As far as mixes go, I like the chocolate mix from Trader Joes more than other mixes on the market. I'm not as crazy about their yellow cake mix. Both of TJ's frosting mixes - chocolate and white - are superior to the plastic tubs that are sold at the grocery store.

Lemon merengue cupcakes and chocolate graham cracker cupcakes with toasted marshmallow frosting (aka s'mores cupcakes). You can google both if interested.

Anonymous wrote:Our favorite is Ina Garten's coconut cupcakes and cream cheese frosting. It requires 6 sticks of butter, which is probably why they taste good.


http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/coconut-cupcakes-recipe/index.html

I have made these several times and they are divine!!!
Who cares if they are a coronary waiting to happen, as long as you do not over indulge.

Anonymous wrote:Our favorite is Ina Garten's coconut cupcakes and cream cheese frosting. It requires 6 sticks of butter, which is probably why they taste good.


http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/coconut-cupcakes-recipe/index.html

I'm sure they taste divine, but that's not a cupcake, that's coronary waiting to happen...

Our favorite is Ina Garten's coconut cupcakes and cream cheese frosting. It requires 6 sticks of butter, which is probably why they taste good.


http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/coconut-cupcakes-recipe/index.html

For chocolate mixes, use one of the ones that has a chocolate syrup package (whether Nestle or Hershey).

For yellow mixes, use one that you add butter instead of oil.

For white cake mixes, look for ones with pudding in the mix.

These usually come out better than the peers.

Georgetown Cupcake chocolate ganache: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/recipes/2008/11/05/chocolate-squared-cupcakes/

It's a simple recipe (then again, most cupcake recipes are), and the cupcakes are very good.

Is there a boxed mix that is better?

Use a box mix and underbake by a minute on the lowest baking time (keeps moist).
Make the frosting: cream cheese, chocolate, buttercream. Whatever.

Tastes brilliant and 100% homemade.

Wacky cake. There are slight variations in different recipies, but this is the one I use.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/wacky-cake-viii

The cupcakes are moist and don't go stale overnight like some recipies.

This is the frosting recipe. My 5 y.o. and 3 y.o. love it.

http://www.marthastewart.com/862377/cream-cheese-frosting

We do the box cake mix and pour into cupcake tin. Tasty!

DD's birthday is coming up, and she's requested cupcakes. Got a favorite recipe?