Friday, January 18, 2013

Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream


I'm still on the look-out for the perfect vanilla cupcake!  I actually don't have a problem with cakes made from a box.  I often doctor up box mixes to make cakes and cupcakes.  But I LOVE the taste of homemade cakes, especially when you can taste all of that fresh vanilla bean or whatever REAL ingredients you put in there.  The only problem I really have is that homemade cakes are rarely as moist as those made from a box and I am determined to find the perfect recipe.


I do really love my vanilla bean cupcakes but I'm still looking for the perfect recipe!  I thought I'd give Brown Eyed Baker's recipe a try.  Michelle makes some fabulous baked goods and I trust her to have a great recipe!  This one did not disappoint!  Very moist cupcake,  tight crumb but not too dense.  I was a little concerned with all of the egg yolks, but it was still fairly fluffy.  I added vanilla bean seeds as well as vanilla extract, I love to see those little seeds when I eat a cupcake.  


 Now for the shocker.....I did not make Swiss Meringue Buttercream!  (gasp!)  I know....I am getting a bit of a reputation as an addict, but I started my 12 step program and step 5 is "try another frosting".  So I did!  I actually just made a very simple vanilla buttercream....with extra vanilla extract.  Hey...you are lucky there were no vanilla bean seeds in it, I really have a problem!  The frosting was delish...I thinned it out with a little  bit of cream so it was not too thick and it was perfect for the cupcake!  Ok...I will admit it....not EVERY cupcake needs to have Swiss Meringue.  There, I said it!  Now go make a batch of these yummy and very easy cupcakes!


Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Vanilla Cupcake with Vanilla Buttercream adapted from Brown Eyed Baker
makes 12 cupcakes

Vanilla Cupcakes:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon table salt
8 tablespoons butter (1 stick), room temperature
½ cup sour cream
1 large egg , room temperature
2 large egg yolks , room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
seeds of 1/2 vanilla bean

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pan with liners.

Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add butter, sour cream, egg and egg yolks, and vanilla and vanilla seeds; beat at medium speed until smooth and satiny, about 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula and mix by hand until smooth and no flour pockets remain.

Divide batter evenly among cups of prepared tin. Bake until cupcake tops are pale gold and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from tin and transfer to wire rack; cool cupcakes to room temperature before frosting.

Vanilla Buttercream:
1 cup butter (2 sticks), at room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1-2 tablespoons cream

Using mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, stopping to scrape the bowl once or twice.

Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the powdered sugar. Once all of the powdered sugar is incorporated, increase the speed to medium-high and add the vanilla, mixing until incorporated. Add cream slowly and beat until desired consistency.

Frost cupcakes and enjoy!

Recipe shared on:
Weekend Kitchen Creations
Foodie Friends Friday
Chocolate, Chocolate, and More - Thursday's Treasures
The 21st Century Housewife - Gallery of Favorites




19 comments:

  1. finding the perfect vanilla cupcake is quite hard i agree! I use stork for a perfectly light sponge, i know, it sounds like a cop out but it really works!
    cupcakes look lovely and dainty x

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    1. Hi Em! I have never heard of stork before....what is it?

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  2. My challenge for you: healthy cupcakes? Is that an oxymoron? Wheat flour? I know, I'm an oxymoron minus the oxy. =)

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    1. Hmmmm....that is quite a challenge! With the exception of gluten free or working with diabetics, I pretty much stick with the "make it and eat it in moderation"! Wheat flour? I will have to give that some thought, I can't back down from a challenge! :)

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    2. So glad. I am on a health kick. =)

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  3. Not only are your baked goods yummy, but they're also pretty. Your frosting is always perfect, no matter the recipe!

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    1. Awwww....thanks Lisa! The frosting is the BEST part! :)

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  4. This looks yummy! Please share this in a new Linky Party --Weekend Kitchen Creations at www.weekendkitchencreations.blogspot.com. Please join us, share your delicious creation, build more traffic for your blog and get other scrumptious ideas.

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    1. Thanks so much Jennifer...I will head over and check it out! :)

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  5. The classics rock my friend this looks incredible :)

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  6. OMG! Amazing! I will have to find the swiss meringue recipe now.

    Thank you for sharing your recipe on Foodie Friends Friday Linky party. These look delicious! Please come back today to vote for your favorite recipes!

    Kelly {Adorned Well}
    One of the co-hosts of Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party

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    1. Thanks so much Kelly! I am loving Foodie Friends Friday, I find some of the best recipes there and have been introduced to some wonderful blogs!

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  7. Agh sorry I'm so late to the party Becky but I love these! Have I mentioned your piping skills are awesome and you should totes teach me all your cupcake ninja skills? ;) I've never tried real vanilla bean in my baking (gasp) but perhaps it's worth a try now that I hear about your addiction to it heehee :D

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  8. What beautiful cupcakes! I love vanilla anything and there is something so pleasing about a white cupcake topped with that gorgeous vanilla buttercream! The cake recipe sounds delicious moist as well. I've pinned these :) Thank you for sharing them with The Gallery of Favorites.

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  9. Ohh my goodness, these look absolutely amazing! Gotta love them sweet vanilla cupcakes :)

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  10. How funny that we both made vanilla cupcakes recently! Yours look gorgeous!

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  11. Hi there Becky! Wow, you really are a cupcake queen!!! This is my first visit to your blog (via Sugar Mountain) and it's beautiful... love the stories about your boys (and their cooking requests, haha) and the amazing recipes you produce! P.S I really am wondering what the real difference is between a muffin and a cupcake... hm. The buttercream, or lack thereof?? Anyway, keep up the good work beautiful! x

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    1. Hi Laura!! Welcome!! Yes...I really am the cupcake queen!!!! And Jess is the queen of muffins! But really, there isn't much difference between the two! Cupcakes are generally lighter and muffins denser but that is not always the case. Most of the muffins I make are denser and therefore bake longer and therefore are easier to dry out. That is why I think Jess is so talented, she has perfected the moist cupcake and she decorates them beautifully (as she does with her cupcakes and everything else she makes)!

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