Steamed Blooming Cupcakes

Steaming might not be your first thought when it comes to making cupcakes, but hear us out: It’s a method worth trying that kids will be obsessed with. While these cupcakes may look complex, they come together surprisingly fast. A dump-and-stir batter + 15 minutes in a steamer basket = blooming sweet easy treats ready to be topped with maraschino cherries.

To steam these cupcakes, use silicone cupcake molds, which have more structure than cupcake liners. They're available online and can be used in place of liners in your favorite cupcake recipes in the future. After you fill the molds with the batter, spray a butter knife with cooking spray and slice an X into the top of the cupcake to help them bloom.

Arrange the filled silicone molds in a steamer basket set over a large pot of boiling water, leaving about 1" between each to let the steam flow around the entire cupcake. Tip: If you're using a metal steamer basket, you might have to steam them in two batches. With a bamboo steamer basket, you might be able to do the whole batch at once.

Cover and steam until the cupcakes bloom and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, just like it would for baked cupcakes. Let cool, then place a maraschino cherry in the center and enjoy!

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below!