Vanilla Cupcakes

Who doesn’t love vanilla cupcakes? They’re a classic, delicious treat and the perfect canvas for creative toppings!

I love this simple cupcake because it’s so easy and delicious — and I can add anything I want on top.

In this recipe I have a sweet, classic buttercream frosting recipe to top the cupcake but you can use whatever you like from chocolate frosting to a glaze or whipped cream. You can also add sprinkles, edible glitter, chocolate chips, nuts, or any other sweet additions.

The next time you’re looking for a simple and easy recipe for cupcakes that will wow a crowd with their simple yet delicious flavor, consider this your go-to.

Common Questions about Vanilla Cupcakes

How can I make moist vanilla cupcakes?

Using sour cream or yogurt in the batter will help add moisture (and a little tang).

What is the secret to making the best cupcakes? 

One of the timeless tips for making amazing cupcakes is ensuring that all of the ingredients are at room temperature to ensure they mix together well and that the baker avoids over-mixing.

How can I make sure I wind up with a fluffy cupcake?

Not over-mixing is the key — you want to make sure there are air bubbles which means you only mix the ingredients as much as is necessary if you want fluffy cupcakes instead of dense cupcakes.

Making Vanilla Cupcakes Ahead of Time

You can make these cupcakes ahead of time and store them until you’re ready to frost them.

Storage

For the short term you can store unfrosted cupcakes at room temperature for a day. After that, you’ll need to keep them cool.

Refrigerator: Refrigerate cupcakes, frosted or unfrosted, for 4-5 days in an airtight container.

Freezing: Freeze cupcakes for up to 3 months in a freezer bag or freezer-friendly container.

Tips For The Best Vanilla Cupcakes

This is a simple recipe but there are a few tips for making sure you get the best results. 

• Use a kitchen scale for weighing ingredients. Measuring cups and spoons work well, but using a scale can help make measurements more precise.
• Avoid overmixing. The key to amazing baked goods is ensuring that their taste and texture are perfect and overmixing can compromise the texture of baked goods. 
• If you’re adding food coloring to the frosting, do so gradually to avoid over-coloring it.

Ingredients

Only a few simple ingredients will yield the best fluffy cupcakes.

Cupcakes

• Unsalted butter (softened)
• Granulated sugar
• Large eggs
• Whole milk
• White vinegar
• Pure vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Kosher salt

American Buttercream Frosting

• Unsalted butter (softened)
• Vanilla extract
• Kosher salt
• Confectioner’s sugar
• Heavy whipping cream

Optional ingredients:

• Food coloring for the buttercream
• Sprinkles for decorating

Kitchen Supplies You’ll Need 

No fancy gadgets here! Just the basics.

• Large bowls (2)
• Electric mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment
• Cupcake liners
• Muffin tin
• Rubber spatula
• Toothpick or cake tester
• Piping bag or Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off
• Wire rack

How to Make Vanilla Cupcakes

This recipe is fairly straightforward — just remember not to overmix.

Cupcakes

1. Add the butter and sugar to a large bowl and beat on high speed. The mixture should be fluffy and light.
2. Place the mixer speed on medium and add one egg at a time, mixing until the eggs are completely combined.
3. Continuing the beat on medium, add the milk, vinegar, and vanilla extract until entirely incorporated.
4. Then, whisk together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. 
5. Turn the mixer to low speed and gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients until all ingredients are moistened. Be careful not to overmix – you want a soft crumb mixture.
6. Fill the cupcake liners in the muffin tin halfway full with cupcake batter.
7. Place the muffin tin on the middle rack of the pre-heated oven.
8. Baking time may vary so bake until the cupcakes pass the toothpick test.
9. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the cupcake pan briefly before transferring them to a cooling rack to reach room temperature before frosting.

American Buttercream Frosting

1. Add the butter, vanilla extract, and salt to a bowl.
2. Cream butter mixture on medium-high speed until silky smooth.
3. Decrease the mixer to medium speed and gradually add the powdered sugar until the mixture is clump-free.
4. Pour the heavy cream into the mixture and increase the mixer to high speed until the frosting becomes light and fluffy.
5. If choosing to use food coloring, add it and beat briefly until the color is evenly dispersed.

Assemble the cupcakes:

1. Add the buttercream to a piping bag and pipe it onto the top of each cupcake.
2. Add sprinkles on top if desired.

What to Serve With Vanilla Cupcakes

You can serve cupcakes with anything you’d typically serve with cake — here are a few ideas.

• Frozen treats – Serve these alongside your favorite gelato or ice cream scoop. 
• Fruit – Top with fruit or serve it on the side. 
• Candy pieces – Sprinkle crushed candy on top.
• Nuts – Crush your favorite nuts and sprinkle them on top of the iced cupcakes.

Why You Should Make This Recipe

It’s a classic — why not make it as the perfect canvas for any creative toppings or accompaniments?

• Versatile – These vanilla cupcakes can be the base for any amazing frosting or other toppings. 
• Easy – This is an easy recipe that the novice and expert bakers can both bake.
• Customizable – You can make these your own in a variety of ways.

Variations and Add-ins

Switch up the recipe to make it your own!

• Extracts – Swap out some or all of the vanilla for other extracts to add seasonal (or your favorite) flavors. 
• Cream cheese – Give the frosting a tangy flavor by making it a cream cheese frosting. 
• Chocolate – Gently fold in milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips to the batter or the frosting for chocolatey flavor or melt them and mix them in to make chocolate cupcakes.
• Size – Make mini cupcakes by using a smaller muffin tin.

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If you love this easy Vanilla Cupcake recipe, you’re going to love these other cupcakes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

Other Cupcakes

Easy Coconut Cupcakes

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Cinnamon Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

Bakery Style Vanilla Cupcakes

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