Classic Vanilla Cupcakes
Do any of you guys watch the show ‘Cupcake Wars’ on Food Network? It gets a pretty bad rap, but I still enjoy it. Apparently there are a good amount of other people that do too, because it’s been on for a few years now. I like to see the creative ideas that the competitors come up with for crazy ingredients, then I like seeing them create 3 of their own signature cupcakes with the different fillings and flavors and frostings. Of course it’s not a perfect show: for one, the host really gets on my nerves with his lame jokes at the different time markers throughout the competition. I feel like if one of the other Food Network personalities were hosting it, the show would be stronger. Just my opinion. This may be just me and my suspicious nature, but I’m not so sure that I buy the whole “1,000 Cupcake display” that they claim to make the competitors put together at the end for a special event. Maybe it’s a few hundred cupcakes, but from what I’ve seen in most of the episodes, it really just doesn’t look like that many.
Before I watched the show I didn’t know that there were such things as ‘cupcakeries’ that specialize in putting out gourmet style cupcakes. I blame it on my hometown. It’s lame when it comes to Foodie Culture. But even if we did have a cupcake bakery that sold $8.00 cupcakes, I’m not so sure that I would be bum-rushing the doors to get some every week. #1, when it comes to desserts, I don’t usually have extreme cravings for regular cake- pound cake is ALWAYS welcome, but my cravings for typical, moist cake are far in between. #2, I’m a simple girl when it comes to my favored cake flavors. My favorite type of cakes are a golden yellow cake with milk chocolate frosting, and a french vanilla cake with white frosting- both of which I think would be a waste of money to buy at a cupcake bakery. If I buy something from there, I’ll probably try to get a wacky, loaded flavor like a caramel apple pie cupcake, or a banana pudding style one, or something like that. If I want a normal, ‘plain’ cupcake, chances are I’m just going to make it myself.
This may sound weird, but I actually really love it when people I know specifically ask me to make them something that they’re craving to eat. It makes me feel kinda special that they’re letting me feed the craving of something that they love. Good food makes us happy. When I serve someone good food, I get to be apart of making somebody happy- and even if the happiness is temporary, that’s not something I think should be taken for granted. We could all use a little bit more of making somebody else happy especially when so many of us struggle (and fail) to make ourselves happy. Focusing on other people’s happiness is a lot less trouble than focusing on our own, am I right? Of course right. One of my friends recently had a birthday and she wanted some vanilla cupcakes to celebrate it, so I was happy to make these for her.
I’m really happy with how these turned out. The cake itself is moist, soft and golden. This was also my first time making real buttercream frosting, and I think it was a huge success. It’s not like that lardy, crap that they make in store bought cupcakes that makes you want to barf and that you just end up scraping off- no, I’m pretty sure that this is the kind of frosting that you may even like more than the cupcake itself. Yep, it’s that good. And the nonpareils? Well they’re there because I think they look pretty and cute- just like the whole idea of cupcakes themselves.
These little babies are my contribution to this week’s Fiesta Friday, hosted by Fae@Fae’s Twist and Tango and Suzanne@apuginthekitchen. Every week I get so pumped about bringing my dish to this awesome link up, as well as getting the chance to see what everyone else has been up to in the kitchen to bring. Have a good weekend guys!
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Classic Vanilla Cupcakes
Recipe Courtesy of ‘Bake’ by Edward Gee
CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE VERSION
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 extra large eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
Frosting
- 1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/3 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
- Nonpareil sprinkles, to decorate
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Place 12 paper liners in a muffin pan.
2. Put the butter and granulated sugar in a bowl and beat together until pale and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs and vanilla extract. Sift in the flour and baking powder, then fold in gently.
3. Divide the batter evenly among the paper liners and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until risen and firm to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
4. To make the frosting, put the butter into a bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes, or until pale and creamy. Beat in the cream and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in the confectioners sugar and continue beating until the buttercream is light and fluffy.
5. Use a small spatula to swirl the frosting over the tops of the cupcakes. Decorate with sprinkles.
my children love cupcake!
I think just about EVERY kid loves cupcakes lol I think they would like these too- thanks for stopping by 🙂
Yum, yum, yum! Cupcakes are one of my favorite desserts. Thanks so much for bringing them to the party. Happy Fiesta Friday! 🙂
Thank you much- Happy Fiesta Friday to you too 😀
Sometimes, nothing but a vanilla cupcake will do, and this recipe sounds delicious. The cake part looks perfect…far from dry. And bravo to you for conquering homemade buttercream! I bet these little beauties put a huge smile on your birthday friend’s face.
