How to make cupcakes rise perfectly: baking tips
Cupcakes are small cakes. They have everything you need in them, including icing, the main air dough, and even the filling.
However, they do not always fit and acquire airiness. Often they turn out to be dense, and the question arises, how do make cupcakes rise perfectly?
Reasons for flat cupcakes
Before proceeding with the study of the question, of how to make cupcakes rise perfectly, you should familiarize yourself with the main causes of dessert flatness when there is no texture. This happens for several reasons.
Flour and baking powder
If the correct content of ingredients is measured incorrectly, their ratio will be violated. If you exceed the number of baking powders, the cupcakes will fall and become flat.
To make the dessert excellent, you should choose the right alternative flour options.
If you don’t have a special cake mix, you can use regular flour. If you select self-rising flour, it already has baking powder in it. Therefore, you need to reduce or eliminate the baking powder from the cupcake recipes. Bicarbonate of soda can be used to make the cake rise.
Mixing
Quite often, cupcakes lose their airiness because confectioners mix the dough too intensively. Because of this, a lot of air enters the dough.
The chocolate cake and other different baking will rise when heated. However, after taking them out of the oven, they will fall and become flattened.
Often unpleasant results are obtained if you do not mix the dough enough. If you use a stand mixer, you need to mix the dough for about 1.5-2 minutes.
Reasons for peaking
This can also happen for several reasons, including oil and oven temperature.
Butter
It is significant to choose the right temperature for the butter. It should be soft and pliable. Only in this way will it mix with other components.
If a peak has formed in the center, resembling a volcano, then you have used too hard butter.
If you add a blend incorrectly, only eggs, flour, and sugar will mix. Because of this, a peak forms in the center, around which there will be a dense sugar crust.
Oven temperature
The inside of the cupcakes will burn if you set the baking temperature incorrectly. On average, they should be around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If you exceed the values, the top will burn, and the inside of the cupcakes will be damp.
Reasons for drowning cupcakes
Determining the fact that the perfect cupcake is sinking is quite simple.
The edges will rise higher than the center. This happens for several reasons, which will be discussed below.
Mixing
Cupcakes sinking can be if you knead the dough too much. As already mentioned, because of this, air penetrates inside.
They will be fluffy while baking. However, upon contact with air, they will sink and separate from the cupcake liner.
Insufficient baking
It is not uncommon for cupcakes to sink if insufficient baking time is set. On average, they take about 20 minutes to cook.
You can then test for doneness with your finger or a toothpick. When pressed, they should be springy. If they drown, it is better to cook them within a minute.
Early opening of the oven
If you do this, the temperature inside the oven will drop dramatically. You need to bake cupcakes in a well-heated oven.
As mentioned, the temperature inside should be 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a thermometer to accurately measure temperature.
Too much baking powder
Cupcakes can sink if too many baking powders are added to the cupcake batter. If you are using self-rising flour, do not add extra baking powder.
Causes of cupcake density
It is not uncommon for cupcakes to be dense and lack a light, sponge-like texture. This can happen for various reasons, which will be discussed below.
Butter
As you know, it is better to use room-temperature butter.
However, it is important to understand that the accuracy of the term is in doubt because everything depends on the climate of the region. Room-temperature butter should be used if it is soft, not liquid, or solid. Otherwise, you can have dense cupcakes.
Mixing
If the cupcake batter is overmixed, it will become white and airy. However, after baking, the cupcakes will get firmer and fall.
Not enough baking powders
It is better to use self-rising flour or baking soda. This makes it easier for you to keep track of the ratio of components.
If you are using flour and baking powders, be sure to measure the ingredients correctly.
Causes of dry cupcakes
It’s not uncommon for people to run into a problem when cupcakes get too dry. They acquire a dark crust and may fall apart. This can happen for several reasons, which will be discussed below.
Long time in the oven
If you overbake the cake, it will become dry. This can also happen if the recommended baking temperature is exceeded. As you know, some models of ovens can heat up a little more intensely than shown on the dial. This is often the case with convection ovens.
That is why, before baking cupcakes, you should familiarize yourself with the features of the oven.
This is the only way you can bake perfect cupcakes that will differ in the desired airiness. In order not to experiment, it makes sense to use a special thermometer. It gives accurate results, unlike a watch face.
Excessive being in shape
If the cupcakes are baked, and you take them out of the baking dish, you should leave them in the mold for a few minutes. This is enough to cool them down a bit. If you keep the dessert in the cupcake liners for too long, it will dry out. This is because the heat from the cupcake liners will help remove moisture.
It will take 5 minutes for the perfect cupcakes to cool down. Then you can transfer them to a special cooling rack.
