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Hi Bold Bakers!
I love having a YouTube channel for lots of different reasons. I get to share the one thing I’m good at with people who love the same things I do–Baking! Another is that it challenges me. It challenges me to get better at my craft and to keep learning. Like with cake decorating. I was never a cake decorator until you wanted to know how to easily do it. So I had to learn so I could show you.
The other challenge is to find a better solution to baking problems my viewers run into on a regular basis. Problems that initially seemed impossible. Like “Gemma, make a cake without using an oven!” Seriously? How could I do that? Anyone know? What would that even look like? I’ll tell you what it looks like: 6 Microwave Mug Cake videos, 35 mug cakes recipes, from breakfast to pies, 8 million video views collectively and a microwave that paid for itself!
However, once I had solved one problem and was very proud of myself, another arises like, “Gemma, can we make your mug cakes in a toaster oven?” The answer is Yes, you can. However “toaster oven” kept on coming up in comments so I thought there was something there. Why not create recipes that are specifically made for a toaster oven?
Now it’s early fall, kids have just headed off to college for the first time. They are living in dorms, sharing kitchens or they just have a toaster oven and a small fridge (that always ices over for some reason) to rely on for their meals. You have to get savvy right? Make do with what ya’ got and all that. Well there are two things that are a sure thing: 1. College students are always hungry, and 2. The most popular person in the dorm is the person that feeds people! Believe me, I’m speaking from experience.
So, knowing all of this I have taken 3 of my best, over-the-top cakes and made them into small batch cupcake recipes that yield 4 perfect cupcakes. They are a perfect size to fit in a toaster oven and they all can be made in a normal oven too.
The great thing about this small batch of 4 cupcakes is that they just require a handful of ingredients, a bit of flour, sugar, an egg…nothing that you wouldn’t already have on hand. Also the fact that it’s just 4 means you are not making more then you need. However you will have to choose wisely who will have the other 3! If I could be so bold, I recommend someone who is good at doing the dishes, your friends that will do the grocery shopping, and the person with a car. Perfect math.
The Red Velvet Cupcakes came from my hugely popular Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake . I ADORE Red Velvet everything! One of my absolute favorite Red Velvet inspired desserts is actually a breakfast, Red Velvet Pancakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. If these pancakes are not the best thing you have ever had for breakfast then I’ll eat my hat!
The Cookie Dough Cupcakes are made from a Victoria Sponge recipe. This is a basic, delicious cake recipe that is beautifully simple. I use this cake a lot and even made a “Naked” Wedding Cake using it. It really never fails. In Ireland, it is one of the first recipes kids make and they make them into buns, aka cupcakes. The extra Big and Bold twist in the cupcake is the ball of cookie dough in the middle. It’s like a chocolate reward in the center. I used my edible cookie dough in the middle but feel free to use whatever flavor you like.
For the small batch of S’more Cupcakes, I took my Best Ever Chocolate Cake recipe and cut it down to make my little cupcakes. To make them into a true S’more I added a layer of Graham Crackers on the bottom and while still warm from the oven, toasted a marshmallow on top. S’mores are just a dessert I will never tire of, which I’m sure you know considering I have made a No Bake S’more Cheesecake, S’more Pies in a Jar and even went so far as to make a Homemade S’more From Scratch. I regret nothing!!!
Get even more Small Batch Cupcakes for Spring here!
Buy the Toaster Oven I use on Amazon: https://amzn.to/1PjreMd
Buy the Cupcake Trays I use on Amazon: https://amzn.to/1GxaXvW
Red Velvet Cupcakes: Small-Batch Cupcakes
Ingredients
- ½ cup plus 2 tbsp (3oz/85g) all purpose flour
- ¼ cup plus 2 tbsp (3oz/85g) granulated white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 generous teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg , at room temperature
- ¼ cup plus 2 tbs vegetable or canola oil
- 4 tablespoons buttermilk
- 2 teaspoon red food coloring (good quality)
- 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the toaster oven or regular oven to 350oF (180oC)
- Line a small cupcake tray with 4 cupcake liners*
- Sift the flour, sugar, cinnamon, cocoa, baking soda and salt into a large bowl. Whisk the ingredients together by hand
- In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, vanilla and red food coloring. (add more red food coloring if you want a darker color)
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and GENTLY mix the batter just to combine. Do not over mix or beat as this cake can toughen up
- Pour the batter almost to the top into the prepared cupcake pan and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are firm in the middle and don’t appear damp. This recipe bakes fast.
- Once baked, take them out of the tin and cool on a baking rack until cold.
- Decorate them with some cream cheese frosting.
