially because we just don’t have many quality cake mixes in the UK, partially because I try to eat (and therefore cook) things without lots of chemicals and stabilisers and partially because I feel more accomplished if I actually mix things myself.
What recipes do you use?
I try lots of different ones. I have a few that are favourites that go down well with everybody, and other times I try various different ones to add in some variety. Sometimes these work (like the mocha variety); sometimes they are very disappointing (like the cherry brandy variety). But I’ll share a few favourite resources.
Online Recipes
*Old Reliable Vanilla Cupcakes
*Billy’s Vanilla Vanilla Cupcakes
Books for your Collection
*The Buttercup Bakeshop Cookbook
Do you really make cupcakes every Thursday?
Technically, no. I usually make them late Wednesday night, and we have them with our Thursday morning coffee at work. Which means I only make them when school is in session. And sometimes Wednesday night is either too busy or too hot for baking. That’s when I cheat and go to Krispy Kreme. But it’s pretty rare.
Can you freeze cupcakes?
Yes, if you have a good freezer. I don’t—it tends to resemble a fake snow factory rather than a large subzero space. But yes, you can freeze them. Bake them and let them cool but do not frost them. Wrap in plastic and try to get as much air out of the bag as possible. The trick is in the defrosting—when you want to defrost the cupcakes, take them out of the plastic! Just sit them on a plate for a few hours at room temperature and they will be fine. Then frost them and eat as normal.
Can I find cupcakes on the internet?
Well, yes. I think so. If you want to just look at cupcakes, you’ll want to check out Cupcakes Take the Cake often. If you want to make beautiful, cutting edge cupcakes, check out Chockylit and if you want to eat cupcakes, you might try Eve here in London, Star Provisions in Atlanta, Cupcake Royale in Seattle or BabyCakes at the River Market in Kansas City. {As for other cities…it’s not that I don’t like your cupcakes…I just haven’t tried your cupcakes. I promise.}
...and there ends the ridiculous idea of a cupcake FAQ. Unless you email me with more questions, clearly.
Happy baking.
xlovesx
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