cupcake recipe Archives - Sugar & Sparrow https://sugarandsparrow.com/tag/cupcake-recipe/ Lifestyle and Cake from Portland Oregon Mon, 18 Sep 2023 16:31:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.3 https://sugarandsparrow.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flour/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/02212522/cropped-sparrow_favi-32x32.png cupcake recipe Archives - Sugar & Sparrow https://sugarandsparrow.com/tag/cupcake-recipe/ 32 32 Classic Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting https://sugarandsparrow.com/yellow-cupcakes-recipe/ https://sugarandsparrow.com/yellow-cupcakes-recipe/#respond Tue, 18 Apr 2023 02:40:00 +0000 https://sugarandsparrow.com/?p=36071 There is no cake more nostalgic to me than yellow cake with chocolate frosting and rainbow sprinkles. It’s the birthday cake my mom made for me every year growing up...

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There is no cake more nostalgic to me than yellow cake with chocolate frosting and rainbow sprinkles. It’s the birthday cake my mom made for me every year growing up and although it was tradition for her to bake it in a casserole dish (with box mix and canned frosting), I whipped up a from-scratch version that’s just as delicious and takes me right back to my childhood! The layer cake version is here, but I whipped up this cupcake recipe just in case you want to whip up a tinier rendition of the same great recipe! 

yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting recipe
classic yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting recipe by sugar and sparrow

These yellow cupcakes are extra moist, have the perfect fluffy crumb, and are naturally yellow in color due to egg yolks in the recipe. In my humble opinion, these are as close to a box mix as you can get texture-wise, but taste even better with these from-scratch ingredients. If you’ve never had yellow cake before and are wondering what they taste like, just imagine an extra moist vanilla cake. The only real difference is that classic yellow color.  

chocolate buttercream recipe by sugar and sparrow

I always pair yellow cake with chocolate frosting, which gives it a great balance of chocolate and vanilla flavor (plus it’s tradition!). The chocolate buttercream pictured here is my absolute favorite – rich and decadent, silky smooth, and simple to make. It’s also the perfect consistency for piping the swirls onto these cupcakes! I used Wilton Tip 1M for these swirls but you could use any piping tip you usually decorate cupcakes with, or simply spread the frosting on with a spatula or butter knife. 

yellow cupcakes with chocolate buttercream recipe
yellow cupcakes recipe with chocolate frosting

Immediately after piping the swirls, I added some rainbow sprinkles onto each cupcake to give them that extra nostalgic look. I used these rainbow sprinkles but I also love this mix by SprinklePop and was a little sad when I realized I didn’t have them on hand for this batch. Don’t worry, I got over it as soon as I bit into one of these cupcakes and felt the worries of the world melt away.

yellow cupcake recipe with chocolate buttercream frosting
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Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

Inspired by my favorite birthday cake as a kid, these yellow cupcakes rival box mix texture with their moist and fluffy crumb. Pair them with decadent chocolate buttercream and rainbow sprinkles for a classic flavor combination!
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 14 Cupcakes

Ingredients

Yellow Cupcakes

  • 1 1/4 Cups (132g) sifted cake flour* DIY recipe in notes
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 6 Tbsp (82g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 Tbsp (30ml) vegetable oil
  • 3/4 Cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
  • 2 Tbsp (30g) sour cream, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 Cup (120ml) whole milk, room temperature

Chocolate Buttercream

  • 1 Cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3 Cups (360g) powdered sugar
  • 1/2 Cup (45g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 Tbsp (45ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt, or to taste

Garnish

  • 1/4 Cup (50g) rainbow sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

Make the Yellow Cupcakes

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF/177ºC and line a cupcake pan with 12-15 liners.
  • Add the sifted cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. 
  • In the bowl of your stand mixer (a handheld mixer works fine too!), cream the butter for on high for two minutes until it's light and fluffy. Add vegetable oil and sugar, then continue to mix on med-high for another two minutes. Add the whole egg and egg yolk and mix until well combined. Add vanilla and sour cream and mix for one minute on high, scraping down the bowl and paddle once more. 
  • With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, then continue mixing while you add the milk in a slow stream. Mix until just incorporated, then scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and give it a few stirs to make sure there are no lumps (without over-mixing). The batter will be thick.
  • Spoon the yellow cake batter into the cupcake liners, filling each one between 1/2 and 2/3 full. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool fully before frosting.

Make the Chocolate Buttercream

  • In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, whip the butter on high speed until creamy and light in color, about five minutes. Scrape down the bowl and paddle and turn the mixer to low, then add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Continue mixing on low speed until fully combined and uniform, 2-3 minutes, scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed.

