Baking is one of the most popular pastimes you can indulge in.
Not only is it fairly cheap, but you also get to enjoy something delicious at the end of it.
However, despite the fact that it is supposed to be a somewhat relaxing hobby, there are a few things that can make baking less enjoyable.
One such thing is taking a bite of a dry cupcake.
Luckily, there are some ways to make sure that you never end up with dry cupcakes ever again.
In this article, we will look at the best ways to fix dry cupcakes.
What Makes Cupcakes Dry?
The first step in making sure you get moist cupcakes every time is to work out what you are doing to your cupcake batter to make the cupcakes dry in the first place.
There are a few common mistakes that people make when they are making cupcakes that can lead to dryness during the baking process.
You’ve Overbaked Them
One of the most common mistakes that people make when they are baking cupcakes is overbaking them.
This is often caused by using the old toothpick method of testing when the cakes are ready.
If you are using the toothpick method, it can be common to bake the cakes until the toothpick comes out completely clean.
However, this can result in dense cupcakes.
A properly baked cupcake should leave some crumbs on the toothpick because it is moist.
The longer you bake the cupcakes, the more moisture is removed from them thanks to the dry heat of the oven.
You should also rely on more than one method to check whether your cupcakes are ready.
It is recommended by bakers to use the press method as well as the toothpick method.
When the cupcakes are baked and moist, the cake should spring back when it is gently pressed.
Overbaking cupcakes is particularly common with chocolate cupcakes as there are more dry ingredients involved in chocolate cake.
You should also make sure that you are not adding too much flour to your mix.
Your Oven Temperature Is Incorrect
Another common cause of dry cupcakes is baking them in an oven at an incorrect temperature.
This is a common problem for home bakers as most domestic ovens aren’t quite set properly.
It is the incorrect or inconsistent temperature that many domestic ovens create that leads to overbaked and dry cupcake results.
To help avoid this, you can use an oven thermometer that is separate from the integrated one on your oven.
Your Butter Wasn’t Whipped Or Creamed Properly
The best method for making cupcakes is to cream the butter and sugar together before adding any other ingredients.
This helps to incorporate air into the butter and results in light and fluffy cupcakes that have retained their moisture.
However, if you do not properly cream the butter and sugar, the resulting batter may be denser and lack the air bubbles that help to retain moisture.
It is recommended that you use a stand mixer for at least 2-3 minutes to make sure that the butter and sugar are properly creamed and that you have created air bubbles.
you should also use room temperature butter for this.
You Overmixed Your Ingredients
Despite what we just said, another reason for dry cupcakes can be overmixing your ingredients.
To avoid confusion, this really only applies to the dry ingredients, namely, the flour.
You should whip the sugar and butter together until they are fully mixed and aerated.
When you add your dry ingredients such as your self-raising flour or baking powder, you should only mix the batter until the dry ingredients are fully incorporated.
To help avoid overmixing, you should mix your dry ingredients into the wet ingredients by hand.
Also, a folding method is better than a stirring one.
You Overfilled Your Cases
Finally, overfilling your cupcake cases can lead to dry cupcakes.
This happens because the cupcake cases aren’t filled evenly and you can end up with some cakes that aren’t cooked enough and some that are overcooked and thus, dry.
To avoid this, you should fill cupcake liners until they are around two-thirds full.
If you are unsure, you can measure the amount of batter with an ice cream scoop.
Best Ways To Make Dry Cupcakes More Moist
Now that we know what could be causing our cupcakes to be dry, we can look at how to make them more moist.
With these helpful tips, you can make the most of your dry cupcakes.
Add Simple Syrup
You can make a simple syrup using equal parts sugar and cold water.
Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer for a few minutes.
Make sure the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has cooled before adding it to your cupcakes.
Poke some holes into your cupcakes using a toothpick to allow the syrup to soak into the cake.
Use a spoon to drizzle the syrup onto the cakes.
Soak With Milk
You can soak your dry cupcakes in milk to make them more moist.
To do this, you should treat the cupcakes like a tres leches cake.
It is recommended to boil the milk first to help avoid issues with bacteria growth.
Make sure the milk is cooled before adding it to your cakes and they should be eaten within two days with this method.
Store the cupcakes in the fridge at all times.
Serve With Ice Cream
This is a more unconventional method, but it can work really well, especially for kids.
If you have dry cupcakes and limited time to remedy them, you can simply serve them in a bowl with ice cream.
This allows the ice cream to moisten the cake as it is eaten.
This method can also work with small pudding mix amounts.
Make sure that the pudding flavors match the cake.
Add Extra Frosting Or Whipped Cream
Finally, there is nothing worse than dry unfrosted cupcakes.
Adding frosting or whipped cream to your dry cupcakes can instantly add more moisture to the cakes.
You can also fill the cupcakes with frosting to create softer cupcakes.
To do this, fill a piping bag with frosting, stick the tip about an inch into the cupcake and begin filling.
Cream cheese, sour cream or yogurt can make great additions to the frosting to keep cupcakes moist.
Final Thoughts
Dry cupcakes can make delicious, sweet treats into something unpleasant.
Using these quick and easy fixes can help you fix dry cupcakes and end up with a delicious cupcake anytime.