They did get pretty good reviews (thankfully), thanks Nancy!
I have seen cupcake wars, it’s an interesting show and anything involving cupcakes is good in my books. I love your vanilla cupcakes, absolutely classic and delicious and everything is good with sprinkles.
Thanks Suzanne- I agree, sprinkles just bring so much to the table. Happy Fiesta Friday 🙂
Someday I would love for you to make me these cupcakes… LOVE LOVE LOVE!! I’m a cupcake girl. Always have been…always will be. You rocked the house one this one!! <3
Aww thank ya Prudy- I’d love to make you anything, not just cupcakes. Happy FF <3
I love vanilla cupcakes! Yours look like they would melt in your mouth. And everything is better with sprinkles! I like watching Cupcake Wars, too. It is really fun to see what kinds of yummy cupcakes they come up with, kinds I would never think of in a million years. Thanks for sharing your delicious recipe with us! Your friend is very lucky.
Thanks Shari 🙂
Jess- these look lovely! Never heard of that show before.
Thank you Lori, the show’s probably not something you’d know about if you don’t watch Food Network regularly…and I do so, yeah lol
They look really yummy! I too enjoy watching cupcake wars from time to time! So you’re not alone there! 🙂
Thank you 🙂
I love buttercream as you made it without the lard. Like you said it doesn’t have that greasy aftertaste. The cupcakes look yummy!
Thank you, I don’t know how ANYONE can stand buttercream made with lard. It literally makes me gag lol
Yummy cupcakes………love it……
Thanks Jayeeta, I appreciate it!
Happy Fiesta Friday #20, Jess! Classic vanilla cupcakes with sprinkles? I’m in heaven at the Fiesta! Yum Yum! 😛
Thank you Fae! I’m glad I could bring these to the party 😀
Classics are always wonderful. My husband’s favorite is yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Even our small city has several cupcake cafés, but they don’t do it for me. I am extremely picky and would rather make it myself. Besides I am all about the cake, not the frosting. They cupcake cafés all use way too much frosting for my taste! These look perfect!
Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is one of the best combinations, ever. I agree about the amount of frosting on cupcakes. I think they probably do that for the sake of aesthetics- also it’s probably a way they can make the cupcakes cost more if there’s more icing on them. Thank you for complimenting these 🙂
Vanilla cakes always hit the spot!
I agree! When I get a craving for cake, vanilla cake is all that will do- thanks Anjana!
Vanilla cup cakes are classic but yours look very good 🙂
Thank you, I appreciate that 🙂
I love the sprinkles on your classic cupcakes! They are so happy!
I LOVE that description; sprinkles DO make food just happier lol Thank you!
I really like your blog. The recipes are always good and you said “crap” and “barf” in your post. Awesome.
Haha thank you Cristina. I write how I talk, so words like that end up coming out a lot.
Yummy! Those cupcakes are so cute with the sprinkles on them! 🙂
Thank you Nancy! I look for excuses to use sprinkles and cupcakes were a perfect reason lol
I much prefer vanilla cupcakes to the fancy “gourmet” ones that boast exotic flavors. Vanilla cupcakes are so comforting and always remind me of my childhood. Great job, Jess, and I am sure your friend loved these!
I agree Ngan, when it comes to cake, simpler is just better. Thanks 🙂
Oh my word, Jess! Is there such a thing as something being too good??? If there is, I think you hit it. These look so classy, and beyond delicious! You are awesome! ♥
I think there’s such a thing as ‘too good’- just as long as I get to eat it 😉 Thanks Kloe!
Yum!! These look adorable!
I think cupcakes are really adorable food- thank you 🙂
Yum, you can’t beat a good ol’ classic vanilla cupcake! I’ve never seen cupcake wars, I’ve heard a lot about it though.
Sure can’t Michelle- thank you 🙂
I love your cupcakes!
I watched ‘Cupcake wars’ too! 😀 But now I’m a little sick and tired of it. I just want to see the cupcakes and the crazy ingredients, their own cupcakes and the display. Not all this counting down and stuff xD
Thank you Sarah: I really only watch the first two rounds of Cupcake Wars before getting bored, after that I don’t care about the display round myself lol
Simplicity is often best 🙂 Anytime we make what some would consider just a “simple” meal it always seems to be so much better than the fanciest thing we’ve ever made. WHO could ever pass up a vanilla cupcake?
Not me, that’s for sure. Of course I’m not likely to turn down a vanilla anything, but that’s just me lol Thank you!