Cupcake 1: Queen Cakes

Although these are perhaps the simplest of cupcakes, they have been popular since the eighteenth century. In those days they were baked in individual fluted pans and not in paper cases as they are today.

Makes 18 cupcakes

8 tbsp butter, softened, or soft margarine

generous ½ cup superfine sugar

2 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 tsp lemon juice

scant 1¼ cups self-rising white flour
¾ cup currants

2-4 tbsp milk, if necessary

* Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C. Put 18 paper baking cases in a muffin pan, or 18 double-layer paper cases on a baking sheet.

* Put the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, then beat in the lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of the flour. Using a metal spoon, fold in the remaining flour and the currants, adding a little milk if necessary to give a soft dropping consistency. Spoon the batter into the paper cases.

* Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until well risen and golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

 

side one:
01. My Fairy King - Queen
02. Caddo Queen - Dobie Gray
03. Sailing - Deerhunter
04. Intermezzo—Op. 177, No. 2 - Johannes Brahms [piano: Elisabeth Leonskaja]
05. Queen of Hearts - Juice Newton
06. L'ilot Du Pacifique - Jacques Yvart
07. Doing All Right - Queen
08. Return of the Frog Queen - Jeremy Enigk 
[ listen ]

side two:
01. Dancing Queen - ABBA
02. Biag Ti Ulila - Bobby Gutierrez
03. Stairway to the Stars - Carmen Cavallaro
04. The Night Comes Down - Queen
05. Queen of Fools - Jenny Darren
06. Jump to It - Aretha Franklin
07. Son and Daughter - Queen
08. Bon Soir Dame - Tony Sandler & Ralph Young
09. Pear - Damien Jurado
10. Sunset - Luke Leilani and His Hawaiians    
[ listen ]

Cupcake 2: Baby Shower w/ Sugared Almonds

Baby shower parties allow your family and friends to share the joy and excitement of welcoming a new life into the world. To frost these cupcakes, you could choose pink for a girl or blue for a boy.

Makes 24 cupcakes

1¾ cups butter, softened

2 cups superfine sugar

finely grated rind of 2 lemons
8 eggs, lightly beaten

generous 2¾ cups self-rising white flour

Topping

3 cups confectioners' sugar

red or blue food coloring (liquid or paste)

24 sugared almonds

* Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C. Put 24 paper muffin cases in a muffin pan.

* Put the butter, sugar, and lemon rind in a bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs, beating well after each addition. Add the flour and, using a large metal spoon, fold into the mixture. Spoon the batter into the paper cases to half-fill them.

* Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until well risen, golden brown, and firm to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

* When the cakes are cold, make the topping. Sift the confectioners' sugar into a bowl. Add 6-8 teaspoons of hot water and stir until the mixture is smooth and thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Dip a skewer into the red or blue food coloring, then stir it into the frosting until it is evenly colored pink or pale blue.

* Spoon the frosting on top of each cupcake. Top each with a sugared almond and let set for about 30 minutes before serving.

 

side one:
01. Teddy Bears' Parade - The Pan-Harmonic Education Society
02. Study No. 1 - Andres Lewin-Richter
03. Cradle Song - Candy Anderson
04. Old MacDonald Had a Girl - Mel Henke & His Orchestra
05. My Favorite Things - Jane Morgan
06. Dardanella - Borrah Minevitch and His Harmonica Rascals
07. Saggy Baggy Elephant - The Pan-Harmonic Education Society
08. Love Me Tonight - Pink Lady
09. Vocalise - Tzvi Avni
10. Wackadack - Otto Waalkes
11. Sleepy Baby - Doris Day  
[ listen ]

side two:
01. Goob Tooblies - Neon Hunk
02. Ten Gallon Hat - Gail Davis w/ Mitch Miller & His Orchestra
03. Banana Peels - Duane Eddy
04. Mommy, Come See - Kay Lande
05. Bowery Bum - Ilhan Mimaroglu
06. Sing Ho For the Life of a Bear - The Pan-Harmonic Education Society
07. The Jolly Coppersmith - The Nickelodeons at Paul Eakins' Gay Nineties Village
08. I Hate Liver - Philip Fox w/ The Jimmy Carroll Orchestra
09. Three Wheels On My Wagon - The New Christy Minstrels
10. Variations for Flute and Electric Sound - Walter Carlos
11. Song Sung Blue - Claude Denjean
12. Little Joe Worm, Son of Glow Worm - The Pan-Harmonic Education Society
13. Giddy Up My Pony - Heintje
14. I've Lost My Mummy - Rolf Harris
15. This Little Light of Mine - Marcy     
[ listen ]

