Easy Vanilla Cupcake Recipe (from scratch!)

This Easy Vanilla Cupcake Recipe (from scratch!) will be your new go-to vanilla cake recipe when you want to make homemade vanilla cupcakes!

Prep Time20

Cook Time20

Cool Time30

Total Time1 10

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: best cupcakes, Easy Vanilla Cupcake, homemade cupcakes

Servings:

Calories: 489kcal

Equipment

Hand or Stand Mixer
Muffin Tin
Cupcake Liners

Ingredients

Vanilla Cupcakes

1 stick unsalted butter softened at room temperature
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup buttermilk
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1¼ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions

Vanilla Cupcakes

Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Cream. In the bowl of a standup mixer, cream the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the eggs, one at a time, on medium speed followed by the vanilla extract.
Combine the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Put it all together. Mix a third of the dry mixture with the wet ingredients, followed by half of the buttermilk. Repeat until you are out of ingredients, ending with the dry mixture.
Bake. Spoon the cupcake batter into the prepared cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
Cool. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the muffin tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Vanilla Frosting

Cream the butter. Beat the butter on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy. On medium speed, mix in the vanilla and then the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time.
Adjust the consistency. On low speed, mix in the heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
Beat. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high speed and beat until light and fluffy.
Frost. Spread or pipe the frosting over the fully cooled cupcakes.

Notes

This vanilla cupcake recipe is the perfect for a simple vanilla cake, all you need to do is pour the cake batter into a cake pan instead of a cupcake pan lined with cupcake liners. However the cake bake time will be different.

Nutrition