Any "like to cook" foodies here?

[classicdrogn]

Happy birthday to me! Here's the small-batch recipe I use for birthday cupcakes, since I can hardly send everyone some myself.

Equipment: six-cup baking pan, 2 cup measuring cup, cupcake liners, teaspoon, tablespoon, cooling rack, frosting knife
Optional: rubber spatula to scrape out batter, something to melt margarine in

Preheat oven to 250 F

In the measuring cup:

3/4 cup of mixed brown and white sugar
1 cup flour - I use King Arthur brand "all purpose" white flour
1/2 tsp baking powder - probably 1/4 will do if it's fresh
3 tbsp cocoa powder
pinch of salt

Mix dry ingredients before adding:

~1/3 stick of margarine, melted, or a good splash of vegetable oil
1 "large" egg, or half if you can manage it without waste
dribble of vanilla
Enough milk for the batter to pour easily

Mix until smooth, then pour into the cupcake pan with paper liners. Bake until it smells done and a fork comes out clean - an hour-ish? Smells very little until it's getting close.

Add frosting with a generous dribble of peppermint oil and pink food coloring when cool.

For non-birthday cupcakes, one tablespoon of cocoa powder can be switched with cinnamon for a spicier taste that goes well with vanilla or lemon frosting.

It is possible (and much faster) to cook this in a microwave, though the result will probably be a little rubbery, and using a (microwave-safe, obviously) wide, flat bowl is recommended over the measuring cup. It will probably be necessary to flip the partly-cooked mini-cake over (or into a second bowl) and continue in order to get it all cooked without overdoing the edges, and to soak the bowl(s) afterwards to get them clean without too much scrubbing. The measuring cup should be easy to clean with a rinse or two before using the wash cloth.