There’s really nothing like classic vanilla cupcakes! Light, moist and delicious cupcakes, topped with luscious, buttercream frosting are just a favourite with everyone.
When I think about baking memories, my mind immediately goes to cupcakes. Whether it was making them for my kid’s birthdays, for a bake sale or a school event, or baking and decorating them up in fun ways for holidays or special family occasions, some of my fondest baking memories involve cupcakes :)
For all these reasons, it’s great to have a classic vanilla cupcake recipe up your sleeve!
This past weekend, my daughter and I got together to bake up some classic vanilla cupcakes and had great fun decorating them up. I must say, her piping skills have improved considerably since our first cupcake decorating days many years ago! It also reminded us both that even when kids grow up and leave home, we can still get together and bake up some new memories :)
Of course, no cupcake baking and decorating session would be complete without enjoying the fruits of your labour!
Ingredients and substitutions
Flour – Note that this recipe calls for cake flour. This is not self-rising flour. It’s is a soft flour, easily available in any baking aisle with the other flours. It is sometimes called “Cake and Pastry” flour.
Recipe tips!
- When it comes to successful baking of cupcakes, always start with room temperature butter and eggs. Simply take them out of the fridge about 45 minutes before you want to bake (depending on your kitchen temperature).
- If you want the most delicious and fabulous cupcakes, this is not the time to use low-fat products. As indicated in the recipe full fat sour cream and milk will produce the best results.
- Depending on my desired frosting colour, I sometimes omit the vanilla, as I find the dark colour muddies the colour somewhat. If you have clear vanilla or don’t mind the small colour shift, go ahead and add a teaspoon for extra flavour.
- For my cupcakes, I used a Wilton 2D tip to make the flower cupcakes. I put a thin line of darker food colouring in 3 places on the inside of the piping bag before adding the icing, to get the variegated effect. For the others, I used an Ateco 855 large star tip.
Making ahead, storing and freezing
These cupcakes are best enjoyed within 24 hours of baking. For making ahead or longer storage, wrap well and freeze up to 3 months.
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Get the Recipe: Classic Vanilla Cupcakes
Ingredients
Vanilla Cupcakes:
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 3/4 cups cake flour, spooned and levelled *see Note 1 below for DIY cake flour tip
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, a bit less if using salted butter
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/3 cup full-fat sour cream
- 1/4 cup canola, vegetable or other neutral tasting cooking oil, vegetable or other neutral tasting cooking oil
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract, or vanilla bean paste
- 2/3 cup whole milk, 3%
Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 4 cups icing/confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
- 3-4 Tablespoons milk
- Food colouring, for colouring frosting, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. with rack in centre of oven. Prepare 16 muffin cups with paper liners and set aside.
- In a large bowl with an electric mixer, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitter with a beating blade, mix together the sugar, flour baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the butter and mix on medium-low speed for 3 minutes. Mixture will be fine crumbs at that point.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream, oil and vanilla. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined. Slowly add the milk and mix on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix. Batter will be quite liquid.
- Fill muffin liners with batter about 1/2 to no more than 2/3 full. You should get 16 cupcakes.
- Bake in preheated oven 14-16 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Immediately remove cupcakes from muffin tins and allow to cool completely on a cooling rack before frosting.
- For frosting: Beat room temperature butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer or in a stand mixer with a beater blade for 2-3 minutes. Turn mixer off. Add icing sugar, vanilla (if using) and 3 Tbsp of milk. Turn mixer on low and mix until sugar is incorporated. Increase mixer speed to medium to thoroughly combine and judge consistency. If necessary, add more milk in very (very!) small increments and continue mixing on medium until frosting looks smooth and creamy. Add food colouring, if desired. Beat frosting for and addition 2 minutes on high speed until fluffy.
Notes
More cupcake recipes to love!
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
Hi Jennifer,
I want to try your recipe, however I have over 40 pounds of all purpose flour and rarely use cake flour. What’s your opinion on making the cupcakes using all purpose as opposed to the cake flour?
Thank you.
Jan
Hi Jan, I think I might try to make cake flour out of your all purpose. If you measure out 2 cups of all purpose flour, then remove 1/4 cup of it and replace it with 1/4 cup of cornstarch. Stir together well, then measure out the 1 3/4 cups of that mixture that you need for this recipe. I think that while not exactly the same as cake flour, it would perform better than just using the all purpose straight.
Thank you for your prompt reply. I appreciate your input. That being said I will purchase some cake flour and freeze it. I do make cupcakes frequently and if this recipe is anything like your other recipes than I know I will be making the cupcakes again! I’m making your pork tenderloin with peppercorn gravy for dinner tonight!
Once again…many thanks!
Jan…🇨🇦
I think you’ll find a few uses for the cake flour, so it is handy to have around :)
Have you ever used this recipe for a cake? Thank you
Hi Mary, I haven’t, but as far as the recipe goes, it would work just fine. You’d have to use your best judgement re pan size and baking time though, as it would obviously differ.
Had some not-so-tasty vanilla cupcakes recently & decided to try your receipe. What a difference!
Followed your instructions & ended up with beautiful, moist & very flavourful cupcakes. Topped with leftover cream cheese frosting. My decorating would have ended up with a failing grade compared to yours! Guess I’ll have to learn how to pipe if I want a beautifully presented cupcake.
They do freeze well.
So glad to hear, Irene! I’ve had some not-so-great vanilla cupcakes in the past too, so it’s always good to have a go-to recipe that just works :)
I love how baking creates memories with your kids. I’m currently in that stage with my boys and hope they remember all the fun times we had decorating various sweets in the kitchen. I love how you’re able to share this moment with your daughter and these cupcakes are gorgeous.
Thanks Cindy and yes, we have so many wonderful memories and you will too :)
There’s nothing better than a classic vanilla cupcake for spring! These are beauties :)
Thanks so much, Laura :)
I have such wonderful memories of making cupcakes with my girls ~ in fact I was quite the ‘cupcake’ mom when they were growing up ~ everything was an excuse to bake up a batch. Yours are gorgeous and perfect for Easter and Mother’s Day!
Thanks so much, Sue and yes, cupcakes and moms just seem to go together, don’t they?! :)
Sounds like you and your daughter had such fun making cupcakes together over the years Jennifer! And these are just gorgeous! I think my favorite ones going back on your blog are your hydrangea cupcakes.Wish I had half your talent in the cupcake decorating department!
Thanks Mary Ann and yes, many cupcakes have been made (and eaten) together ;)
Oh yes, cooking and baking memories are the best! My daughter, Chelsea, and I would bake together quite a bit – she’s actually the baker of the family; and my other two know the deal where savory is concerned… With everyone doing their thing, it’s hard to gather the troops and cook – but when we can, it’s magic! I love these shots with your daughter! That had to have been a very special day! And as always, your cupcakes are beautiful!
Thanks so much, Annie :) I love company in the kitchen and it’s always great to gather around food, making it or eating it!
Making memories, sharing recipes , entering contests and eating delicious cupcakes . What a wonderful idea.
Thanks Gerlinde :)
I just love food and baking memories! Thanks for this great opportunity to reminisce, enter a great contest and drool over your gorgeous cupcakes. What a special time with your daughter – love the idea of making new memories. Sharing and pinning and entering for sure!
Thanks so much, Tricia :) We had a cupcake-eating-filled weekend!