Cupcakes are a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that is always a crowd-pleaser. Follow these ten simple steps to create the perfect basic cupcake for any occasion.

1. Gather your ingredients: To make a batch of 12 cupcakes, you will need 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ cup unsalted butter (at room temperature), 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and ½ cup whole milk.

2. Preheat your oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (180°C). This ensures that the cupcakes will bake evenly and rise properly.

3. Prepare a muffin tin: Line a standard-sized muffin tin with paper or silicone liners to prevent the cupcakes from sticking to the pan.

4. Combine dry ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this aside for later use.

5. Cream the butter and sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (about two minutes).

6. Add eggs and vanilla extract: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, mix in vanilla extract until well combined.

7. Alternate wet and dry ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating with milk. Begin and end with your dry ingredients. Mix until just combined; be careful not to overmix!

8. Fill the muffin tin: Spoon or pour batter into the prepared muffin tin cups until they are about two-thirds full.

9. Bake the cupcakes: Place the muffin tin in your preheated oven and bake for approximately 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

10. Decorate and serve: Once the cupcakes are fully cooled, you can frost them with your choice of icing and enjoy! There are countless ways to style your cupcakes, from simple vanilla or chocolate frosting to elaborately decorated masterpieces. Get creative and have fun with it!

By following these ten steps, you’ll have a batch of delicious, moist, and fluffy cupcakes that everyone will love. Happy baking!