Cupcakes

Recipe courtesy Nigella Lawson

Show: Nigella FeastsEpisode: Just Desserts

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (64)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(64)

Cook Time:
20 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
12

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 20 min
Total:: 30 min

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Ingredients

1 stick plus 1 tablespoon soft butter
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 to 3 tablespoons milk

Directions

Royal Icing, recipe follows

Special equipment: 12 bun muffin pan, lined with muffin papers.

Take everything you need out of the fridge in time to get to room temperature - and this makes a huge difference to the lightness of the cupcakes later - and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Put all of the ingredients for the cupcakes except for the milk into a food processor and blitz until smooth. Pulse while adding the milk down the funnel, to make a smooth dropping consistency.

Divide the mixture between a 12-bun muffin tin lined with muffin papers, and bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. They should have risen and be golden on top. Let them cool a little in their tins on a rack, and then take them carefully out of the tin to cool in their papers, still on the wire rack.

Ice with Royal Icing.

Royal Icing:

*2 large egg whites (or substitute powdered egg whites)
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Combine the egg whites and confectioners' sugar in a medium-size mixing bowl and whip with an electric mixer on medium speed until opaque and shiny, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the lemon juice, this will thin out the icing. Beat for another couple of minutes until you reach the right spreading consistency for the cupcakes.

Yield: sufficient to generously ice 12 cupcakes

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Cupcakes
Alica Somerset, NJ 10-21-2009
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The BEST Cupcakes Ever!!!!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

These cupcakes are the most delicious cupcakes I have ever had. I was invited to a dinner party recently and took these... along with me. I have never gotten so many compliments in my life. One guest said that he thought all cupcakes tasted the same but not after eating these. He said these are by far the best. Very easy recipe, so easy that my 7yr old helped me make them with no problem. The only difference (as stated in other reviews) is that I added to the milk and did 4 or 5 tablespoons and they typically only needed to cook for about 13 minutes. I never thought the food processor could make baking so easy! A must try for anyone who loves sweets!Read more
recipe Cupcakes
Liza los angeles, CA 10-20-2009
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very very good
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

It was good everyone loved them.
recipe Cupcakes
Barb Wolf Creek, MT 10-15-2009
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Sadly, they didn't work out for me...
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

I just made these cupcakes. They taste okay, I don't like to use boxed mixes, but I believe that 400 degrees is too hot an... oven. Make sure you divide these to make 12, even if they don't seem full enough. Mine collapsed in the middle, and got too brown on the edges in only fifteen minutes. Next....?Read more
recipe Cupcakes
laura belmont, MI 10-11-2009
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always my "go-to" cupcake recipe
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Couldn't believe you could make cupcakes this good and tasty by using a food processor but you can!! My family loves these... and calls them my "butter cupcakes". Now, that name is misleading because it comes from the first time I tried them. I accidentally used double the amount of butter!! Surprisingly, they still turned out delicious. The outside was crispy and the inside was oozing with buttery-ness. So, to me, that means that the recipe is very forgiving for a baking recipe. Even if you mess up they still turn out great! I love them even more made the correct way, LOL. Sometimes I like to add food coloring to the icing for variety although the "all white" is beautiful as well. Toppings such as sprinkles, baking sugar, or toasted coconut are really fun, too. Thanks Nigella! Read more
recipe Cupcakes
Theresa Toronto, ON 10-11-2009
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Really easy and yummy
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe is so simple and easy to make. I looked around for a recipe that contained less butter content and found this one... to be the best. I dont cook or bake very often hence I dont have a electric mixer so I used a balloon whisk and just a glass bowl and they came out great just beating it by hand. The one thing is, the recipe always make 10 cupcakes for me, never 12, im not sure if its because my cupcake pan is bigger or my paper cups are jumbo size, but it doesnt really matter because they are so soft and bouncy and very moist if you add 4-5 tablespoons of milk instead of 2-3 tablespoons. Read more
recipe Cupcakes
German Twentynine Palms, CA 08-30-2009
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cream cheese
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

hey guys , i usually make a box cake.. but to make it dilectible .. i always put one packet 8 oz cream cheese into the mix .... and it comes out insanly good. our friend never think it boxed. lol try itRead more