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.

Nigella Lawson's super simple cup cake recipe

Nigella Lawson's super simple cup cake recipe

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

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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 :D

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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