Hi, Chelseamaree welcome to the site.
If your cakes won't rise and are relatively dense, that indicates there isn't enough air to your cakes and cupcakes. If you use the
creaming method when baking, you will beat the butter and sugar together. By doing so, you create pockets of air that trap between the butter and the sugar crystals which make your cakes light and fluffy.
The creaming method is essentially blending butter and granulated or caster sugar together and then adding additional ingredients to your mix one at a time in stages. This is an excellent baking method as it allows you to methodically go through a recipe and create your cake in stages. 1...
www.helpmebake.com
When you first mix the butter and sugar together they are very 'yellow' in colour, the more you beat them, the lighter in colour they go, the lighter the colour, the more air and the more air, the lighter the cake.
If you are using the
all in one method you may wish to mix for a little longer to try and incorporate all the ingredients a little more.
The all in one method concerning cakes and cupcakes is, as the name suggests, you simply place all the ingredients into a bowl and mix them together all in one go. When making cupcakes or cakes using this method, a raising agent is usually included in the recipe; this is required to assist...
www.helpmebake.com
Another reason for dense cakes is too much beating so that may also be the case.
Also, ensure you use the correct amount of ingredients. Don't be tempted to mix and match grams or cups or ounces. If it says grams work in all grams or if it says cups use all the recipe in cups. If it says, 3 eggs use three eggs. (Some people weigh them).
I admire the fact that you are hand beating, but you will not generate as much air into the batter as you would with a hand whisk. They are relatively cheap from any supermarket so it may be worth getting one and seeing the difference in results.
Other reasons that may also be causing you issue is the type of ingredients, maybe your flour is damp or humid, the temperature of the oven isn't up to scratch, or perhaps it's a bad recipe etc.
I do hope that you manage to make some lovely bakes and I'm sure you'll eventually get there.
In the meantime, I hope I've covered all the bases for you.
Just as an extra bit of help here is a
cupcake tutorial that works every time for me and a tutorial for
chocolate cupcakes etc
Here is your step-by-step guide to making beautiful Victoria Cupcakes. Preheat the oven to one of the following: Fan assisted: 180°C Regular Oven: 190-200°C Fahrenheit: 356F Gas Mark 4. Equipment: Mixing bowl Electric whisk Spatula Muffin Tin, Muffin cases. Ingredients: 150g or 6oz...
www.helpmebake.com
Here is your step by step guide to producing these beautifully fluffy Chocolate cupcakes. Preheat the oven to: Fan assisted: 180°C Regular Oven: 190-200°C Fahrenheit: 356F Gas Mark 4. Equipment and Ingredients Mixing bowl, electric whisk, spatula, Muffin Tin, Muffin cases. Ingredients...
www.helpmebake.com
Good luck!