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Cupcakes make a great treat for birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions. Unfortunately, I’ve had times where I’ve ended up with a ruined batch of dry, crumbly cupcakes and I didn’t know why.
Cupcakes usually turn out dry and crumbly because the cupcake batter was overmixed or the cupcakes were baked at too high of a temperature. You can prevent this by following the cupcake recipe precisely when it comes to the method of mixing and the temperature at which you set the oven.
While these are the two main reasons why your cupcakes are dry and crumbly, there are still many more! Here are some tips I’ve learned that have helped me prevent future baking blunders with my cupcakes, as well as how you can salvage a batch of dry, crumbly cupcakes!
Why are my cupcakes dry & crumbly?
As a general rule, cupcakes become dry and crumbly because the cupcakes were baked for too long, the wrong ingredients were used, they were baked at too high of a temperature, or even because the cupcake batter was under or overmixed.
There are many reasons why cupcakes may be dry and crumbly after they are baked, including:
- Overmixing the batter can result in the development of too much gluten, which will make the cupcakes harsh and dry.
- The cupcakes may dry out if they are baked for an excessively long time or at a high temperature.
- A lack of fluids or too much flour can produce a dry, crumbly texture.
- Cupcakes can become dry if there is not enough fat, such as butter or oil, included in the recipe.
- Using old or expired ingredients, such as baking powder or baking soda, can lead to dry and crumbly cupcakes.
- Not using enough sugar can also result in dry cupcakes.
- Cupcakes made with low-quality or low-protein flour may turn out to be crumbly and dry.
- Not adding enough eggs or using eggs that are too small can result in dry cupcakes.
- Overfilling the cupcake liners can result in dense, dry cupcakes.
- Allowing the cupcakes to cool in the pan for too long can also cause them to dry out.
I recently came across The Perfect-Sized Plastic Round Storage Containers that can fit anything in them from a pie to even cupcakes. These containers come in a 2-pack and are Microwave and Dishwasher safe! You can check out these containers on Amazon!
I’ve always said that the art of baking is more like a science. There’s a reason why you should measure out every ingredient to the precise amount.
If you add too many dry ingredients to your cupcake batter there is a good chance that your cupcakes will become dry and fall apart as soon as you pull them out of the oven.
Below, I found a short video of how to prevent dry cupcakes if using a box mix:
It’s important to strike the right balance between dry and wet ingredients. The wet ingredients help to bind the cupcake mix together, creating a moist, fluffy cupcake that’s both delicious and decadent.
In addition to measurements, undermixing the batter can cause cupcakes to become dry and crumbly. Mixing the batter correctly introduces small pockets of air into the mixture, which helps to create the right texture for light, airy cupcakes.
A good rule of thumb is to use your spatula to carefully mix your batter while scraping any mix off the sides of the bowl as well.
Another important rule of thumb is to always re-read your cupcake recipe, even if you’ve made the recipe a dozen times before.
I’ve made the mistake of becoming too confident in my ability to recall a recipe’s directions, only to find out that I’ve missed a pivotal step in the process. This could lead to using the wrong ingredients and measurements, which inevitably left me with a dry, crumbly mess!
I’d rather spend a few extra minutes checking over my recipe to ensure I didn’t forget an important detail than get overconfident in my ability to remember every step and end up with a baking nightmare!
Another important point I must make is to always double-check that your oven is set to the right temperature. Setting it too high will definitely burn the bottoms, and setting it too low may cause the outer portion to become dry while the middle stays raw.
Finally, make sure you set your timer so you don’t run the risk of leaving them in for too long! Once you’ve burned your cupcakes, it’s very difficult (if not impossible) to salvage them!
*By the way, I recently wrote an article about The Best Ways to Make Dry Cupcakes More Moist. This article also talks about why your cupcakes turned out dry, to begin with, as well as how to prevent it from happening. You can check out this article here!
Why do my cupcakes fall apart when biting?
As a general rule, cupcakes will fall apart when someone bites into them if they do not have the proper mixture of both wet and dry ingredients to bind the mixture together. The cupcakes need to have enough binding ingredients, like eggs and butter, to keep them together when bitten.
If you’ve got a particularly crumbly set of cupcakes, there’s a pretty good chance that they are too dry due to an inadequate amount of wet ingredients in your mixture.
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about crumbly cupcakes that fall apart after you’ve finished baking them. Your best bet is to try to moisten them up by frosting the tops!
Your best bet is to avoid running into this situation in the first place. This is where carefully looking over your recipe and studying it becomes key to your ability to create a moist, delicious batch of cupcakes.
Remember, adding too much of your dry ingredients will leave them with an imbalanced ratio of wet and dry components.
*Try using a trusted recipe and double-checking your measurements to see if that makes a difference.*
Eggs are a powerful binding ingredient, which is why they are usually called for in most baking recipes. I’ve been guilty of leaving an egg out of my cupcake recipe when I’ve run out, only to end up with a ruined batch of dry, messy cupcakes.
According to Sara Moulton:
“In addition to their nutritional value, eggs can provide structure, leavening, richness, color, and flavor to baked products.”
Sara Moulton
*This makes it important to never skip the eggs in your cupcake recipe, as they can make the difference between a show-stopping cupcake and a crumbly, disappointing mess!*
Don’t worry though, with a little bit of experimentation and practice, you’ll be enjoying perfectly moist and delicious cupcakes in no time!
*By the way, if you noticed that you ran out of liners, I recently wrote an article about The Best Ways To Bake Cupcakes & Muffins Without Liners. This article talks about all the ways to make sure that your cupcakes and muffins don’t get stuck in the pan. You can check out this article here!
