How to Make Vanilla Cupcakes With Buttercream Icing

Vanilla cupcakes with buttercream frosting are classic desserts.

Vanilla cupcakes with buttercream frosting is a classic pairing that many people love. Consider making these cupcakes when you are looking for a crowd-pleasing recipe for your next party, or simply for family and friends. Buttercream frosting is naturally white, so if you want to jazz up your cupcakes, consider dying it with a few drops of food coloring in your favorite shade. Add sprinkles, nuts and other toppings to the cupcakes to personalize them and add even more flavor.

Things You'll Need

• Oven
• Muffin tins
• 2 sticks plus 2 tbsp. butter
• Pastry brush
• 2 3/4 cups plus 2 tbsp. all purpose flour
• 2 1/2 tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• Sifter
• 2 bowls
• Mixer
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• Spatula
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup whole milk
• Ice cream scoop
• Toothpick
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 stick softened butter
• Bowl
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp. milk

Instructions

Vanilla Cupcakes

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Melt 2 tbsp. of butter and brush the insides of the muffin cups with a pastry brush. Dust a couple tablespoons of flour over the butter to ensure that your cupcakes do not stick. Alternatively, use cupcake tin liners.

3. Sift flour, baking soda and salt into a bowl to make sure that all of the lumps are removed and that the ingredients are well incorporated.

4. Place the butter inside a bowl and cream it with a hand mixer on medium until it is creamy and smooth. Slowly add the sugar, beating the mixture until it becomes pale yellow and fluffy.

5. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing only until each egg is incorporated into the mixture. Add the vanilla.

6. Add the flour mixture and the milk alternately, beating on medium-low speed. Begin with the flour and end with the flour. Occasionally scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl from with a spatula to make sure that all of the mixture is well incorporated.

7. Scoop the batter into the muffin tin using a small ice cream scoop. Fill each muffin until it is about three-quarters full.

8. Place the cupcakes into the oven and bake them for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out cleanly. Let them cool completely before frosting.

Buttercream Frosting

1. Place the shortening and butter in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until the ingredients are well blended.

2. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula often to make sure that everything is mixed.

3. Slowly add the sugar and mix until the ingredients are fully combined. The mixture will be stiff and dry.

4. Add the milk, continuing to mix at medium speed. The frosting should be fluffy.

5. Frost the cooled cupcakes using a frosting spatula or a pastry bag.

References

• Wilton: Buttercream Icing
• Oprah: Vanilla Cupcakes