Important Cupcake Making Instructions

1. Add coffee to all your chocolate cupcakes. It doesn't have to be much, but it has to be at least 2 tablespoons per dozen cupcakes. You can substitute this amount for other liquids in your recipe, such as water or milk.

2. Don't skimp on the vanilla! Especially for vanilla cupcakes, you should be adding 1 tablespoon of vanilla instead of the measly teaspoon called for in most recipes.

3. Frosting. This is important. You don't want your frosting greasy and gritty. To make the best, most creamy vanilla frosting ever, this is what you do: Add about a 1/4 cup Marshmallow Fluff (comes in a jar near the marshmallows) or melted marshmallows (microwave - 10- 20 seconds) to a butter-based frosting recipe. Don't you dare use shortening (this is where the greasy mouth-feel comes in, yuck!). Be frivolous and careless with the vanilla here too. You won't be sorry.

4.  Use color in your frosting! Is it springtime? Add a few drops of blue, green or pink. Fall? A deep orange, brown or green would be nice. You get the idea. White is boring, both on your walls and on your cupcakes. Don't be like that.

5. Very important...don't overbake! Only bake until the middle of a cupcake is springy and a toothpick comes out with crumbs on it. Don't bake until your toothpick comes out clean and the sides of the cupcakes come off the sides of the pan...that spells dry and overdone. Leave the cupcakes in the pan for about 5 minutes after they come out of the oven and they will cook a little more and you'll also be able to handle them easier.

Let the cupcakes completely cool before frosting or you will have a runny mess on your hands.

6. To frost the most beautiful cupcakes- don't use a boring old butter knife-that's old school. Put the frosting in a ziploc sandwich bag and cut off a small corner. Squish the frosting through the hole. I like to start on the outer edge of the cupcake and swirl around until I get to the middle. This way, I have a nice little curly-q on the top. If you're going to add sprinkles, do it quickly before the frosting sets and they don't stick.

For a cool frosting effect, put a few drops of food coloring in the ziploc bag before you add the frosting. The frosting can be white or a different color. Try it!

7.  For the best cupcake experience, EAT WITH A SMILE AND GIVE ONE TO SOMEONE YOU <3<3