Simple Vanilla Cupcakes Recipe

Vanilla Cupcake Ingredients

This recipe is made with simple ingredients you can find at your local grocery store:

Cake Flour – It helps to create a light and fluffy texture and is a staple in many baking recipes.

Whole Milk – Adds moisture and flavor. It also helps to bind the ingredients together. For vanilla cupcakes, it is best to use whole or 2% milk for the most flavor.

Buttermilk – Adds moisture and a subtle tanginess to the cupcakes. It also helps to create a light texture. Make easy buttermilk from scratch if you don’t have any in your fridge!

Egg Whites – These create structure and add moisture, which helps keep the cupcakes from drying out. Use large eggs and make sure they are at room temperature before adding them to the batter.

Granulated Sugar – Adds sweetness and helps the cupcakes rise. It also helps to create a light and fluffy texture.

Butter – Use whole, unsalted butter, and make sure it’s room temperature. This will add moisture and flavor and helps create a light texture.

Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract to add real vanilla flavor to these cupcakes. This not only adds flavor but also enhances the flavor of all of the ingredients.

Baking Powder + Baking Soda – These work as leavening agents to help the cupcakes rise.

Cornstarch – This works with the other ingredients to create a soft, fluffy cupcake with a moist texture.

Salt – Adds and enhances the flavor in the cupcakes.

Recipe Variations

Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcake Recipe: Use a gluten-free flour blend for the cake flour.

Coconut Vanilla Cupcake Recipe: Use coconut extract and add shredded coconut to the cupcake batter and top with a vanilla-coconut frosting.

Lemon-Vanilla Cupcake Recipe: Add 1/2 teaspoon of lemon extract and top with a vanilla-lemon frosting.

Eden’s Tips

Use High-Quality Ingredients: This makes a huge difference in the outcome of the cupcake. Try to buy King Arthur flour, whole grass-fed organic butter, organic eggs, Nielsen-Massey Vanilla, organic milk, etc.

Don’t Over Mix: Once the butter, eggs, and sugar are beaten until light and fluffy, the rest of the ingredients should not be mixed on high. This will create a dense cupcake. When the flour goes in the mixer, it should be set to low, and I highly recommend a handheld electric mixer over a stand mixer.

Preheat the Oven: A certain amount of heat applied quickly is required to activate the baking soda in the recipe. This will make the cupcake rise to be light and fluffy and not flat. 

Baking Times: Baking times will vary depending on the true oven temperature, location, and altitude. Set the timer for a little less and check on the cupcakes; give them more time as needed.

Do Not Over Fill: Be sure to fill the cupcake liner only 2/3 to 3/4 of the way up. This will give you a perfectly shaped cupcake every time. If you overfill them, they can overflow and cause a mess or even sink in the middle!

Frosting for Vanilla Cupcakes

The best thing about vanilla cupcakes is that you can add any frosting you like to give them even more flavor! Here are a few of our favorite frosting options:

Swiss Meringue Buttercream – A light buttery frosting that’s not too sweet and made egg whites

Chocolate Buttercream – Chocolate and vanilla go well together and this is a great frosting to add to the top.

Favorite Vanilla Buttercream – A classic buttercream frosting goes well with vanilla and you can make pretty colors with it too.

Sour Cream Chocolate Frosting – This is one of our personal favorite frosting recipes.

Fluffy Gingerbread Frosting – Perfect if you’re making these for a holiday party!

You can use a piping bag and a large round tip to pipe any of these frostings onto the cupcakes.