A few days ago I had a pretty great opportunity to help out a friend that I’ve known since jr. high. We had lost touch after high school, but through the power of Facebook recently reconnected. Little did I know that a video that I watched last summer as it was in full viral swing on YouTube was actually HER. You may have seen this funny clip where the husband upon coming out of surgery is baffled by his wife’s beauty. Such a cute video. I learned that it was Candace after seeing on Facebook an article titled “Viral Video Spurs Utah Couple’s Hope To Adopt.”
In light of recent events that have happened in my own life I understand now more than ever the power of kindness. You’d be amazed at just how many people can touch your life during the hardest and lowest times and what an impact the smallest gesture can mean. When I saw that Candace and her husband were holding a fundraiser for their adoption expenses I knew I wanted to help in some way. As soon as I saw the words ‘bake sale’ I found my calling. I offered to make several dozen cupcakes and several dozen Cutler’s Famous Sugar Cookies for her to sell.
THE Best Vanilla Cupcake Recipe
This is my go-to Vanilla Cupcakes recipe! It's simple, reliable, and delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 c. cake flour
- 1 1/4 c. all purpose flour
- 1 3/4 c. sugar
- 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 c. butter room temperature, cut into 1/2 in. cubes
- 4 eggs
- 1 c. milk
- 2 tsp. vanilla
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350° F. Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
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In the bowl of your stand mixer add the dry ingredients and mix together using the paddle attachment for about a minute.
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With mixer on low, drop in butter, a few cubes at a time continuing until all butter has been incorporated (it should resembles coarse sand). Add eggs one at a time on low speed.
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With mixer still on low slowly pour in milk and vanilla. Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes until batter is smooth, light and fluffy, scraping sides of bowl as needed.
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Fill liners 2/3 full (approx. 1/4 c.) and bake for 15-20 minutes until center is set and toothpick comes out clean. Be sure to cool completely before frosting.
Recipe Notes
You can't improve on perfection! These cupcakes needed no adapting whatsoever. They are absolutely perfect! It's important not to overfill the cupcakes. They will spill over the liners if you add too much batter.
I have been wanting a fabulous vanilla cake mix from scratch for a while now. I’ve pinned lots and lots of recipes but for whatever reason this one drew me in. So I decided to give it a go. Um. So. Yeah. This is pretty much THE best vanilla cupcake recipe that I’ve ever tasted! Seriously. I’m not just saying that. It really is. Top it off with some vanilla buttercream frosting and you’ve got a match made in heaven. I thought I would prefer the cookies over the cupcakes (personally) but after tasting these I flipped. The cupcakes are definitely the star. Not to undermine the cookies, because they are fabulous as well.
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
This Vanilla Buttercream Frosting is an easy to make & easy to love WINNER!
Ingredients
- 1 c. butter softened
- 3 c. powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 7 tsp. heavy whipping cream
Instructions
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With the whisk attachment, in the bowl of your stand mixer, combine butter and sugar on low speed until smooth. Increase speed to medium and whip for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
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Add vanilla and continue mixing until smooth. Add heavy cream 1 tsp. at a time until desired spreading consistency is reached.
Recipe Notes
Adapted from Love, Pomegranate House
So basically I couldn’t stop taking pictures of these beauties. I apologize for the zillion photos that you have to sift through for the recipes. No. I take that back. I’m not sorry. Are these not the prettiest cupcakes? I have said over and over again – I love pretty food. I have a hard time narrowing down pictures of pretty food. So yes. There are a lot of photos. But in my defense, I did narrow them down from 148 photos. See – I told you!
You would think that this would work for a cake, but reading through all the comments, not one person states they made it as a cake. So, I will attempt. The only difference really should be baking time. Keep you posted.
Yvonne
Ooh yay! Excited to hear how it turns out!
The cake is in the oven now! I do have to say though, the batter tasted very buttery…. is that normal? normally batters are kind of yummy! It is starting to smell good though! :)
Yvonne
Hmmm… there is a cup in the batter, but maybe it’s more buttery than normal? Glad it at least smells good!! You’ll have to let me know what size pan you used and how long you cooked it for if it works out!
crystin
Hi! I was wondering if I could use this as a tie dye style too ?! I been reading other recipes and it says to find a white cake mix though .. What do yo think ?
