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stella1922 badge: Community Member

cakes

what is the best basic recipe for baking birthday cakes and cupcakes

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atrage
  • Reply by atrage on February 02, 2012 at 12:50 pm
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Send a few details about what kind of cakes you would like to see!

mrscindy
  • Reply by mrscindy on February 02, 2012 at 1:05 pm
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Are you looking for a recipe for a child's cake or for an adult? And what kind of cake? White? Yellow? Chocolate? Flavored, like carrot or Italian cream?

As you can see, you have asked an extremely open ended question. There are many, many variables. If you give us more information, maybe we can make some suggestions.

~Cindy

Mike Nolan
  • Reply by Mike Nolan on February 03, 2012 at 12:28 am
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I may be in the minority here again, but I don't think that what makes for a good 'birthday' (or layer) cake always makes for a good cupcake. The small size of a cupcake is best made from a different type of cake batter.

My personal favorite birthday cake (at the moment) is a burnt sugar cake made with Lyle's Golden Syrup instead of burnt sugar syrup. This is one we've sent in to my wife's office a few times, NOBODY guesses the flavor!

My wife prefers chocolate 'cake in the pan' or what some call a Crazy cake.

Our younger son has taken to asking for a 'white cake' on his birthday, we found a WASC recipe that he likes. (There's also a very good 'white cake' recipe in the KAF Baker's Companion book.)

PaddyL
  • Reply by PaddyL on February 02, 2012 at 11:33 pm
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I used to make a genoise for most of my birthday cakes, but lately have switched to buttermilk cakes because we love the consistency. The best cupcakes I make are from a buttermilk cupcake recipe, not quite the same as the layer cake. Buttermilk, I find, makes the tenderest cake.

mrscindy
  • Reply by mrscindy on February 03, 2012 at 8:43 am
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Do you have the recipes posted, Paddy? Would love to have them. I've started making cupcakes for the two of us, just because it's so much easier to freeze the overage and eat just a couple.

Would love the recipes for both. I have a birthday party coming up for a friend. The cake would be perfect.

~Cindy

ZenSojourner

I got 6" cake pans for similar reasons. Haven't broken them in yet ... lots of doctors appointments the last couple of weeks had me out and about and a bit run down. Maybe soon...

BTW, what's "WASC"?

Mike Nolan
  • Reply by Mike Nolan on February 04, 2012 at 8:54 pm
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WASC - White Almond Sour Cream cake, which is often used for wedding cakes.

PaddyL
  • Reply by PaddyL on February 05, 2012 at 12:10 am
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mrscindy, I'll post the recipes tomorrow sometime. I've done so much today that I'm hopelessly tired!

mrscindy
  • Reply by mrscindy on February 05, 2012 at 8:58 pm
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Paddy, REST!!!! Much more important than recipes. When you get a chance AND feel like it. No big rush! Thanks!

~Cindy

mrscindy
  • Reply by mrscindy on February 05, 2012 at 9:03 pm
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Have we ever heard anything from stella1922?

~Cindy

PaddyL
  • Reply by PaddyL on February 06, 2012 at 10:59 pm
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I've just added the cupcake recipe, buttermilk cupcakes, to the recipe page. I think it would be under member recipes, or my recipes, I'm not sure. It's the lightest cupcake I have ever made.

ZenSojourner

Here:

http://community.kingarthurflour.com/content/buttermilk-cupcakes

They are under your recipes AND the "recipes" forum.

They're on my list. Now if I could just remember not to lose the list again ...