Assembly

  • When the cupcakes are fully cooled, fit a piping bag with Wilton Tip 1M. Fill the piping bag with the chocolate buttercream and pipe a swirl onto each cupcake. Garnish with rainbow sprinkles.

Notes

*DIY Cake Flour Recipe: To make your own cake flour, spoon and level one cup of all-purpose flour and remove 2 Tbsp. Add 2 Tbsp of cornstarch. Repeat per the amount of cake flour you need, then sift the flour and cornstarch mixture 4 times (don’t skip that step!)After sifting, spoon and level to re-measure the amount of cake flour you need. 
Make Ahead Tips:
  1. The yellow cupcakes can be baked, cooled, wrapped in plastic wrap, and left out at room temperature up to one day ahead of decorating. Unfrosted cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two months before thawing and frosting. 
  2. The chocolate buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day. Alternatively, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, bring it back to room temperature and re-mix with your stand mixer to bring back to frosting consistency. 
  3. The frosted cupcakes can be stored at room temperature in a box for up to 5 days (they will be the most fresh up to 2 days). 
Yield: this recipe makes 12-15 cupcakes. Double the recipe to make 24-30 cupcakes and so on. 

Did you make these cupcakes? I want to know how it went! Leave a comment below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you create!

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Toasted S’mores Cupcakes https://sugarandsparrow.com/smores-cupcakes-recipe/ https://sugarandsparrow.com/smores-cupcakes-recipe/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://sugarandsparrow.com/?p=31267 I can’t tell you how many requests I’ve gotten for a cupcake version of my S’mores Cake with Toasted Marshmallow Buttercream. It’s one of my all-time favorite recipes (s’mores fan...

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I can’t tell you how many requests I’ve gotten for a cupcake version of my S’mores Cake with Toasted Marshmallow Buttercream. It’s one of my all-time favorite recipes (s’mores fan to the core, here!) and there are so many amazing flavors going on in it: graham cracker cake, decadent chocolate, toasted marshmallow buttercream. I had to get a little creative to capture the magic of these flavors in cupcake form, and I am so happy with how they turned out. Behold!

smores cupcake recipe by Sugar and Sparrow

These S’mores Cupcakes have a lot going on, but every step is totally worth the amazing flavor. It all starts with a graham cracker flavored cupcake baked on top of a graham cracker crust (my husband’s idea, and it is so genius). You basically mix up a quick graham cracker crust and press a spoonful of it into the bottom of the cupcake tin before adding the cupcake batter on top. Although the cupcake batter is already flavored with graham cracker crumbs, the crust adds the perfect amount of texture and really takes the graham cracker flavor to the next level! 

smores cupcakes filled with marshmallow
graham cracker cupcakes with chocolate buttercream and toasted marshmallow

After those tasty graham cracker cupcakes cooled, I filled them with marshmallow fluff and frosted them with my favorite chocolate buttercream. And since one thing I really loved about the S’mores Cake I made last year was the piped and toasted meringue, I decided to use that same technique to top these cupcakes! The marshmallow meringue recipe below is the perfect piping consistency, and toasting it is my favorite part of the whole recipe. 

chocolate marshmallow cupcakes
smores cupcakes with toasted marshmallow

If you don’t feel like going the extra mile to make marshmallow meringue, you can totally top these with a regular ol’ marshmallow and toast it with a culinary torch. The marshmallow meringue is so pretty and tasty, but it is the only thing in this recipe that can’t be made ahead of time. That being said, if you do decide to spend that extra 10 minutes making the meringue (worth it!), make sure you whip it up right before you’re gonna pipe it on. After you toast it, the meringue holds its shape for two days, whether it’s at room temp or refrigerated. 

toasted meringue on cupcakes

Whether you’re a hardcore s’mores fan or you’re making these for someone else who is, they are sure to please. Between the gooey marshmallow, the graham cracker cupcake, and the perfect hit of chocolate, these beauties are a little bit of s’mores heaven. Enjoy!

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Toasted S’mores Cupcakes

Graham Cracker Cupcakes filled with Marshmallow Fluff, topped with Chocolate Buttercream and Toasted Marshmallow Meringue – the perfect S'mores Cupcakes!
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Servings 14 cupcakes

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

  • 1/2 Cup (52g) graham crackers, ground into crumbs
  • 2 Tbsp white granulated sugar
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Graham Cracker Cupcakes

  • 1/2 Cup (52g) graham crackers, ground into crumbs
  • 1 1/4 Cups (133g) cake flour, sifted before measuring
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 Cup (71g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2/3 Cup (137g) granulated white sugar
  • 1 egg + 1 egg yolk, room temperature
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 Cup (120ml) whole milk, room temperature

Marshmallow Filling

  • 1/3 Cup Marshmallow Fluff

Chocolate Buttercream

  • 1/2 Cup (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 Cups (180g) powdered sugar
  • 1/4 Cup (21g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 Tbsp whole milk, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt

Marshmallow Meringue Topping

  • 3 large egg whites, room temperature
  • 3/4 Cup (150g) granulated white sugar
  • 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Make The Graham Cracker Crust

  • In a small bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs and granulated sugar. Add the melted butter and mix until well incorporated.