Yvonne
Tie dye style? You know I’ve actually never done anything like that – so I’m not much help as I have no idea what your results would be. I’m sorry!!! Good luck!!
Ana
I’ve been searching for the perfect vanilla cupcake and this is the one! I adapted it to make them gluten free by substituting better batter gf all purpose flour. I used cornstarch to make my own cake flour and they were just perfect! My hubby and I ate them all. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I am in love!
Yvonne
This makes me so happy! SO many people love this recipe and I’m so glad, as I really do think it’s the BEST!!!
Suzy
Does this recipe work well for cake, too?
Yvonne
You know, that’s a great question – I’ve never tried it to make a cake!
samantha
Is it 2 cups and 1/2 tsp of baking powder?? Never used that much baking powder before.
Yvonne
Hi Samantha, it’s 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder – not cups :) Hope that helps!
Yvonne
I have tried 5 different vanilla/white cupcake recipes and I am SO glad I finally found a winner!!! So moist and yummy! Thank you for the recipe! :))
Yvonne
No way?!? I’m so happy you like them so much – this is by far my favorite recipe for vanilla cupcakes FOR SURE!!! You are certainly welcome!
Caitlin
Just made these for the second time for a work superbowl party! This is definitely my new go to cupcake recipe! I’ve “taste tested” way too many already!
Yvonne
You have no idea how happy this makes me! I’m so happy you love them! I wasn’t kidding when I said they were THE best right?!?
Lindsey
I copied this recipe exactly and the cupcakes were so fluffy and delicious! It has a very distinct vanilla taste, much different than most other cupcake recipes, and I love it. My family almost ate whole batch before I could put the frosting on them!
Yvonne
At first glance I was so nervous with your comment starting out as ‘I copied this recipe exactly’… and then I read the rest and was pleasantly surprised!!! I’m so happy you loved them so much, they are seriously THE best – no lie!! I love that they didn’t even make it to the frosting stage, I guess that means you’ll need to make them again! Happy baking!
Najae
is it salted butter or unsalted?
Yvonne
I always cook with unsalted, if you cook with salted – just omit the added salt from the recipe!
Kimberly Wootton
Is it a stick go butter cut into 1/2 inch cubes?
Yvonne
Yes! One stick of butter cut into 1/2 in. cubes!
[email protected]
Your recipe states one CUP of butter. Might want to fix that.
Yvonne
That’s actually how much butter this recipe calls for Laura, it’s the correct measurement.
Amy McDonnell
Just made these tonight with the icing! Absolutely awesome best vanilla cupcakes! We have tried three other recipes that were thrown in the trash. Not these, and that icing is so delicious! Thank you for posting!
Yvonne
Oh I’m so happy!!! Aren’t they amazing??!! My brother in law coined the frosting as ‘money’! I thought that was pretty funny :)
Pam
have you ever made a red velvet cupcake?
Yvonne
I’ve only made red velvet once before, it was a cake and not cupcakes. But, since learning of the detriment of artificial food coloring I’d need to figure out a new way to make them!
Sharon
I made these this morning and they came out great!!! I ate one, well two straight from the oven without the buttercream. Thanks for the recipe : )
Yvonne
Oh I’m so happy! They are just delightful, glad you liked them!!
Amanda
Made these cupcakes twice since pinning. Both time people eating them said they were the BEST cupcakes they had ever eaten!! Thanks for sharing!!
Yvonne
RIGHT ON!!!! That is awesome! I knew they were the best, now I want the world to know it too. I’m so happy you stopped by to let me know. Thank you!
Doreen Owee
OMG! Best cupcakes ever!!! Gonna make it again for my baby’s birthday in 2 weeks! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Yvonne
Oh yay! That makes my heart smile to read that! I loved them so much, I’m so happy that you did too – you’re welcome, you’re welcome. We’ll ‘see’ ya back here in a couple of weeks ;)
Looks delicious and so pretty
Yvonne
Awe, thank you – I thought so too ;)
I love a good vanilla cupcake! These look delicious.
Yvonne
Thanks Kayley – these are seriously amazing!