Photography: John Paul Urizar.
These easy vanilla cupcakes are the perfect starter recipe for aspiring bakers. The ideal base to experiment with different colourings and decorations.
No birthday party is complete without a batch of vanilla cupcakes. They’re easy to make (and eat), the perfect edible gift and flavour combinations are endless. Let’s get baking.
Looking for more cupcake recipes?
Ingredients
Method
Vanilla cupcakes
Preheat oven to moderate, 180°C. Line a 12-hole muffin pan with paper patty cases.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and vanilla together until pale and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Fold in flour, alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Spoon mixture into patty cases until two-thirds full.
Bake vanilla cupcakes 20-25 minutes, or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool in pan 5 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Meanwhile, to make buttercream, in a small bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter until very pale. Gradually add half icing sugar; beat until combined. Add milk, remaining icing sugar and pink colouring; beat until smooth.
Spread icing over vanilla cupcakes. Place sprinkles on a shallow plate; roll edges of cake in sprinkles. Place flower on centre.
How to store flour so it stays fresh (video)
