Description
Say goodbye to dry and boring vanilla cupcakes, and HELLO to these supremely moist and flavorful vanilla cupcakes of your dreams!
Ingredients
Cupcake ingredients
- 1 & â…“ (165g) cup all-purpose flour
- 1 & ½ tsp (6g) baking powder
- ¼ tsp (1g) salt
- ½ cup (114g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup (60g) Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)
- ¾ cup (188ml) cold milk (buttermilk is best, but any kind works)
- 2 tsp (10ml) vanilla extract
Buttercream ingredients
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/4 tsp (1g) salt
- seeds of 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
- 3 cups (375g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp (30-45ml) cream or milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a muffin pan with 12 paper liners.
- In a large bowl, toss together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter and sugar. Then mix in the egg, yogurt, cold milk, and vanilla.
- Add the wet ingredient to the dry ingredients. Whisk until just smooth and combined.
- Divide the batter into the 12 cupcake liners.
- Bake for about 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
To make the buttercream:
- Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or handheld mixer, beat the butter, salt, and vanilla bean seeds until light and fluffy.
- Add in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing well in between. Add in the cream or milk, 1 tablespoon at a time as needed.
- Beat on high speed for about 1 minute after the last addition of powdered sugar for a fluffy and airy texture. Frost the cupcakes as desired.
Notes
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days at room temperature or up to 5 days in the fridge. You can also freeze these cupcakes for up to 3 months. See FAQ above for instructions.
Expert tips:
- Use good quality vanilla – Since vanilla is the main flavor profile in this recipe, it’s best to use pure vanilla extract for the best taste.
- Use cold milk, yogurt, and egg – I know this is a bit unusual for a recipe that uses melted butter, but I find it works much better because it thickens the batter and gives the cupcakes a better rise. So no need to bring these ingredients to room temperature, just use them straight from the fridge.