Make The Graham Cracker Cupcakes

  • Preheat the oven to 350˚F and line a muffin pan or cupcake pan with liners. Press a spoonful of the Graham Cracker Crust into the bottom of each cupcake liner.
  • In a medium sized bowl, add the graham cracker crumbs, sifted cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter for one minute on high. Scrape down the bowl and paddle and add the sugar. Cream together on high for two minutes, scraping down the bowl and paddle once in between. Turn the mixer to low and add the egg and egg yolk until combined.
  • Add vanilla and mix on medium for one minute. Turn the mixer to low and add all of the dry ingredients at once until just combined, then add the milk all at once. Scrape down the bowl and paddle once more and mix on low for about 30 seconds. Do not overmix.  
  • Pour batter on top of the graham cracker crust bottomed liners to fill no more than ⅔ full. Bake for 17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely before filling or frosting.

Make The Chocolate Buttercream

  • In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, whip butter on medium speed until creamy and light in color, about four minutes. Scrape down the bowl and paddle and turn the mixer to low, then add powdered sugar, cocoa powder, milk, salt, and vanilla extract. Increase the speed to medium and beat for one full minute.

Make The Marshmallow Meringue

  • Whisk the egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar together in a small heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan filled with an inch or two of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water (or else it will cook your eggs!). Whisk the mixture constantly until the sugar has dissolved, about 4 minutes.
  • Once the sugar has dissolved, pour the mixture into the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Add the vanilla and whisk the mixture on high for 6 full minutes, until stiff peaks form. You should be able to dip the whisk into the meringue and it forms a peak that maintains its shape when turned right side up and upside down.

Assembly

  • Once the Graham Cracker Cupcakes are cooled, cut out the centers using a knife or inverted large piping tip. Fill the empty centers with Marshmallow Fluff. Fit a piping bag with Wilton tip 1M and fill it with Chocolate Buttercream, then pipe a swirl of chocolate buttercream on top of each cupcake. Sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs.
  • To get the look pictured, fit one piping bag with Wilton Tip 1M and another with Wilton Tip 4B. Fill both piping bags with Marshmallow Meringue. Pipe a small swirl with Wilton Tip 1M on top of each cupcake, then pipe two stars next to each small meringue swirl with Wilton Tip 4B. Toast the meringue accents (carefully!) with a culinary torch.

Notes

Make Ahead Tips:
The Graham Cracker Cupcakes can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one day. Alternatively, you can place them in the freezer in an airtight container for up to one month before thawing and using. 
The Chocolate Buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day. Alternatively, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, bring it back to room temperature and rewhip with your stand mixer to bring back to frosting consistency. 
The Marshmallow Meringue cannot be made ahead and must be made right before you’re ready to pipe and torch it. 

Did you make these cupcakes? I want to know how it went! Let me know in the comments below and be sure to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram. I love to see what you’re caking!

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Banana Split Cupcakes Recipe https://sugarandsparrow.com/banana-split-cupcakes/ https://sugarandsparrow.com/banana-split-cupcakes/#comments Wed, 12 Jun 2019 15:00:21 +0000 https://sugarandsparrow.com/?p=31037 Hooray that it’s nearly summertime! It’s my favorite time of year, mainly because Portland gets sunny and so picturesque. I just want to be outside 24/7 soaking it all up!...

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Hooray that it’s nearly summertime! It’s my favorite time of year, mainly because Portland gets sunny and so picturesque. I just want to be outside 24/7 soaking it all up! Since ice cream is such an iconic summer treat, I wanted to use it as inspiration for these Banana Split Cupcakes. There’s no actual ice cream involved, just tons of cuteness and flavors that are so perfect together.

banana split cupcakes by Sugar and Sparrow

These Banana Split Cupcakes start with the perfect banana cupcake recipe, enhanced with a little cinnamon to really bring out the flavor. The secret to the perfect banana flavor is using over-ripe (aka brown spotted) bananas, so if you ever find yourself in a situation where your bananas are too ripe to eat, it’s always a good excuse to bake with them! If your bananas are not as ripe, the flavor won’t come through as well, so make sure you wait until the peel starts browning for maximum taste.

