Tips For Unforgettable Cupcakes,You Should Know

Cupcakes are the latest rage in desserts. No longer relegated to children's parties and bake sales, cupcakes are now being dressed up for weddings and served at high end restaurants.
What other sweet treat can be silly, sinful or elegant merely by adding a flavoring or changing the decorations?
Here are some tips to make your next batch of these yummy desserts the hit of the party (make extras so they can take some home!)

Ten Tips for Unforgettable Cupcakes
1. Follow the instructions exactly as they are written. Substituting ingredients and over/under mixing the batter will affect how your cupcakes turn out.
2. Use high quality ingredients and make sure they are at room temperature before adding to the batter. Preheat the oven according to the recipe and make sure it is hot before baking.
3. Place cupcake papers in your muffin pan for easy removal after baking. Fill each paper ½ to 2/3 full.
4. Adding flavoring or flavored liquids gives a new dimension to basic cupcakes. Coffee intensifies the flavor of the chocolate. Almond syrup makes anything with cherries taste brighter.
5. Test your cupcakes for doneness at the minimum baking time. If the recipe calls for 20 - 25 minutes, insert a toothpick into the center of a cupcake at 20 minutes. If it comes out clean, the cupcakes are done. If there is batter on it, cook the cupcakes for a least a minute more and check again.
6. If the cupcake papers are soiled after baking, remove or set the cupcakes in a second paper before serving.
7. For a real surprise, core out the center and fill it with lemon curd (spice cupcakes), cherry pie filling (chocolate cupcakes) or raspberry jam (vanilla cupcakes). Lay the top over the filling when the cupcake is almost full and frost the entire cupcake.
8. Experiment with contrasting flavors. Chocolate frosting goes well with banana cupcakes while a mocha cinnamon frosting gives pizzazz to anything chocolate.
9. A rich buttercream frosting goes with any flavor. Add a pop of color like a flower or jelly bean to make it special.
10. Your cupcakes will look more professional if you pipe the frosting on instead of applying it with a knife. If your frosting is not spreading smoothly, don't scrape it off. Cover it by rolling the cupcakes in coconut or brightly colored sprinkles instead!