Wacky Cake Recipe for Cupcakes

Must have ingredients:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa (USE DARK COCOA-Hershey's makes one that will work)

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon vinegar

6 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup cold water

Possible additions that I have used (not all at the same time, pick one)

½ teaspoon of chipotle chili powder (or ancho works really well too)

1 cup cold coffee instead of water

1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder

1 teaspoon of orange oil

1 tablespoon of Kahlua or Grand Marnier

In a mixing bowl, mix all dry ingredients. Make three wells in the dry ingredients, one small, one medium sized, and one larger. In smallest hole put vanilla (or other addition from the list). In the middle size hole add the vinegar, and in the third the oil. Pour the cold water over the mixture and stir until moistened. Bake at 350°F preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until tester comes out clean. I have taken to using a ¼ cup measuring cup for transferring the mix to the cupcake liners. A scant ¼ cup will give you about 18 cupcakes. Sometimes a few more.

Other important cupcake tips-- when you remove them from the oven, use a baking rack to cool for just a few minutes in the pan. Remove from pan and then let them cool completely on the racks. Easy.