After several requests from friends all over the world, the cupcake recipe that I am going to post today is from memory and not from a cookbook.
The master recipe is from one of the world's best cooks - our Auntie Elvira.
It is such a versatile recipe that we can go along adding our own 'twists' and the cupcakes still turn out delicious.
Over the years, I have taken so many liberties with this recipe that it would even baffle Auntie Elvira. Please don't tell her that I once even used bottle gourd instead of the original carrot that starred in her blockbuster recipe.
And now presenting the ingredient credits (in the order of appearance):
1 cup vegetable oil / butter
1 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla essence (optional)
1 1/2 cup plain flour (we use chappati atta!)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup grated carrots (or grated apple/mashed banana... or any other fruit you like!)
Camera, Lights, Action! - In other words, Method:
Preheat oven to 180 C. (Cannot find the '0' for 'degree' on this keypad.)
Keep paper cupcake moulds ready in a baking tray. If using a cupcake tray, grease it with butter/oil.
We are going to make two mixtures - Wet and Dry.
Wet mixture:
Mix oil/butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
Add eggs, mix.
Add vanilla essence, mix.
Dry mixture:
In another bowl, sieve flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
Now, add the Dry mixture spoon by spoon to the Wet mixture. Mix well after each spoonful.
Lastly add grated carrots and mix.
Spoon out the mixture into the cupcake moulds.
Set the tray in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
(Makes 18)
Top tips compiled by Auntie Elvira (Director), Avanti, her daughter, and yours truly (Asst. Directors), Anna (Art Director):
1) If making a loaf cake, simply pour the mixture into a greased loaf tin and bake for 45-50 minutes.
2) If adding nuts, dust them with the Dry mixture and add them in the end.
3) Add your cinnamon powder or your favourite spice powder instead of vanilla essence for amazing aroma. We use a Dutch spice mixture called Speculaas.
4) Substitute carrots with mashed banana, grated pineapple, apple, orange, lemon, dates, coconut, cucumber, grapes, blueberries....
Come on, you can be imaginative too! Share your experiments with us too.
5) Don't mix for too long.
6) For simple icing, mix rose water and icing sugar and pour on cakes after baking.
7) Decorate with 'hundreds and thousands' (featured on top of the cupcakes in the above picture), chocolate scrapings, etc.
8) If you want to keep it simple, just dust icing sugar on top for an elegant finish.
9) Freeze any extras.
10) Share!
(Picture courtesy: Anna Lemos)
