Cupcakes are a popular treat, better than store-bought cakes and muffins. So, let’s make your own stuff. When you bake cupcakes at home, you can easily customize them to your preferences and dietary needs, and control what goes into them. While cupcakes are traditionally made with frosting, you can substitute it with powdered sugar, or honey to make a healthier version. Still, the best cupcakes are made with a fluffy white cupcake batter and a sweet, creamy buttercream frosting.

There’s nothing like some freshly baked cupcakes, cookies, and more to brighten up any celebration. However, if you want to bake the best cupcakes, you should know a few things.

Here are the Tips for Baking the Best Cupcakes:

Cupcakes Are Individual Desserts. 

They also have individual baking times. When baking cupcakes, you need to be aware that they may need different amounts of time than larger cakes. The cupcakes themselves should take 20 to 25 minutes, but you may need to allow more time if you’ve filled them with cream or custard, which will raise the batter’s temperature. To keep cupcakes moist, always choose quick-rising cake mixes, and fill the cupcakes no more than two-thirds full.

Do Not Over-Beat the Batter.

When you think about baking cupcakes, you probably think of big, colorful, and sugary treats. And while those cupcakes are great, today’s cupcake lovers prefer a little more substance, with a lighter, fluffier texture. So how do you make cupcakes that are not only delicious but also light and fluffy? The key is not to over-beat the batter. Mix the dry and wet ingredients together, but be extra careful not to overmix, as that will lead to tough cupcakes.

Make Use of Room Temperature Ingredients. 

When you get to the recipe for the best cupcakes, start with good-quality ingredients. If possible, get the butter and chocolate at room temperature. It will make the recipe better and easier to work with.

Obey the Instructions in the Recipe.

Baking cupcakes can be a fun project, but it also requires a certain amount of precision. When baking cupcakes, you need to make sure you use the correct amount of ingredients and utilize the most important ingredient of all: a recipe. Failing to follow a recipe can lead to cupcakes that are either undercooked or overcooked—or both.

Appropriately Fill Cupcake Pans.

Cupcakes come in all shapes and sizes, but you want to make sure they’re actually cupcakes if you’re baking them. How do you accomplish this? Find a cupcake pan that properly holds the batter to make cupcakes with a rounded top and a domed center. You can find cupcake pans in different sizes.

Use cupcake liners and foil liners.

It’s good to know that the cupcake liners are non-stick. This prevents the cupcakes from sticking to the pan and making them hard to remove. Cupcake liners are the perfect way to prevent your cupcakes from sticking to the pan. Prepare them by placing them in the microwave for 10 seconds; then, apply a little cooking spray to each liner.

Use cupcake liners as a guide. 

Always remember to fill the cupcake liners to 90 percent capacity. This keeps the cupcakes from rising too high and spilling over the sides.

Use a baking thermometer. 

This keeps the cupcakes from burning at the bottom.

Use parchment paper.

Paper cupcake liners are a great alternative to traditional foil liners. Use parchment paper when baking cupcakes (as well as muffins, cookies, and other baked goods).

Use flour to help make cupcakes moist.

Flour is gluten-free and a great addition to your cupcake recipes. You’ll want to use two cups of all-purpose flour for every cup of gluten-free flour you use.

Use a mixer to mix up cupcakes.

When it comes to baking, using an electric mixer can make a difference. It will mix all the ingredients—including the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients—ensuring you get a smooth batter. So, you can reduce the amount of struggle and effort required when baking. Simply sit down and mix the ingredients. For better results, you can also let the mixer do all of the work. But you need to make sure to follow the instructions on the mixer, as that is the only way to ensure that you get the best results.

Baking cupcakes can be a bit of a challenge. It’s not just about shopping for ingredients, reading recipes, and cutting up ingredients; you have to figure out how much of each ingredient to use, how far in advance to bake, and how much to frost. But cupcakes don’t have to be so hard to make either; with the right tips, the right steps, and the right ingredients, you can make the best cupcakes ever.