Vanilla Cupcakes

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Servings: 24
Yield: 24 servings

Description

These easy vanilla cupcakes are absolutely scrumptious--with or without the yummy vanilla buttercream icing.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted butter
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
2 Combine self-rising and all-purpose flours in a bowl.
3 Cream butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add sugar and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with milk and vanilla, beating batter briefly after each addition. Fill the cupcake liners about 3/4 full with batter.
4 Bake in the preheated oven until tops spring back when lightly pressed, about 20 minutes. Cool in the tins for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
5 Meanwhile, cream butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix in 1/2 of the confectioners sugar, then mix in milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth and creamy, 3 to 5 minutes. Gradually add remaining confectioners' sugar and mix until icing is thick enough for spreading.
6 Spread icing onto cooled cupcakes.