Nigella’s Easy Cup cake Recipe
Posted on 11. Mar, 2009 by Maya in Food
These days, I’ve come to the point where I have quit buying recipe books. Not because of the economy (hell, good or bad economy, I must have my books). Not because I am running out of shelf space for all my recipe books, Flavours magazines and crochet/knit books.
I got fed-up coz sometimes recipes from books don’t turn out that great.
That’s why I always scout about for recipes especially tried-and-tested ones.
Last week, I was channel-surfing and chanced upon a repeat of Nigella Lawson’s show. Besides her incredibly sexy (buxomy) look, this woman can cook. And she makes it so easy that everyone wants to don an apron and be the domestic goddess.
She shared a cupcake recipe during that show and I jotted down the ingredients. This is a food processor recipe which means if you have one, it’s faster to make. I don’t so I have to go the usual way – use the electric mixer but even so, this cupcake recipe takes less than 20 minutes to mix up. (I know, I usually preheat my oven for 20 minutes and when the beeper rings, I’m usually done with my batter.)
This recipe makes 12 cup cakes.
Batter mixing time: 10 mins
Baking time per tray of 6 cup cakes: 15-20 mins at 160 degree Centigrade
Nigella Lawson’s Cup Cake Recipe
125 gm butter (I use Anchor)
125 gm sugar
125 gm plain flour (mixed with 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 tbsp milk (I use powdered milk mixed with some water)
12 cup cake casings
Optional – raisins, choc chips
First, cream butter and sugar. Make sure butter is soft so you spend less time creaming it. Once this mixture becomes fluffy and pale yellow, add in eggs, one at a time. Mix well (I use the electric mixer throughout). Then add vanilla essence. Add in half the flour. Then add some milk. Put in remaining flour and milk and mix on medium speed till all combined.
You can now add raisins or choc chips if you want or you can leave it plain (and make your own butter cream or frosting for the cup cakes).
Fill cup cake casings about 3/4 with batter each. The batter will be enough for 12 casings.
Bake in a 160 degree Centigrade oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until a skewer poked into the cake comes out clean. (Pre-heat oven for 20 minutes before you start mixing your cake batter)
That’s it! And I’ve baked these twice already and both times turned out well. They’re moist, not too sweet and with a rich buttery taste.
I am a cup cake monster…like Cookie Monster
If you want to make more, just double up the ingredients. Say if you want to make 24 cup cakes, then you need twice as much of everything (4 eggs, 250 gm butter, 250 flour, etc).
If you have a food processor, the method is the same. Put butter and sugar and whiz, then eggs, then vanilla then flour then milk and flour again.
More helpful recipe posts:
Best banana cake ever
Making bread tips
Or how to take the easy way out and order from a good baker


36 Comments
Marirama
16. Mar, 2009
Hi Maya,
These cup cakes look sooo delicious. I love cup cakes, so does my family.
Cheers,
Marirama
Ju Ann
17. Mar, 2009
Hey thansk for sharing this in such a easy to read way! I wish I have an oven but it won’t be long before I get my own house and MY OWN KICKASS OVEN! Lol!
Maya
18. Mar, 2009
Ju Ann — Yes, I was like you once. I didn’t have an oven so I went out to get a cheap one from Tesco. Don’t get the most expensive one coz you never know if the baking thing is a phase or a longterm love. Once you get the hang of baking, then you can consider buying the top of the range oven.
Maya
18. Mar, 2009
Marirama — Great to know you. Try baking them and let me know?
weDa
22. Apr, 2009
Hi Maya,
I tried the recipe too and it turned out great! Thanks for sharing the recipe
p.s.: Love your writings
Maya
22. Apr, 2009
Wahida – thanks for the kind words. Yes, Nigella’s recipe is such a success right? Love the designs on your cupcakes too and of course their fabulous names.
Atheena
20. Jul, 2009
Hi Maya, i found your blog and tried this cupcake yesterday. It was my first attempt in making cupcakes. It turned great & awesome! Thank you ..
Maya
20. Jul, 2009
Hi Atheena: Cool! It’s great that so many people who used the recipe found it easy and the results super delicious. Not thanks to me, but thanks to Nigella the fab domestic goddess.
Cheryl
06. Aug, 2009
Hey Maya, thank you so much for your lovely cupcakes recipe which you shared with us. It’s easy to bake and delicious. Since, you are into food, I want to share with you this blog which I have came across.. http://gregs1950.blogspot.com. This site sells very delicious and special home baked pies and cakes. So far, I have tried their salmon spinach pie and durian cake and it’s awesome! can’t believe I actually can find great food on the net..hehehe keep it up! cheers
Maya
06. Aug, 2009
Hi Cheryl! Thanks for your comments. Haha, it’s not my recipe but Nigella Lawson so I think we should all love her for her amazingly simple cupcakes. I have not been watching Nigella Bites for sometime now but each time I do, I love looking at her! She’s so voluptuous! And her recipes are just perfect for lazy cooks like me. I like fast and quick cakes. I checked out Gregs Blog…unfortunately they are in KL! Otherwise I would order the pies. Looks yummy. Come back soon!