Late glazing
Once the perfect cupcakes are cool, you need to frost them. If they are left uncovered for a long time, they will become dry. Thanks to the icing, the inside of the dessert will be moist. After all, the cream cheese frosting is a protective barrier against the negative effects of air.
How to raise cupcakes?
As mentioned, the perfect cupcakes are fluffy and light in texture. The crumb should have an even structure. The top should have a soft curve. The outer part should have a golden hue, and the main part should spring back when pressed.
Be prepared for the fact that it is quite difficult to achieve the perfect cupcake the first time. You will have to develop your strategy. However, there are a few basic parameters that you should pay attention to for the perfect cupcakes to rise. More on this will be discussed later.
Creaming method
Some cupcake recipes call for whipping cream. However, there are options when you want to beat everything at once. The essence of the creaming method is that butter is whipped with sugar, eggs, and dry ingredients.
The main purpose of using butter and sugar is to create an airy texture that will rise when heated. If you use the method of whipping cream, then sugar and butter are first whipped, after which the remaining components are introduced in turn.
This leads to the fact that you mix the cupcake batter too actively and for a long time. The creaming method is best suited for perfect cupcakes because it allows you to save the necessary amount of air. All components are mixed, and of which the dough will not be kneaded for too long.
Mixing time
As already mentioned several times, it is impossible to knead the dough for too long and intensively. That is why you should use the creaming method. You need to work until the ingredients reach a uniform texture and combine into a single whole.
On average, try to knead the dough for no more than 1.5-2 minutes. You can work with both hands and a stand mixer. Kneading should be carried out until the dough acquires a pleasant pale shade.
For the cupcakes to rise well and have the perfect texture, it is very important to keep track of the time when you knead the dough. After just a few batches of cupcakes, you’ll know exactly how long it takes, and you won’t have to use a clock.
Proper temperature of ingredients
For the perfect cupcakes to rise, the ingredients must be at the correct temperature. Eggs and butter should be warmed to room temperature before use. Try to use room-temperature butter only if it will have a pleasantly soft consistency.
Make sure it doesn’t get too soft and slippery. Otherwise, a too-oily texture is formed, due to which the butter does not have any resistance. If it sticks to your fingers, it’s best not to use it.
The same applies to the use of too-hard butter, which, when pressed, retains its texture. Solid butter will be very difficult to mix with the rest of the ingredients. Because of this, oily lumps form in the dough, which is impossible to break.
Eggs should also be at room temperature. Especially when it comes to baking. They decompose much faster than cold eggs from the refrigerator. This makes it much easier for you to knead the dough.
Flour
If you’re making vanilla cupcakes, you can combine self-rising flour and a little baking soda. Thanks to this, the cake will rise perfectly. This way, you don’t have to worry about adding too much or too little flour.
Oven temperature
The rise and texture of perfect cupcakes are greatly influenced by oven temperature. The indicator must be around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You need to understand that the temperature inside may differ from the indicators indicated on the dial.
If you have any doubts about the correct temperature, it is better to spend money and get a quality thermometer designed for the oven. This allows you to know exactly what temperature the oven is heating to.
A thermometer is useful for more than just baking cakes. You can use it when baking other foods or dishes. Put the cupcakes only in the oven that is fully heated to the desired temperature. This is the only way you can ensure that the cupcakes rise.
FAQ
When it comes to cupcake recipes, there are a lot of questions. The answers to them will be presented below.
How do you get cupcakes to rise evenly?
If you only have a conventional oven, then it may get too hot. As mentioned, baking cupcakes should be at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The optimal baking time is 20 minutes. However, the exact timing depends on the characteristics of your oven.
What is the secret to fluffy cupcakes?
For the cupcakes to be fluffy and moist inside, there must be air bubbles in the dough. When heated, they will expand, due to which the dough will rise. If you mix the dough too much, these bubbles will burst.
This makes your cake more brick-like in texture. Try to knead the dough at low speed, and for only 2 minutes. This allows you to achieve the best results.
Why are my cupcakes not rising evenly?
If you notice that the cupcakes are not rising, this may be due to uneven heating. Therefore, you should turn off the fan, and reduce the temperature by a quarter. If the cupcakes crack and rise on only one side, the oven is too hot.
It’s not uncommon for cupcakes not to rise if you’ve used the wrong amount of ingredients. It can also happen if the ingredients were cold.
Why are my cupcakes flat on top?
Flat tops on delicious cupcakes can form for a variety of reasons. The main ones are the wrong oven temperature, an excessive amount of dough in the cupcake liners, or the wrong amount of baking powder.
Results
As you can see, it’s easy to make fluffy and raised cupcakes. You can decorate it with ice cream and enjoy it with an ice cream scoop. However, it is important to pay attention to the temperature of the oven, the quantity, and temperature of the ingredients, as well as the intensity of kneading the dough. Attentiveness and patience are the keys to success.
