Cupcake Art - Materials and Equipment

Baking cupcakes is pretty easy; it is a combination of butter, sugar, flour, eggs and milk.

Here is a simple recipe:
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, 1 1/3 cups sugar, 3 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup shortening, 1 cup of milk, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 2 large eggs.

Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Mix it before adding the shortening, vanilla extract and milk to the mixture. Mix it for about one minute on medium speed, then add the eggs and mix it well for another 60 to 90 seconds.

In the meantime, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line the cupcake pan and fill the liners until they about 2/3. Bake them for about 20 to 25 minutes; you will know they are ready when you prick a fork or toothpick in the center of the cupcake and it comes out clean.

Allow them to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before removing them and placing them on a rack to cool off completely. Once that is done, the fun of decorating can begin.

You will need frosting and maybe some food coloring as well, if that is the way you want to go. Of course there are many more options and depending on your project, you will need different materials. What those would be is rather difficult for me to determine, but you will know, or find out soon enough.

BTW: does anyone have a recipe for low-calorie cupcakes???