- Store the cupcakes at room temperature for up to 3 days. Once decorated store the cupcakes in the fridge. Let them reach room temperature before eating.
Recipe Notes
This cake cooks fast so check if after 12 minutes. You don’t want to overcook it.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (55g / 2oz) butter, at room temperature
- ¼ cup (55g / 2oz) caster sugar
- 1 egg , at room temperature
- ¼ cup (55G/ 2OZ) flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 4 tablespoons of cookie dough , rolled into balls
Instructions
- Preheat the toaster oven or regular oven to 350oF (180oC)
- Line a small cupcake tray with 4 cupcake liners*
- Place your cookie dough ball into the liner
- With a hand mixer or by hand cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale.
- Beat in the egg until combined
- Mix the flour and baking powder together and then fold it into the butter mix using a large metal spoon
- Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until they are ¾ full.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are firm in the middle and don’t appear damp.
- Store the cupcakes at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Decorate them with cookie dough buttercream frosting. (recipe in blog post)
- Store the cupcakes at room temperature for up to 3 days. Once decorated store the cupcakes in the fridge. Let them reach room temperature before eating.
Recipe Notes
This cake cooks fast so check if after 12 minutes. You don’t want to overcook it.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (30g/1oz) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (50g/1 ¾ oz) sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk*
- 1 tablespoons vegetable oil , or any flavorless oil
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons freshly brewed hot coffee *
- 1 cup (around 5 cookies) crushed graham crackers (digestives or other plain cookies)
- 4 large marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat the toaster oven or regular oven to 350oF (180oC)
- Line a small cupcake tray with 4 cupcake liners*
- Measure 2 tablespoons of Cookie crumbs into each cupcake liner
- Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk the ingredients together by hand
- In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, vanilla and coffee
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and GENTLY mix the batter just to combine. Do not over mix or beat as this cake can toughen up
- Pour the batter almost to the top into the prepared cupcake pan and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are firm in the middle and don’t appear damp. This recipe bakes fast.
- Once baked, take them out of the toaster oven and turn on the broiler (grill) setting
- Place the marshmallow on top and pop them back in the toaster oven until the marshmallow has toasted and is golden brown, roughly 2-3 minutes
- Take out and cool before eating. These cupcakes can be made in advance and topped with the marshmallow when ready to eat.
- Store the cupcakes at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes
This cake cooks fast so check if after 12 minutes. You don’t want to overcook it.
Watch The Recipe Video!
This Recipe Made By Bold Bakers
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Hello!
How much cream cheese frosting should I make for the red velvet cupcakes? Thanks!
Hi Gemma
Every Recipe sounds delicious. I would love to try baking most of them 🙂 I just tried making your Best ever Banana Bread. I need to check the oven temperatures for a fan-forced oven. You mentioned 350F or 180C. I checked the conversion guide and it recommends that you drop 20 if you are using a fan-forced oven to a conventional oven. So I baked my banana bread at 160C and it took much longer to bake and was a bit dry. Can you please advise on this?
Hi Gemma
I would like to make it dairy free so what is the replacement for buttermilk in this recipe
Hi Gemma! We have perfected our red velvet recipe… However now that we’ve gone from baking in a regular oven to a convection oven our cupcakes are very moist, but the exterior appears dry. They don’t have the shiny glossy look that ours had before. Is there a solution for this?
Ok Gemma, here I go again. You said see your blog post for the cookie dough frosting but I can only find the one with the brownie. Do you have a version for just the four cupcake? Thanks.
So this is probably a stupid question but: if I had two pans or one 12 cup pan could I make the batter and bake these all at one time instead of each individually. I know I probably can but is there any reason why I could not.
Hi Gemma I love all ur recipes. I want to make the red velvet however I’m not great with cup measurements as appose to grams and mls so with the oil how many mls is 1/4cup of oil? Thank you
Amazing! So good! Thank you for having my favorite flavor (red velvet)! If you want a quick cream cheese frosting:
2 oz cream cheese
4 tbsp butter
dash of vanilla
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp lemon juice (optional)
1-1/2 cup powdered sugar
Beat the cream cheese and butter with a mixer or whist until creamy. Add the vanilla, salt and lemon juice (if desired), briefly mix. Beat in sugar and add more as needed.
Lovely recipe!
Hey Gemma
I’m from the U.S. and just got a new toaster oven and wanna make these. But I have a quick question about caster sugar. I’ve never heard of it, and when I googled it powdered sugar came up. So should I use powdered sugar for this recipe or granulated sugar?
And I was also wondering if you have a link for your edible cookie dough frosting. I’ve been looking everywhere but can’t find it.
Hey, Can I replace egg with flex egg?