Cupcakes have been around for generations. In fact, almost every family has their own a recipe to boast and a favorite way of icing them. But, whatever the recipe may be, the fact remains that this small cake is still the best and easiest way to have a snack that is light on the pocket, yet satisfying and delicious.

Hints to help you. If you browse the Internet you will find an endless supply of tips for making cupcakes. As with all recipes, experiment on your loved ones first. Some will be fantastic and some will be disastrous. It will be easier to tell the good recipes once you have more experience.

1. Use the exact measurements - Many bakers make the mistake of not measuring accurately. If this is you, a change of habits will help. You must properly measure your ingredients if you want your cupcakes to turn out well. If you get this wrong you will end up with a disaster. So don't waste your ingredients, the scale is definitely your friend.

2. Never over-beat your batter - Everyone knows that an over beaten cake batter will not produce a good result. Over beating the batter knocks all of the air out of it which will prevent the cake from rising properly.

3. Timing and temperature must be right for all baking - Baking needs to be precise. This means that you have to use your oven thermometer to measure how hot your oven is. The ideal temperature for most cupcake recipes is 220 degrees, but always checks the instructions in the recipe for confirmation first. An oven that is too hot will burn your cakes on the outside and leave them raw on the inside.

4. Cool them down before serving - Immediately after removing the cupcakes from the oven, remove them from the cake pans to avoid over-cooking. One characteristic of a heated pan is that it will continue to cook the cake even if it is no longer in the oven.

Cupcakes are a fun way to experiment with your baking skills. Bake for your family and friends first to test your skills. Impress the children with icing, wrappers and fun cake toppers.

If they are overjoyed, fantastic! Then you will feel more confident trying new more challenging recipes.

One last hint. If you have any leftover cupcakes store them in an airtight container.