Joyce
03. Sep, 2009
Hi Maya,
Thanks for sharing this simple and yet yummy recipe:-)….My kids just loves them!
I am looking forward to trying your banana cake recipe too soon!
Maya
03. Sep, 2009
Hi Joyce! Great to know the recipe was a success. With the basic cupcake recipe you can modify by adding other goodies like choc chips, walnuts, etc if you like. Yup, yup, try the banana cake recipe. It’s a real winner!
grace
03. Dec, 2009
it’s my first time making cupcakes and it turn out amazing.. haha.. im gonna start making those banana cake now..
mohd fithri
03. Dec, 2009
hai..maya .rasa seronok mencube resepi u .Sedap dan lazat. Kalau ada resepi yang best foward pd saya. terima kasih.
Maya
04. Dec, 2009
Grace: Glad to hear of your success in making these cupcakes.
Yup, try the banana cake recipe.
syahrul
28. Dec, 2009
hi Maya, just brought Oven and Cake Mixer from my mums house .. she’s no longer into baking .. i’ll giv a try with ur cup cakes recipe from Nigella .. who knows frens and colleague willl like it .. may consider for part timer job then
wawa
03. Jan, 2010
tried it tonight and it turned out great with less effort. thanks for the recipes though it is nigella’s, but you review is really helpful.
thanks
Maya
04. Jan, 2010
Hi Wawa: Haha, thanks girl. I like your cakes too, the ones you feature on your blog. I’m not big on wilton or anything like that but I always look out for simple cakes!
Maya
04. Jan, 2010
Good luck! Based on people who have tried this recipe, it’s a sure winner!
dolphing
13. Jan, 2010
Hi Maya, I would like to recommend my favourite Cream Cheese Muffin to you, http://www.hongkitchen.com/2009/03/cheese-muffin.html . It is easy to prepare as well ^^
ila
19. Jan, 2010
hi maya..
i;m gonna try out this recipe today..hope it turn out well
btw,nice blog here..
Maya
26. Jan, 2010
Hi Ila – Yes, try and let me know how it turned out.
khairil
01. Feb, 2010
hi…ada tak resepi coca-cola cupcake?
Maya
08. Feb, 2010
Hi there: Nope, I don’t have this recipe. Will look out for it though. Interesting combination. I have heard of Coca Cola Chicken Wings before but not cupcakes.
aisyah
05. Mar, 2010
i bake cupcake 3 times but all ‘hancur’…hehe..should blame myself…i x ikut sukatan…suka hati……i’ll try yours then….thanks…
aisyah
05. Mar, 2010
hello maya…i bake cupcake 3 times but all ‘hancur’…hehe..should blame myself…i x ikut sukatan…suka hati……i’ll try yours then….thanks…
Maya
06. Mar, 2010
Sorry to hear that. Try with exact measurements and I am sure it will turn out great! Happy experimenting. I myself have used this recipe a few times now and so have independent testers (haha,see the long list of comments here) and it should be a fairly easy recipe with outstanding results.
Leen
29. Mar, 2010
hai maya…nak tanya, this recipe adakah cake itu akan grip the paper cup?…i mean i always fail when using paperliners di mana paperliners tu akan terbuka dan tak akan melekat pada kek…what about this recipe?
Maya
02. Apr, 2010
Hi Leen: Yes this cake will ‘grip’ the cupcake liner but it comes off easily when you peel it off after baking. Do try it and let me know.
Anne
02. May, 2010
Very delicious! Thanks for Cup Cake recipe. I will try it as soon as possible. I hope my daughter will enjoy this recipe. Thanks.
jess
04. Jun, 2010
hi,i wanna try to make these lovely cupcake too. But i’m little confused about the ‘plain flour’. I can get those from supermarket is it? Can i use self raising flour too?? Please help. Thank alot
Maya
07. Jun, 2010
Jess – yes you can buy plain flour from the supermarket. It is usually sold as tepung gandum or wheat flour. If I am not wrong, you can substitute with self raising flour. If you do that, you can omit adding the baking powder and bicarbonate soda. Happy baking and please let us know the results of this recipe.
rita
22. Jun, 2010
hi maya.. i just found your blog and i’m gonna try your simply delicious cup cake tomorrow. it’ll be my 1st own baked cupcakes.. just bought new oven n cake mixer.he3.. hope it’ll be successful..
Maya
22. Jun, 2010
Hi Rita: Yes do try it and let me know the results.
Based on the good results everyone’s had here, I bet your cupcakes will be successful too.
chrisya
20. Jul, 2010
hi… maya, just came across your blog while surfing for cup cake recipes…. sounds easy hope it will turn out well for me too!
Maya
20. Jul, 2010
Chrisya – I am sure it will. Let me know the results ya.
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