Cupcake 3: Dark & White Fudge

These little, light, and moist cupcakes, with a tempting fudgy chocolate topping, are perfect for serving at any time of day.

Makes 20 cupcakes

scant 1 cup water

6 tbsp butter

generous 3/8 cup superfine sugar

1 tbsp corn syrup
3 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
scant 1 5/8 cups all-purpose flour

2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa

Topping

1¾ oz/50 g semisweet chocolate
4 tbsp water
3½ tbsp butter
1¾ oz/50 g white chocolate

3 cups confectioners' sugar

Chocolate curls

3½ oz/100 g semisweet chocolate

3½ oz/100 g white chocolate

* Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C. Put 20 paper baking cases in 2 muffin pans, or put 20 double-layer paper cases on two baking sheets.

* Put the water, butter, superfine sugar, and syrup in a pan. Heat gently, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved, then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook gently for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.

* Meanwhile, put the milk and vanilla extract in a bowl. Add the baking soda and stir to dissolve. Sift the flour and cocoa into a separate bowl and add the syrup mixture. Stir in the milk and beat until smooth. Spoon the batter into the paper cases until they are two-thirds full.

* Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until well risen and firm to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

* To make the topping, break the semisweet chocolate into a small heatproof bowl, add half the water and half the butter, and set the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water until melted. Stir until smooth and let stand over the water. Using another bowl, repeat with the white chocolate and remaining water and butter. Sift half the sugar into each bowl and beat until smooth and thick. Top the cupcakes up with the frostings. Let set. Serve decorated with chocolate curls made by sharing the chocolate with a potato peeler.

 

side one:
01. White Noise Maker - Frank Black
02. Lonely Feelin' - War
03. Montague Terrace (In Blue) - Scott Walker
04. Ghetto Letto - Barry White
05. Broke a Feeling - Sharks
06. Foxey Lady - Jimi Hendrix Experience
07. Fiddle Riddle - Frank Black
08. Let There Be Funk - Patrice Rushen
[ listen ]

side two:
01. Magdalena - Brandon Flowers
02. She's Everything to Me - Barry White
03. The Ballad of the Sad Young Men - Margaret Whiting
04. I Thought of You Today - Randy Brown
05. Speedy Marie - Frank Black
06. Shotgun - Billy Preston
07. Oh Willy - Nektar
08. Rum and Coke - Barry White
09. Segretamente - Quintetto Vesuvio
[ listen ]

Cupcake 4: Lemon Butterfly

Butterfly cakes may remind you of children's birthday parties, but these attractive, creamy, miniature delights are popular with adults too.

Makes 12 cupcakes

generous ¾ cup self-rising white flour

½ tsp baking powder

8 tbsp soft margarine

generous ½ cup superfine sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten
finely grated rind of ½ lemon
2 tbsp milk

confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Lemon filling

6 tbsp butter, softened

1½ cups confectioners' sugar

1 tbsp lemon juice

* Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C. Put 12 paper baking cases in a muffin pan, or put 12 double-layer paper cases on a baking sheet.

* Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Add the margarine, sugar, eggs, lemon rind, and milk and, using an electric hand whisk, beat together until smooth. Spoon the batter into the paper cases.

* Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until well risen and golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

* To make the filling, put the butter in a bowl and beat until fluffy. Sift in the confectioners' sugar, add the lemon juice, and beat together until smooth and creamy.

