Tips for cupcakes
* Bring all ingredients to room temperature before you start for ease of incorporation. That goes for butter, eggs, milk and other wet ingredients.

* Prepare your moulds by lining with cupcake papers or buttering and flouring before you start.

* Make sure your butter is soft but not melting. Coarsely chop it while it’s cold and place in mixing bowl minutes before you start.

* Scrape down sides of your mixing bowl regularly to prevent lumps in the batter.

* Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each addition. If the mixture shows signs of splitting (it’ll look grainy), add a tablespoon or two of flour to the mixture and stir to combine before you go any further. A split mixture will result in tough cakes.

* Beat butter and sugar, and eggs, in an electric mixer, but stir in dry ingredients and milk by hand to avoid overworking the mixture.

* Fill moulds to 5mm below tops, unless otherwise specified.

* Bake cakes in centre of oven and turn halfway through cooking time to ensure even baking (except for sponge cakes, where an even oven temperature must be maintained).

* Remove cupcakes baked in paper cases from the moulds and place on a wire rack to cool, to avoid sweating.

* Be patient and let cakes cool before icing or filling.