Important Tip

It's very important not to leave warm cupcakez in the pan or the cupcakez will become soggy.

Raspberry Cupcakez

Makes 12 cupcakez

Ingredients
1 pint of raspberries (Keep an extra 12 aside)
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
3/4 cups and 3 tablespoons of sugar
1 stick of butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cups cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cups milk

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Line cupcakez pan with liners.
3. In a small bowl, smash the raspberries (leave 12 extra aside) with lemon juice and 1 tablespoon sugar. Strain and set aside.
4. Mix the butter with the remaining sugar together until light and fluffy.
5. Add the eggs one at a time and add the vanilla.
6. In a seperate bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
7. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and the sugar mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and beggining and ending with the flour. Beat until combined after each addition.
8. Add the raspberry mixture. Mix until combined.
9. Fill lined cupcakez pan 2/3 full with the cupcakez batter.
10. Place a raspberry in the center of each cupcakez.
11. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Use a toothpick to check if cooked.
12. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool.
13. Once cool, frost with Pink Raspberry Buttercream Frosting.

Recipe From: Recipe For Trouble
By: Sheryl Berk and Carrie Berk

How To Say "I Love You" With Cupcakez

1.  Think about the person: What do they like? What are their favourite flavours, colours, and hobbies? Bake a cupcakez that is as special and unique as the are. For example, if your sister likes pink and takes ballet, why not bake her a pink berry cupcake and top it with ballet slippers made from fondant? If you don't want to make your own toppers, you can find lots of fun ones in all shapes at craft and cooking stores. Or simplely print out a picture on your home computer, glue it to card stock, and attach it to with a small piece of tape to a tooth pick. Instant cupcakez decoration.
2. Spell it out. I love mini cupcakez topped with simple fondant letters. You can use mini cookie cutters that come in alphabet letters to punch out your message. Use on letter per cupcakez, then make your display on a platter or a tabletop. Spell out "LOVE YOU", "XOXO", or even "YOU ROCK".
3. Gift a goodie. Pack a cupcakez in a pretty cardboard box with a plastic food container topped with a bow. you can give it to a friend or save it for a special occasion or holiday. Home-baked gifts are the best. They show you took the time to bake them and really care.
4. Use heart-shaped cupcakez pans to bake cupcakez. You can find inexpensive ones in cooking and craft store or even on Amazon. (www.amazon.com). If they're silicon, you'll have no problem popping out your cupcakez. If the pan is metal, coat it with nonstick spray, then bake and frost. Use a little gel icing to write a message on the heart. I love writing "text messages" on mine: UR GR8, 4EVER, QT, etc.
5. Serve someone a cupcakez in bed. I love doing this for my parents on Mother's or Father's Day. Plate a pretty cupcakez you've bought or made and serve it with a glass of milk and a card for the occasion. It's a sweet way to show how much you appreciate them and that you realize they need a little R&R.
6. Send a DIY cupcakez kit. Use plastic zipper bags to pack all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, sprinkles, baking soda, etc.). Type or write up the recipe, and include pretty wrappers, decorative cupcake picks, even piping bags, and tips if you want to be fancy. Then send your kit to someone for a special day celebration. Baking cupcakez is as much fun as eating them.

Tips From: The Cupcake Club Recipe For Trouble
By: Sheryl Berk and Carrie Berk (The tips are by Carrie only)

Ten Tips For Perfect Cupcakez

1. Make sure you have all the ingredients. Read the whole list and check off everything carefully. Sometimes a recipe may call for whole milk and you only have skim in the fridge. Using skim can make a big difference in the way the cupcakez taste.
2. Fill your cupcakez with something fun. I like to put a surprise in the middle of my cupcakez; like frosting in a bright green colour or a chocolate fudge that oozes out when you take a bite. That way, you never know what your going to get.
3. Piping tips can be a fun way to get a great look for your frosting. Try out your tip before you use it on a cupcakez, though sometimes it will make a pattern you don't love. My favourite is a star tip.
4. Use real fruit in your cupcakez. My favourites are bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and apple. They can make a plain vanilla cupcakez taste yummy and it's healthier too.
5. Don't pile too much frosting on your cupcakez. I don't like a mountain on mine. I think your should be able to taste both the cake and the frosting, not just the frosting.
6. Don't forget to dress up your cupcakez. I love pretty wrappers, toppers, picks, sprinkles, and coloured sugar. I also love making things out of fondant - it looks so professional.
7. Let your cupcakez cool before you frost them. If you don't, the icing will melt and roll of the cupcakez and you'll have a sticky mess.
8. If you're using a piping bag, fasten the top with a rubber band or a clip. Otherwise the frosting squeezes out the top, and you have to lick it off your hands. (Well, not a bad thing...)
9. Pipe in one smooth circular motion - not little squeezes, which will look uneven. The smoother you go, the more professional your cupcakez will look.
10. Share your cupcakesz It's the best way to get feedback on your recipes and learn what you need to do to improve. Give some cupcakez to your neighbors, your teachers, and your friends, and ask for their critique.

Tips From: The Cupcake Peace, Love, and Cupcakes
By: Sheryl Berk and Carrie Berk (The tips are from only Carrie Berk)