125 best Cupcake recipes

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baking book reviews

125 best Cupcake recipes
Julie Hasson
192 Pages (Paperback)

It's one of those cupcake books that doesn't have many pictures, nor is it glamourously bound & formatted, but I've baked from it for two years and it's a fabulous everyday baking book. 

One of my girlfriends Cindy has the book too, and says "I love the way you when you have a surplus of an ingredient, say "nectarines" and you know you can open 125 cupcakes and sure enough there is a recipe for Nectarine Cupcakes". Yes, it's that kind of book.

Divided into sections: Chocolate, Fruit, Nuts, Adults Only, Kids' Corner, Spice it Up, New Twists, Frosting, Glazes and Fillings. The book also includes simple decorating techniques and tips, plus sidebars throughout with variation ideas.

You are sure to a find favourites amongst Orange-Scented Angel Food, Sticky Date, Very Vanilla Chocolate chip, Spiced Peach, Flourless Chocolate, Chocolate Gingerbread, Pina Colada, Chai tea, Lemon Yogurt to name a few. 

One of our family favourites is the 'Banana Cupcakes' and who doesn't have those overripe bananas in the fruit bowl at one time or the other? 

Banana Cupcakes

Ingredients
1 1/4       cups plain flour (all purpose)
1 tsp        baking soda (bi-carb)
Pinch       salt
1 cup       white sugar
1/2 cup    vegetable oil
2             large eggs
1 cup       mashed banana (about 2 large)
1 tsp        vanilla 

12 cup muffin tin lined with paper cases

Preheat oven 180c

Method
In a small bowl, mix together flour, baking soda and salt.

In another bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, and eggs until smooth. Add banana & vanilla, beating well. Add flour mixture, stir until smooth.

Scoop batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 24 to 28 minutes or until tops of cupcakes spring back when lightly touched. Let cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely on rack.
The author suggests: Chocolate Fudge Frosting, Caramel Frosting or Cream Cheese Frosting, all lovely frostings. On the day I went with a frosting not included in the book... mashed banana, beaten into a surplus of Swiss meringue I had on hand, but do try Julie Hassons Cream Cheese frosting, it's quick and delicious. 

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients
115g (4oz) cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
Pinch of salt
2 1/4 cups of pure icing sugar (confectioner's sugar) sifted

Method
In a bowl, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat together cream cheese, butter and salt until creamy. With the mixer on low speed, beat in the icing sugar, 1/2 cup at a time so the sugar doesn't fly all over the place. Increase speed to medium high and beat until light and fluffy.

Spread frosting over cooled cupcakes and *refrigerate until ready to serve or up to one 1 day. 

*allow cakes to come to room temperature before serving

125 best Cupcake recipes a fun and worthy edition to your cupcake book library.