The CupCake Experiment, part 2: Lemon frosting

[beelikej]

The CupCake Experiment PART 2
Since I still hadn't mastered the plain cupcakes after last week first baking efforts (Part 1 & Part 1B) I decided to not make things too complicated. I picked a recipe that was pretty close to the plain ones; lemon cupcakes with frosting.
The frosting-recipe asked for lemonpeel, but I didn't want to buy a whole lemon for six cupcakes. In stead I added lemon essence to the batter as well. (Look at me, already experimenting;).

BATTER
This time I first mixed the batter with a fork but then gave it an extra whisk with my hand mixer to get it smoother and fluffier. To avoid spilling I put yet again less batter than previously. After advice from several friends I turned up the heat even more (175C according to recipe, my oven 225C now)

FROSTING
While the cupcakes were in the oven, I tried to make frosting. The recipe said powdered sugar and butter, but no matter how hard I mixed, it stayed flaky. A quick Google search inspired me to add some water...
Aaargh: the rising batter is dripping again!

Lessons learned:

whisk-whisk-whisk;

even less batter per cup next time;

temperature up high;

use the plastic cups again to keep batter in shape.

Comments

[albeitslowly.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I always thought people made cupcakes in muffin pans,but I don't recall ever making any myself, so I could be wrong.

Either way, they look nommy.

Damn you for posting sugary goodness when I'm going low carb for another two weeks still. :/

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure about the difference between cupcakes and muffins, I'm still very much an amateur baker;) I do recall seeing those pans you mention, they are probably more solid than putting loose cups on a tray. But since I'm still figuring out how much I like fiddling with food I'm not investing in any more stuff just yet:)

I'm sorry. I'm not experimenting next weekend (as I'm on a trip to London \o/) so you'll be safe for the next two weeks;) Good luck with the low carbs.

[tanisafan.livejournal.com]

If you don't want to use the wobbly paper ones, Hema has really cute plastic ones that also make it really easy to pop them out if you so desire :D. Also, nommmm, frosting! Nommm, sprinkles!

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

The plastic cups Sinterklaas gave me were the reason I started the experiment (they came with the recipe-book:). I chose papercups this time for another temperature test and because I didn't want any more dirty dishes *g*

[sillie]

Ooh, looking good. How did they taste?

I've got both the plastic cups and paper cups. I usually put the paper cups in the plastic cups. The plastic cups give a bit of stability to the paper cups, and the paper cups can stay on the muffin/ cup cake till you eat them. :3

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

They were yummie.

Oh, that is an excellent idea! Will try that next time (in two weeks, because this weekend I'm going to London with tanisafan, so no time for cupcakes:)