I've been using the Magnolia vanilla cupcake recipe as my "go to" vanilla recipe (I like to add fresh vanilla beans It's simple and its great to modify when I want to try something new... but my problem is when I do the recipe, I never know how the cupcakes will turn out! No matter what pan I use, rotating them in the oven, how long I mix it, whatever, I get a beautiful cupcake next to an ugly melted looking cupcake. I just don't get it

Friday I made 150 cupcakes for a wedding... the red velvet came out fine, the chocolate mocha cupcakes came out fine (both not 1 ugly looking cupcake). But with the Magnolia cupcake I had to make extra so I could weed out the ugly ones.

Maybe its the type of flours and the baking soda/powder combos. Magnolia does use self rising. It's just annoying wasting cupcakes sometimes...I think I might have to start looking for a new "go to" recipe...

I think your right it's probably the baking powder/baking soda combo being affected differently by the difference in temperature in different areas of your oven. I've never heard of magnolia vanilla cupcakes what is the magnolia part if you don't mind sharing?

I also use the Magnolia vanilla cupcake recipe and I also use their chocolate one. I used to have that same problem with both. If you are making larger batches of the cupcakes you have to make sure the items are "well incorporated" and mixed up very well. I found when I got out my spatula and really turned the batter over in the bowl and made sure all ingredients were well mixed, no more one or two messy cupcakes. I watched their youtube video on the red velvet and the person from magnolia mentions that you have to mix the ingredients very well. I also use the ice cream scoop like she does and I don't like to disturb the batter once it's in the pan. That's all I can think of.

I had the same problem with ugly cupcakes. But I found that if you let the batter sit a while before baking, they come out better.

Wow, I had the same problem with that batter. I use Martha Stewart's now - turns out great every time.

Magnolia Bakery is a bakery in NYC that has produced cookbooks. Their cupcakes were featured on Sex and the City. If you google "Magnolia Cupcake Recipe", you will get what you asked for.

Could you tell us if that recipie is listed here? If not, how would we get it? I love to try new recipies!

Thanks to all for your input!

Wow again, Makes you wonder if we got the same recipe they use. Hummm.... You know how some people don't tell you every little detail in a recipe or leave something out.

thanks for all the great responses!! i would have replied sooner, but i guess i forgot to check the "email me" when people respond so i had no idea people responded!

thanks again CCers

Have to say I was severely UNimpressed with MB in NYC. The cupcakes were dry and crumbly. I swear my MStewarts recipe tho...soft, moist, wonderful. And never any baking problems.

Cat

Linda - I looked up the recipe at marthastweart.com ... there were a few there, a white cake and a yellow butter cake... I'm gonna try them out for a cake i'm going this weekend

Just made 8 doz cupcakes with 4 dozen Magnolia vanilla and 4 doz chocolate (magnolia too). Came out perfect. I took them to a summer camp and one girl bit into the vanilla and said "OMG these taste just like that bakery in NYC where they sell cupcakes for like $7 each!". Interesting that the vanilla cupcakes were eaten first before the chocolate.

I never have a messed up cupcake but I mix with my hand mixer user a wire whip in a large bowl. I take a large spatula, turn off the mixer and really turn the batter over and then beat. Because the recipe is already doubled for 24 cupcakes, you have to make sure the ingredients are mixed well. I have even doubled this recipe for 48 cupcakes and it still works. Also, do NOT overbake or they will be too dry.

thanks cheriej