Personally, the best cupcakes I have ever tasted are those that were made at home, not at those high-profile bakeries that jack up the prices of the cupcakes just because they have become “famous.” For me, nothing spoils the flavor of cupcakes more than the notion that you would have to pay a ridiculous amount just for one mini-cake.

Most people I know who have the slightest passion for baking has the humble cupcake as their starting point. Here they perfected just how much sugar should be put in the batter so that it wouldn’t be nauseatingly sweet nor frustratingly bland. And they seemed to enjoy themselves making them too! So I thought, why not try making it for myself? And I resolved to do it the “hard way,” not utilizing one of those “easy-bake, instant batter” products sold at many stores.

For a first-timer, my attempt was, well, passable. I had an insane amount of mess to clean up, because my batter overflowed and I had too much fun mixing frosting’s and icing. But it was all worth it. At least I can say I have some experience in baking.

Basically, if you want to make cupcakes, prepare your kitchen, prepare your tools, and don’t forget to have fun and be creative with the frosting. The most basic cupcakes contains only butter, confectioner’s sugar, flour (preferably the self-raising ones), and eggs. All the rest are tasty additions to make your cupcake stand out. The proportions are up to you, so I highly encourage you to experiment. As for tools, you will need a bowl, a beater, an oven, and a cake pan.