bananas for baking
banana cupcake recipe

Next, I topped the banana cupcakes with a scoop of cold vanilla buttercream and it’s amazing how much it looks like ice cream! If you don’t have an ice cream scoop for this part, a spoon will totally do the trick. Just scoop out a bit of buttercream and top the cupcake, then use a spoon to shape it until it looks like ice cream.

how to decorate banana split cupcakes
banana chocolate cupcakes

To finish the look, I drizzled a little chocolate ganache, added some sprinkles, and topped these beauties with a maraschino cherry. I’m a little obsessed with how they look! For the sprinkles, you can use any rainbow jimmies, but I used the jimmies from the Rainbow Road mix by SprinklePop. It’s no secret that I love their sprinkles, and if you’re in the need of the perfect sprinkle mix for your cake projects, don’t forget to use my code SUGARANDSPARROW15 for 15% off your order.

banana split cupcake recipe
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Banana Split Cupcakes Recipe

Tasty banana cupcakes topped with vanilla buttercream, chocolate ganache, sprinkles, and maraschino cherries. Perfect for any Summer shindig!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Servings 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

Banana Cupcakes

  • 1 1/4 Cup (173g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 Cup (177ml) mashed banana (about 2 large)
  • 1/2 Cup (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 Cup (94g) packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 Cup (103g) white granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 Cup (79ml) full-fat buttermilk, room temperature

Vanilla Buttercream

  • 1 Cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3 1/2 Cups (420g) powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp whole milk, room temperature
  • pinch of salt

Chocolate Ganache

  • 1/2 Cup (92g) semi-sweet, milk, or dark chocolate chips
  • 1/3 Cup (79ml) heavy whipping cream

Additional Garnishes

  • rainbow sprinkles
  • maraschino cherries

Instructions

Make The Banana Cupcakes

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF and prepare a muffin pan by lining with cupcake tins. Measure the flour by spooning into your measuring cup and leveling it, then whisk it together with the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon and set aside.
  • Place the bananas in the bowl of your stand mixer and mash them with a paddle attachment on medium for about 30 seconds. Set aside.
  • Cream the butter on high for 1 minute. Add the white and brown sugars and cream on high for another 2 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, add the eggs one at a time and mix until combined.  Add the mashed bananas and vanilla and beat for 1 full minute, then scrape down the bowl and paddle. With the mixer still on low, add the dry ingredients until just combined, then add the buttermilk and mix until just combined. Give it a few stirs with your spatula to ensure that everything is nice and mixed up without overmixing. The batter will be thick.
  • Spoon the batter into prepared cupcake tins ⅔ of the way full, then bake for 17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool the cupcakes in the pan for five minutes before removing and continuing to cool on a wire rack or flat surface.

Make The Vanilla Buttercream

  • With a hand mixer or paddle attachment on your stand mixer, cream the butter on medium-high until it’s creamy and light (almost white) in color. About 7 minutes. 
  • Add the sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, scraping down after each addition and making sure each cup is fully incorporated before adding the next one. Add vanilla, milk, and salt and mix on medium-low for another two minutes until fully incorporated. 
  • Place the buttercream into an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Make The Chocolate Ganache

  • Place chocolate chips into a heat resistant bowl (glass or metal). In a saucepan over medium-high heat, warm heavy whipping cream until it just starts to boil. I always look for small bubbles forming around the edge and a soft boil starting in the middle. When you see that it’s just starting to boil, pour it into your bowl of chocolate and let sit for 30 seconds, then whisk it together until it's uniform in consistency and there are no bits of chocolate left on your whisk.
  • Cool ganache at room temperature for about 30 minutes, or until the ganache itself is room temperature. 

Assembly

  • Once the Banana Cupcakes have cooled completely, add a scoop of cold Vanilla Buttercream on top of each one and shape it with a spoon until it resembles a scoop of real ice cream. Drizzle the buttercream with Chocolate Ganache (make sure it's room temperature, not hotter or colder than that), add the rainbow sprinkles, and place a maraschino cherry on top.

Notes

Make Ahead Tips: The Banana Cupcakes can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one day. Alternatively, you can place them in the freezer in an airtight container for up to one month before thawing and using. 
The Vanilla Buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one day. Alternatively, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks before thawing, re-whipping with your stand mixer, and using. 
The Chocolate Ganache can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, microwave it in 10 second increments, stirring after every interval until your ganache is room temperature and uniform in consistency.

Did you make this cupcake recipe? I want to know what you think! Let me know in the comments below or feel free to tag me on Instagram. I love to see what you’re caking!

