Our Step-By-Step Guide to How to Make Cupcakes Perfect Each Time

Ah, delicious cupcakes topped with frosting. They're the perfect individual-size treat for birthdays, weddings, or an afternoon snack. The quickest method for making cupcakes is to start with a cake mix, and we love a creative twist on a mix. But if you really want to impress your family and friends, it's nice to know how to make cupcakes from scratch. Read on for our Test Kitchen's instructions on how to make cupcakes, including how much batter you'll need, the proper baking temperature, and more.

How to Make Cupcakes

If you've already worked on your layered cake-making skills, learning how to bake cupcakes will be a cinch. Before you start, choose a cupcake recipe and preheat your oven, ensuring even and accurate baking. You can also turn a cake recipe into cupcakes (like this easy yellow cake); plan to use ¼ cup of batter for each cupcake.

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients

Allow the butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. This will make the butter easier to blend. Room-temperature eggs allow more air to be incorporated into your batter for a lighter texture. Grease and flour twelve 2½-inch muffin cups or line with paper baking cups. Set aside.

Step 2: Combine Butter and Sugar

Many cupcake recipes call for beating the butter and sugar together for 1 minute using a hand mixer or stand mixer. This is called creaming, and it creates little pockets of air in the mixture, resulting in light and fluffy cupcakes. Just be sure not to overbeat the mixture. You can tell you've gone too far if the butter starts to separate.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla

After creaming the butter and sugar, most cupcake recipes next call for adding the eggs. Depending on the recipe, you may add whole eggs, just egg yolks, or just egg whites. Some recipes include other ingredients to add along with the eggs, such as vanilla or other flavorings.

Step 4: Alternate Adding Dry and Wet Ingredients

In a separate mixing bowl ($11, Crate & Barrel), stir together the dry ingredients, such as flour, salt, and baking powder. Most cupcake recipes call for alternately adding dry and wet ingredients (like milk or cream) and beating between each addition. Don't be tempted to add everything at once. Adding all the wet ingredients at once can cause the batter to separate, resulting in a heavy cake. Adding all the dry ingredients at once can make the batter too thick, leading to overmixing.

Step 5: Fill the Cupcake Liners

When you're learning how to make cupcakes, you may wonder how much batter to use per cupcake. For standard 2½-inch cupcakes, fill cupcake liners with ¼ cup batter to about ⅔ to ¾ of the way full. Avoid adding too much batter, or the cupcakes will overflow the cups as they bake and cause a mess. Here are some easy ways to fill cupcake liners with cupcake batter:

• If the batter is thick, use two spoons to scoop it into the cups.
• Use a medium ice cream or cookie scoop to spoon batter into the cups.
• Fill a heavy resealable plastic bag with batter and cut a small hole in one corner. Squeeze the bag gently to fill the cups. Plug the bag's hole with your finger as you move it to the next cup.
• If your batter is thin, pour it into a large glass measuring cup. The spout on the measuring cup will make it easier to fill cupcake liners with batter.

Step 6: Bake and Cool Cupcakes

For chocolate, vanilla, and most other cupcake recipes, you'll want to bake for 15 to 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 350°F. Test for doneness by inserting a wooden toothpick into the center of a cupcake. If the toothpick is clean when you remove it, the cupcakes are done. If wet batter or several moist crumbs cling to the toothpick, they need to bake longer. Cool the cupcakes for 5 minutes in the pan before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Here are some general guidelines for adjusting baking times for larger or smaller cupcakes:

• How to make mini cupcakes: A recipe that makes 24 standard (2½-inch) cupcakes will make about 64 mini cupcakes. Generally, they're baked in a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
• How to make jumbo cupcakes: A recipe that makes 24 standard (2½-inch) cupcakes will make 10 to 16 jumbo cupcakes. Typically, they're baked in a 350°F oven about 25 minutes.

Step 7: Frost and Decorate

To make cupcakes that are the prettiest, start with decorative liners. It's the easiest way to spruce them up for special occasions. From there, use a piping bag ($9, Michaels) to decorate your cupcakes. If you don't have piping bags, use a resealable plastic bag with the end snipped off or spread with a knife. Get started with our customizable buttercream frosting recipe (with seven flavor variations). For an unforgettable dessert, go wild with holiday toppings, sprinkles, nuts, or whatever your heart desires.

How to Make Chocolate Cupcakes

If you've got a favorite chocolate cake recipe, use the tips and instructions above for the best cupcakes ever. This chocolate cupcake recipe is easy to use for filling your prepared cupcake pan. Remember that standard size calls for ¼ cup batter. Need a gluten-free option? Here's another delicious chocolate cupcake recipe.

How to Fill Cupcakes

To add cream, frosting, or other fillings to cupcakes, use a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip or a Bismark filling tip ($3, Michaels). Spoon the filling into the bag and insert the tip into the top of the cupcake. Squeeze the filling into the center. Don't worry if you leave a hole, since the frosting will cover it.

Make dessert even sweeter this week by whipping up a quick batch of cupcakes. Now that you know how to make them from scratch, there's no reason not to add them to your after-dinner menu. Then keep working on those decorating skills for a stunning display everyone will think came from a professional bakery.

Special Cupcakes for Holidays and Events

Celebrate Halloween with more than just candy. Cute Baby Owl Cupcakes are a real hoot, while chocolaty Graveyard Cupcakes bring a little taste of spooky to the table. Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes add a seasonal touch for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or anytime in Autumn. North Pole Christmas Cupcakes will look festive on the holiday dessert table and make Sparkler Cupcakes to ring in the new year.

Need a treat for a team party? The kids will love these Sports Cupcakes. Celebrate a triumph with our End of the Rainbow Cupcakes, which are colorful and delicious. Burrowing Bunnies are as charming as an Easter bonnet or go all-in on the animal theme with our Day at the Zoo Cupcakes for a truly triumphant decorative dessert.