* When the cupcakes are cold, use a serrated knife to cut a circle from the top of each cupcake and then cut each circle in half. Spread or pipe a little of the buttercream filling into the center of each cupcake, then press the 2 semicircular halves into it at an angle to resemble butterfly wings. Dust with sifted confectioners' sugar before serving.

 

side one:
01. Besos y Lágrimas - Sergio Golwarz
02. I Feel Like a Feather In the Breeze - Doris Day
03. Watching Birds - Stornoway
04. Catnip - Dave "Baby" Cortez
05. El Pussycat - Sandy Nelson
06. Lemmon Flavored Blues - Jack Lemmon
07. Let's Fly Away - Doris Day
08. Floating - Nobody & Mystic Chords of Memory
09. Limón Limonero - Los Macovals
10. The Moon Was Yellow - Werner Müller & His Orchestra
11. Sugar Cane - Men and Boys of the S/S Christian Radich
[ listen ]

side two:
01. Popcorn - Hot Butter
02. Yatara-chan's Annoying Noise - Katra Turana
03. Why Don't We Do This More Often - Doris Day
04. Lemon Tree - Steel Band Bamboushay
05. Wayward Song - The Earlies
06. Détente - Bertrand Gosselin
07. When Spring Comes Around - Leon Bibb
08. Now and Again - It Hugs Back
09. Get Out and Get Under the Moon - Doris Day
[ listen ]

Cupcake 5: Valentine Heart

The 14th of February was probably chosen as Valentine's Day because it was the ancient belief that birds, particularly lovebirds, began to mate on that date. Make a batch of these delicious cupcakes for the one you love. Alternatively, impress your family and friends with them.

Makes 6 cupcakes

6 tbsp butter, softened, or soft margarine

generous 3/8 cup superfine sugar

½ tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs, lightly beaten

½ cup all-purpose flour

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa

1 tsp baking powder

Marzipan hearts

1¼ oz/35 g marzipan

red food coloring (liquid or paste)

confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Topping

4 tbsp butter, softened

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 oz/25 g semisweet chocolate, melted

6 chocolate flower decorations

* To make the hearts, knead the marzipan until pliable, then add a few drops of red coloring and knead until evenly colored red. Roll out the marzipan to a thickness of ¼ inch/5 mm on a counter dusted with confectioners' sugar. Using a small heart-shaped cutter, cut out 6 hearts. Put these on a tray lined with waxed paper and dusted with confectioners' sugar. Let dry for 3-4 hours.

* To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C. Put 6 paper muffin cases in a muffin pan.

* Put the batter, sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs, beating well after each addition. Sift in the flour, cocoa, and baking powder and, using a large metal spoon, fold into the mixture. Spoon the batter into the paper cases.

* Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until well risen and firm to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

* To make the topping, put the butter in a large bowl and beat until fluffy. Sift in the confectioners' sugar and beat together until smooth. Add the melted chocolate and beat together until well mixed. When the cakes are cold, spread the frosting on top of each cake and decorate with a chocolate flower.

 

side one:
01. It All Depends On You - Jackie Gleason
02. With Tomorrow - Gene Clark
03. The Time You Spent With Me - Ohio Express
04. I Fell In Love With a Ghost - Lydia Lunch
05. Say It Isn't So - Jackie Gleason
06. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks w/ Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
07. Crève Misère - Georges Chelon
08. Nobody's Sweetheart - The Mills Violano Virtuoso (Double) of the Gay '90s Melody Museum, St. Louis
09. You Were Meant For Me - Jackie Gleason 
[song ends abruptly just as it's getting started.]
[ listen ]

side two:
01. When He Wants a Woman - Timi Yuro
02. Honey Bunch - The Gentleman Losers
03. Jealous - Jackie Gleason
04. Le Mur De La Prison D'en Face - Yves Duteil
05. God Knows (You Gotta' Give to Get) - El Perro Del Mar
06. Don't Wanna' Live Inside Myself - Bee Gees
07. Mirror Kissers - The Cribs
08. No Place So Alone - Tindersticks
09. Dark Is the Night - Jackie Gleason
10. Starry-Eyed and Breathless - Ethel Ennis 
[track suddenly cuts off for no apparent reason.]
[ listen ]