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The Perfect Vanilla Cupcake Recipe https://sugarandsparrow.com/vanilla-cupcake-recipe/ https://sugarandsparrow.com/vanilla-cupcake-recipe/#comments Wed, 29 Aug 2018 15:00:16 +0000 https://sugarandsparrow.com/?p=29779 Whether you’ve been baking for awhile or you’re new to the game, there are a few go-to recipes I recommend having in your recipe box. I believe one of them...

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Whether you’ve been baking for awhile or you’re new to the game, there are a few go-to recipes I recommend having in your recipe box. I believe one of them should be a fail-proof vanilla cupcake recipe, and this one is just that. These babies come out the same every single time: fluffy, moist, rich vanilla flavor, and perfectly soft structure. And they’re so versatile, you can top them with just about any buttercream flavor and be good to go!

vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream recipe

Before inventing this recipe, I was very co-dependant on Betty Crocker box mixes for cupcakes (and cake!). That stuff is just so trustworthy, which was exactly what I was lacking from scratch recipes I’d tried. Usually, I’d try a from-scratch recipe and find that the cupcakes had sunken in the middle, had a weird cornbread-ish taste, were too dry, and just lacked luster. So I spent countless hours concocting the perfect ratio of moisture, fluffiness, flavor, and magic.

perfect vanilla cupcake recipe
vanilla cupcake ingredients

The soft texture of these cupcakes comes from a balance of incorporating cake flour and extra moisture. Cake flour has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour, which means the batter is able to retain more moisture (the higher the protein content, the less ability to retain moisture, aka the drier the cake). That being said, the cake flour makes sure that none of the extra moisture from ingredients like sour cream, egg yolks, and whole milk go to waste. The result? A dreamy, melt-in-your mouth texture that’s soft as box mix, only without all the ingredients in a box mix you can’t pronounce. I’ve got all the heart eyes.

fluffy moist vanilla cupcake recipe

You can pair these cupcakes with just about any buttercream flavor, but the buttercream I’ve used in these photos is my go-to vanilla buttercream recipe. Check that recipe out if you have yet to find the perfect American buttercream recipe for topping cakes and cupcakes! I’ve used my Wilton tip 1M to frost a ruffled swirl and topped the cupcakes with Fancy Sprinkles in the Roller Disco mix. I love this look (it’s a classic!) but if you want more inspiration on how to frost cupcakes, here are 10 of my favorite ideas.

vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and sprinkles

However you decorate, they’ll taste amazing. All of my taste testers are unanimous in their love of this recipe. Makes me happy every time!

best vanilla cupcake recipe
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Perfect Vanilla Cupcake Recipe

Soft and fluffy vanilla cupcakes that are packed with moisture and flavor. A fail-proof recipe you’ll want as a staple in your recipe box. 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings 24 cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups (265g) cake flour, sifted before measuring*
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup (169.5g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 3/4 cup (350g) granulated white sugar
  • 3 eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream, room temperature
  • 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare a muffin pan by lining with cupcake tins. 
  • Sift the cake flour first, then measure it out by spooning and leveling it in your measuring cup. Add the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. 
  • In the bowl of your stand mixer (a handheld mixer works fine too!), cream the butter for on high for two minutes until it’s light and fluffy. Add in sugar and continue to mix on high for another two minutes, scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Add vanilla and sour cream and mix for one minute on high, scraping down the bowl and paddle once more.
  • With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Add the milk slowly and mix until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and give it a few stirs to make sure there are no lumps (without over-mixing). The batter will be slightly thick.
  • Spoon batter into the cupcake tins until they’re about ⅔ full, then bake for 17 minutes. They’re done when they spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for five minutes before removing them from the pan and continuing to cool them for at least an hour. Make sure they’re entirely room temperature before applying any frosting. 

Notes

*DIY Cake Flour Recipe: To make your own cake flour, spoon and level one cup of all-purpose flour and remove 2 Tbsp. Add 2 Tbsp of cornstarch. Repeat per the amount of cake flour you need, then sift the flour and cornstarch mixture 4 times (don’t skip that step!)After sifting, spoon and level to re-measure the amount of cake flour you need. 
Make ahead tip: These cupcakes can be baked, cooled, stored in their muffin tin with plastic wrap over the top, and left out at room temperature up to one day ahead of decorating. Unfrosted cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to one month before thawing and frosting.

Disclaimer: this post does contain some affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission if you click them and purchase items I’ve recommended. Using these links won’t cost you any extra money, but they do help to keep Sugar & Sparrow up and running. Thank you for your support!

Did you make this recipe? Let me know by tagging me on Instagram. I love to see your creations!

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