Vanilla Cupcakes

I made my first vanilla cupcakes.. Finally! And they turned out to be awesome! Really!

I adapted the recipe from here. I had attended Pooja Dhingra's workshop this year at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival and she shared some really useful techniques. I combined both and made this.

Since I was trying, I kept the quantity to the minimum.

This is a versatile recipe and can be used to make other flavours as well. I am certain this will be loved by kids as well as adults!

Makes: 8 - 10 Preparation Time: 10 mins. Cooking Time: 15 mins.

Ingredients:

¾ cup (100 gms) all purpose flour/maida

¼ cup (60 gms) butter (at room temperature)

¼ cup (60 ml) milk (room temperature or lukewarm)

1/3 cup (80 ml) unflavoured curd/yoghurt

½ cup (70 gms) powdered sugar

1 tsp baking powder

a pinch of baking soda

1 vanilla bean or ½ tsp vanilla essence.

For Chocolate Ganache:

60 gms dark chocolate

2-3 tbsp milk or fresh cream

Method:

1. Sift the flour along with baking powder and baking soda twice. Also sift the powdered sugar. Preheat the oven at 180ºC for 10-15 mins.

2. Mix the milk and curd in a separate bowl with a spoon or a fork ensuring there are no lumps. (Do not blend)

3. In a separate bowl, take the butter and sugar and whisk until creamy and fluffy. Do this for about 2-3 mins or until you feel its light.

4. Now you can slit the vanilla bean and scrape the extract and mix it into this mixture. Alternately, you may add the vanilla essence. Incorporate the flavour into this mixture by whisking for another 30 seconds. 

5. Now, add just 1/3 of the flour mixture to this butter-sugar mix. Whisk to ensure its mixed well. Then add 1/3 of the milk and curd mix. Whisk until the lumps disappear. Now add the flour, whisk, milk-curd, whisk, Repeat. 

6. The batter should be smooth and thick consistency. 

7. Now fill about ¾ of the cupcake mould with the batter prepared. 

 

8. Let it bake at 180ºC for 15 mins approx. 

9. Meanwhile for the chocolate ganache, cut the chocolate into small pieces or grate them in a small bowl. Heat the milk or cream to simmer and pour it on the chocolate. Let it sit for 2 mins and stir. This is our chocolate ganache. You can use a piping bag to make swirls etc or simply spread it. 

10. The cakes should be ready by now! :) Enjoy the yummy cupcakes!

Notes & Tips:

1. To check if the cake is done, you may insert a toothpick or knife in the centre and if it comes out clean its ready. If not, bake a little longer.

2. Baking time differs from oven to oven. My oven took exactly 15 mins! 

3. Alternately, you can make this as a cake too in a bigger mould.

4. Also, if you do not have an oven, you can make it in the pressure cooker without the whistle. Just put it on low heat for 40-45 mins. Open after the cooker has cooled.

5. You may add different flavours to this like nuts, chocolate chips, non-citrusy fruits, dried fruits etc. 

6. You can make a different icing of butter and sugar by whisking them. Add in the colour of your choice and pipe it onto your cake.