Look no further!I am sharing with you three basic buttercream frosting recipes and a no fail vanilla cupcake recipe. I am on a cupcake kick right now, I just love to see an army of freshly baked cupcakes straight out of the oven. It’s homey, cozy and all good things wrapped up in a little cupcake liner.
These are all no fail recipes that guarantee really awesome results. No glitz and glitter but being able to make the perfect vanilla cupcake is a good starting point and having your choice of three buttercream frosting to pick from gives you options if you decide to swirl any combination together!
The cupcake recipe makes 15 cupcakes.
The frosting recipes make enough to frost 15 cupcakes depending on how high you pile the frosting. If you need more frosting, double the recipe.
No Fail Vanilla Cupcake Recipe
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups cake flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup buttermilk
Instructions
In a medium size bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set flour mixture aside
Using an electric mixer, beat 2 eggs with the whisk attachment (20 seconds)
Add sugar and continue to beat
Add vanilla and oil and beat on medium speed
Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add half of the flour mixture
Add half of the buttermilk
Add the rest of the flour mixture and the rest of the buttermilk.
Beat until combined and smooth
Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl as needed
Pour batter into lined muffin pan, filling half full
Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees
Cool in the pan before removing
Once the cupcakes are cooled to room temperature they are ready to be frosted
Buttercream frosting is an incredibly versatile basic frosting. Buttercream is smooth and spreadable and can be used as a sweet topper for cupcakes, cakes and cookies. After a couple disasters in the frosting department I have come up with 3 basic no fail recipes.
Being able to make a good buttercream icing is a skill you really need to have! These three fluffy buttercream frosting recipes are perfect for decorating and piping. I’m including the recipes for vanilla, chocolate and peanut butter frosting. I’m keeping it very basic so you have three good frosting recipes that won’t let you down.
I used three Wilton Tips for three different looks so you can have fun experimenting. There are pictures of the results at the bottom of the page.
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
Using a handheld or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on until creamy
Add 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
Add the cream and vanilla extract, mixing on a low speed
When combined increase to high speed for 2 minutes
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 Tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Sift together the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder so there are no lumps
Set aside
With a handheld or stand mixer with q paddle attachment, beat the butter until creamy
Gradually add the sifted sugar/cocoa powder alternately with the heavy cream
Add the vanilla extract
Once all added, beat until creamy on high speed
Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
With a handheld or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the peanut butter and butter until creamy and smooth
Add the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla
Mix until combined
Add the cream and mix on high until creamy
Now for the FUN part! Piping the cupcakes with the buttercream frosting!
For this swirly vanilla frosting I used Wilton Tip 2A
For the peanut butter cream twists I used Wilton Tip 4B
For a slightly fancier chocolate swirl I used Wilton Tip 1 M
There you have it! It wasn’t difficult and the results speak for themselves!