Learn how to make quick and easy vanilla cupcake recipe from scratch with vanilla buttercream frosting. Classic, rich, soft, moist, light, fluffy, perfect vanilla cupcakes made with simple ingredients.
This recipe never fails and is absolutely dummy-proof! They are a hit at birthday parties and weddings, just like my White Wedding Cupcakes.
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How to make best homemade vanilla cupcakes from scratch?
- Whisk together the flour and baking powder.
- Separately, mix together butter, sugar, egg, yogurt, milk, vanilla extract.
- Dump dry mixture into the wet mixture and mix until just combined.
- Pour batter in cupcake liners.
- Bake.
- Let them cool.
- Frost them and you are done.
Can you freeze cupcakes?
Yes. Unfrosted cupcakes can be stored in an air-tight, sealed freezer bag or container for up to 1 month. Let them thaw in the fridge or at room temperature and then ice them with frosting.
How can I make my cupcakes moist?
Moisture comes from rich ingredients that are high in fat. So, use full fat sour cream or Greek yogurt. Use whole milk instead of fat free or low fat milk. Use butter instead of oil.
What makes a cupcake fluffy?
That's a result of the air bubbles that you whip into the batter in that end up expanding in the oven during baking. However, if the batter is over-mixed, those bubbles end up collapsing and the cupcakes don't fully rise and can sink too. That's why you should only mix the cake batter until just combined.
Also, measure ingredients properly because baking is science and those measurements and ingredients combine together to create the best fluffy texture.
Easy vanilla cupcake frosting
The classic frosting choice is vanilla buttercream frosting. However, here are some other frosting flavor choices:
- Maraschino Cherry Frosting
- Marshmallow Frosting
- Orange Frosting
- Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Mango Frosting
Tips and Techniques
All ingredients must be at room temperature- Because this allows them to blend together smoothly and evenly.
Use unsalted butter- Because this prevents these cupcakes from becoming too salty.
Don't replace all-purpose flour with any other flour- Because it does not yield the same good results.
Use whole milk and full fat Greek yogurt- For maximum richness and moisture.
If you don't have Greek yogurt- a good substitute is full fat sour cream.
Don't over-mix this batter- Because that will yield tough cupcakes.
Butter should be melted but not super hot- Because that would end up cooking the eggs when you mix it in the batter.
Allow the cupcakes to fully cool down before frosting them- Because that prevents the frosting from melting all over the cupcakes and making a mess.
Recipe can easily be doubled- To serve a larger crowd.
You can tint the cupcake batter- This makes them fun for kids birthday parties but use gel colors instead of liquid food coloring to prevent the cake batter from becoming too runny.
Don't replace butter with oil- Because butter adds a nice rich flavor.
You can use this recipe to make 24 mini vanilla cupcakes- Just use a mini muffin pan and mini cupcake liners.
Vanilla bean cupcakes- Instead of vanilla extract, you can use vanilla beans, which have a stronger flavor and aroma but that will add little black specks in your cupcakes. You can also use a combination of both for a better flavor profile.
More Cupcake Recipes
Recipe
Best Vanilla Cupcakes
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Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups All-purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ cup Butter Unsalted, Melted
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 Egg Large
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt Or sour cream
- ¾ cup Milk Whole
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract
- 2 cups American buttercream frosting
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Keep aside.
- In another mixing bowl, mix together melted butter and sugar until combined.
- Add egg, Greek yogurt, milk, vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
- Dumpy the dry mixture into the wet mixture and mix until just combined.
- Pour batter in cupcake liners.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes or until an inserted toothpick in teh center comes out clean.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool down and then, frost each of them in a swirl of buttercream. Enjoy!
Notes
- Read all my tips above.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
Kimberly
If I didn’t want to make cupcake but a 13x9 cake or like an 8 in round cake would ingredients vary and how long would I leave it in the oven for?
Abeer Rizvi
You won't need to change the ingredients or their quantities but you would bake for 30-40 minutes or until an inserted toothpick in the center comes out clean. Keep a close eye after 35 minutes.
Bethanie
The BEST cupcakes I’ve ever made!
Abeer Rizvi
Woohoo! So pumped to hear you liked them!
Amy Ishak
Dropping by the say YES the best Vanilla Cupcake! Lots of compliments!
Love from Malaysia!
Abeer Rizvi
Thanks for your lovely feedback!
Ashlee
How much coco power should i use to make them chocolate cupcakes?
Abeer Rizvi
I don't recommend adding cocoa powder to this recipe. Instead, I recommend trying my favorite chocolate cupcake recipe: https://cakewhiz.com/best-chocolate-cupcake-recipe/
Cherise Navarro
So how high should you fill the Cupcake liners ?
Abeer Rizvi
I usually fill halfway.
Dana
I'm certainly not at a skill level to question your recipe, but I noticed that there's baking powder but no salt. I only mention it because I don't think I've seen baking powder used without salt. I'm anxious to try it!
Abeer Rizvi
I don't add salt to this recipe and even when I have added it, when I was testing it, there was no noticeable difference.
Edelia
This recipe was easy to do. My cupcakes came out moist and delicious. I used only 1/2 tbsp of vanilla, and Greek vanilla yogurt instead of plain. I did add a pinch of kosher salt and also added 1 egg yolk including the 1 egg. I'm not a vanilla fan, my 9yr old is but I definitely tasted these cupcakes and they are great. Totally recommend this recipe.
Abeer Rizvi
Kids approving my recipes always makes my heart so full!
Sharon
Can I ask why did you added an extra egg yolk? For colour or added richness? Thanks!
Abeer Rizvi
For richness and soft texture.
Sofia
Hi, I don’t have unsalted butter, will it come out gross if o use salted butter? Thank you
Abeer Rizvi
Yes, it will be very salty.
Cwater
I only use salted butter and it comes out delicious
Lhills
They were absolutely amazing they were moist and flavorful I did add a 1/8 a teaspoon of almond extract in addition to the vanilla and I used Swiss meringue icing. I will be using this recipe for a future cupcakes!
Abeer Rizvi
Awesome!!!!
Jasmine
Hi.
I saw someone comment about using an “extra” egg yolk in addition to the 1 egg the recipe calls for, but your ingredient list only lists the 1 egg. Am I missing something here?
Thanks!
Abeer Rizvi
That's something she tried and enjoyed. My recipe does not require that. Please follow the recipe above.
Kathleen
This truly is the best vanilla cupcake I have ever tasted. No need to look elsewhere. This is my go to from now on! Thank you!
Kathleen
Just gave it 5 stars!
Lela
Use baking soda or baking powder?
Abeer Rizvi
Baking powder please.
Maddy
Can this be converted into a round cake somehow? We loved the cupcakes for my sons birthday but doing a cake for my daughters!
Abeer Rizvi
I haven't converted this recipe into a cake but I do have a delicious vanilla cake recipe that you can try: https://cakewhiz.com/best-vanilla-cake-recipe/
Joan Harris
Can I substitute salted butter
Abeer Rizvi
I don't recommend it because it can make the end result very salty.
Belinda Swart
If I wanted to use this recipe for a double layer cake, how would I adapt the recipe?
Abeer Rizvi
I have not done that to know how this recipe would be altered.
Tessa Casey
I made these and loved the shape and texture. They do need a bit of salt though which I didn't see in the ingredient list. That would make them 5 stars. Otherwise, light and fluffy!