Easy Vanilla Cupcakes

Growing up the thought never crossed my mind you could make a cake from scratch. All our birthday cakes and cupcakes came from a box mix. I vividly remember going over to a friend’s house in high school whose mom made wedding cakes. Of course, she made them from scratch. That was the first time I realized you could make a cake like you make cookies, with ingredients you have right in your pantry. So in my young adult years I started making cakes and cupcakes from scratch and I’ve never gone back.

These easy vanilla cupcakes are so simple to make and are delightfully moist and fluffy. Top with my delicious and easy buttercream frosting and you have the perfect vanilla cupcake. Once you try these you will never go back to a box mix again.

Why you will love these easy vanilla cupcakes

• These cupcakes are perfectly moist but also light and fluffy with the perfect amount of vanilla and sweetness.
• They are so simple to make and you probably already have all the ingredients you need in your pantry right now!
• Because they are a vanilla cake you can customize the toppings with virtually flavor. Pick whatever your favorite flavor of frosting is and have fun experimenting!

Ingredients you will need to make these easy vanilla cupcakes:

*This recipe makes 18-24 cupcakes depending on size.

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• ½ cup avocado oil
• ¼ cup whole-fat plain yogurt
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• Rainbow sprinkles (optional)

For the buttercream frosting:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk

Directions:

• 1.) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake tin with paper liners. I like to use the big “tulip” liners because this allows for adding more batter to make taller cupcakes.
• 2.) In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

• 3.) Add the milk, oil, yogurt, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk together until combined.

• 4.) Using a cookie scoop or measuring spoon, scoop 3-4 tbls of batter into each cup, depending on the height of your paper liners. If you are using the “tulip” cups spoon 4 tbls into each cup. If you are using a standard liner then only scoop 3 tbls into each cup to make sure there is a little space for the cupcakes to rise.
• 5.) Bake in the preheated oven for 20 – 25 minutes. Rotate the pans halfway through the baking time to ensure even baking. They are done when a toothpick or skewer inserted into the middle of a cupcake comes out eat.
• 6.) Let cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

While the cupcakes are cooling make the buttercream frosting:

• 7.) In the bowl of a stand mixer put the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, pinch of salt and heavy cream or whole milk.

• 8.) With the whisk attachment whisk together the ingredients starting on low (so the powdered sugar doesn’t fly everywhere) and speeding up to medium high. Let the ingredients beat together until fully incorporated and nice and “whippy”.

• 9.) Spoon into a pastry bag or large ziploc bag, cut a 1 inch whole out of the tip of the pastry bag or ziploc bag. Once the cupcakes are cooled completely pipe 2-3 tablespoons of frosting onto each cupcake. I like to use a spoon to spread the frosting out a little bit. Sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles if using or decorate as desired. Enjoy!

Notes:

• You can make the cupcakes a day ahead of time, store in an airtight container and frost and decorate the next day right before serving.
• Make sure to rotate the pans halfway through baking to ensure the cupcakes bake evenly.
• I like to use the “tulip” paper liners because they look pretty but they also allow for adding more batter to each cup making a taller cupcake. If you use a standard cup liner make sure to only fill each cup 3/4 of the way full to make sure the cupcakes don’t overflow when they rise during baking.
• Store in an airtight container for two days.

Pin for later!

Check out my YouTube channel and subscribe! www.youtube.com/@homespunannie