Cupcakes

From dainty selections to oversize concoctions, cupcakes are crowd-pleasing desserts. Look here for creative ideas to make the perfect cupcake for any occasion and think outside the cake-mix box. Vanilla cupcakes and chocolate cupcakes are especially versatile; our recipes offer flavor inspiration for new twists on these old standbys. Once you've mastered the basics, try something more special, such as filled cupcakes and fancifully decorated cupcakes for Halloween, Christmas, and baby or wedding showers. You'll discover how to turn your ordinary cupcakes into something extraordinary with how-tos on decorating with piped frosting and custom-crafting-inspired birthday cupcakes for the guest of honor. Once you've mastered cupcakes, it's time to tackle homemade frostings, such as our homemade butter version that's delicious spread over cupcakes and cakes alike. If you already have a favorite cake recipe, it can be easily altered for cupcakes; just follow our four-step process.