Walnut Cupcakes with Maple Frosting Annotations

Recipe calls for: 8 ounces cake flour (about 2 cups).
What to know: Low-gluten flour = tender cake.

Recipe calls for: 3 large egg whites.
What to know: Room-temperature egg-whites are the best.

Recipes calls for: Inserting a wooden pick to the center of baked cupcakes comes out with moist crumbs clinging.
What to know: If over-baked, edges will be too dark and dry.

Recipe calls for: Beating egg whites and hot sugar syrup until stiff peaks form.
What to know: Syrup “cooks eggs” and stabilizes meringue.