How to prevent my cupcakes from being crumbly?
As a general rule, you can prevent crumbly cupcakes by adding a little bit of oil or melted butter to your batter. This can help keep your cupcakes moist and prevent them from falling apart. Additionally, make sure to use the correct amount of flour, as too much can make your cupcakes dense and dry.
Another reason that I’ve noticed cause crumbly cupcakes is that I’ve overfilled the cupcake liners with too much batter!
*Side Note: I recently wrote an article explaining Why Your Cupcakes Might Overflow & Sink while baking. In this article, I spoke about all the ways to fix and prevent sinking and overflowing cupcakes. You can check out this article here!
Have you ever gotten overzealous in the kitchen and ended up filling your cupcake liners with too much batter?
I have, and I’ll never forget the disappointment I felt when I tried to carefully unwrap them only to have them fall apart in my hand!
Turns out, when you overfill the cupcake liners you leave them with no room to expand but outwards. Once your cupcakes start expanding they will begin overflowing onto the tray, and possibly start spilling over and making a mess inside the oven!
I always try to be on the side of caution and fill my liners a little more than halfway full.
This gives your cupcakes enough room to expand and fill out the rest of the liner. If you’ve used the right amount of ingredients you’ll end up with perfectly fluffy, moist cupcakes.
How to fix crumbly cupcakes after they’re baked?
Generally speaking, crumbly cupcakes can be fixed after they’ve been baked by adding moisture to them. You can brush your cupcakes with a simple syrup made from equal parts sugar and water or you can coat them with frosting in order to mask the dryness and keep them from crumbling in the liner.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many ways to fix crumbly cupcakes once they’ve been baked.
Crumbly cupcakes are usually due to overfilling the liners or not using the right balance of wet and dry ingredients. Short of going back in time, you’ll have to do some damage control to salvage your goodies.
*By the way, I consider decorating my cupcakes correctly to be the most important step to presenting a perfect-looking cupcake. I recently came across a Full Set of Cupcake Decorating Kit that has everything you need to decorate your cupcakes! You can check out this set on Amazon!
When all else fails, the frosting will work as a quick fix! Frosting your cupcakes will help patch them up and keep them from falling apart any further than they already have.
Make sure your frosting is warm enough to smooth onto each cupcake evenly so that they don’t tear or pull apart any further.
Fortunately, frosting comes in a wide variety of colors and flavors, so you can still make them festive and cheerful even though they’re less than perfect. Frosting adds enough moisture to mask any dryness or particularly crumbly bits.
What temperature should cupcakes be baked at?
Typically, cupcakes are baked at a temperature of 350°F (175°C) for about 18-20 minutes. However, this can vary depending on the recipe and your oven. It’s always a good idea to preheat your oven to the correct temperature and use an oven thermometer to ensure that the temperature is accurate.
Most cupcake recipes will tell you the specific temperature they should be baked at. Each recipe may be slightly different, but most cupcake recipes will require them to be baked between 325 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s important to ensure that your kitchen timer is accurate, especially when baking smaller baked goods like cupcakes!
Here are the correct oven temperatures and baking times for cupcakes:
| Oven Temperatures | Baking Times |
|---|---|
| 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160°C) | 22 Minutes |
| 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C) | 18-20 Minutes |
| 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190°C) | 15 Minutes |
Generally, if you’re baking your cupcakes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit, you should set your timer for about 22 minutes.
If you’re baking your cupcakes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then set your timer for about 18 to 20 minutes. If you’re baking them at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, set your timer for no longer than 15 minutes.
Cupcakes can easily turn from perfect to overbaked in a matter of minutes, so be sure you set your timer every time and resist the temptation to “eyeball” the time! You never know when your phone or doorbell may unexpectedly ring!
Another good rule to follow is to check your cupcakes for about two to three minutes before they should be pulled out.
Grab a toothpick and insert it into the center of one of your cupcakes. If it comes out nearly clean then they are almost ready to be pulled out. Remember, it’s much easier to fix a batch of slightly undercooked cupcakes than salvage a tray of burnt ones, so always err on the side of caution!
How long should cupcakes cool after baking?
In general, cupcakes should cool for about 10-15 minutes before you can remove them from the baking tray. Then, allow them to cool completely on a wire rack for at least an hour before adding frosting or any other toppings. This will prevent the frosting from melting and running off the cupcakes.
I have been guilty of trying to take my cupcakes out of their tray before they have fully cooled.
Needless to say, I ended up tearing most of my cupcakes in an effort to pry them from the tray. I learned a very valuable lesson that day: patience is key when it comes to baking!
*By the way, I recently wrote an article about How Long Cupcakes Should Cool Before Frosting. This article talks about the right way to cool off a cupcake and how long you need to wait for it to cool. You can check out this article here!
As tempting as it may be, resist the urge to pull them out of the tray to decorate them or enjoy them for at least thirty minutes after baking!
Cupcakes need to thoroughly cool down before removing them from the trays. As they cool down they will stop sticking to the trays and become much easier to pull out and enjoy!
Getting a good kitchen timer is important to keep up with your kitchen demands on a second notice! That’s why I use this Digital Timer for Cooking and Baking to keep me on my toes when baking in my kitchen. You can check out this timer on Amazon!
Your kitchen timer can come in handy while waiting for your cupcakes to cool down too!
You could use this time to put away your baking accouterments and tidy up the kitchen, as well as spend some time relaxing after a job well done!
