Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes and Fantastic {Easy} Buttercream Frosting
User Reviews
4.6
Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes and Fantastic {Easy} Buttercream Frosting
Description
This recipe starts by mixing dry ingredients—flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt—separately from the wet mixture of softened butter and sugar beaten until fluffy. Eggs and vanilla extract are then incorporated one at a time. The dry ingredients are added in thirds and interspersed with buttermilk additions to create a smooth batter with a tender crumb due to the interaction of leaveners and acidity from the buttermilk.
The cupcakes bake at 350°F in light pans (325°F for darker pans) for 15-18 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs, ensuring moistness without overbaking. The frosting combines softened butter and cream cheese whipped smoothly, then powdered sugar is added with heavy cream and vanilla, resulting in a creamy, spreadable topping with a tangy vanilla flavor enhancing the cupcakes.
These cupcakes suit celebrations and everyday treats, balancing rich buttercream with moist cake. The frosting’s cream cheese adds creaminess and slight tang that complements the vanilla buttermilk base effectively.
An achievable homemade buttercream with cream cheese creates a frosting with more body and smoothness than simple butter-based frostings. Use caution not to overbake cupcakes as it affects tenderness.
Ingredients
Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup butter (12 tablespoons), softened to room temperature
- 1 cup sugar granulated white
- 2 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract pure
- ½ cup buttermilk
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
- ½ cup butter softened to room temperature
- 3 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 16 ounces powdered sugar about 3 ½ cups
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract pure
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 for light, aluminum or silicone muffin pans or 325 for dark, nonstick muffin pans. Line about 16-24 muffin cups with liners and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix in eggs and egg yolk one at a time and then mix in the vanilla. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Combine. Add 1/4 cup of the buttermilk. Mix. Add another 1/3 of the dry ingredients. Mix. Add the final 1/4 cup of the buttermilk. Mix and then add the final 1/3 of the dry ingredients. Mix until combined and the batter is smooth. Spoon out batter into lined cupcake pan, filling only halfway or just barely over halfway.
- Bake for about 15-18 minutes (depending on the heat of your oven based on the type of muffin pan you have), until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a cupcake comes out with moist crumbs. Don’t overbake!
- Remove the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the frosting: In a large bowl using a handheld mixer or the bowl of an electric stand mixer, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until it is light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Mix in the vanilla. Add the powdered sugar gradually and mix in fully after each addition. Cream at low speed until well blended and creamy. Pour in the heavy cream and whip until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Notes
- If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by combining regular milk with an acid; the acidity improves cupcake texture.
- Substituting milk or cream for heavy cream in the frosting will reduce its creamy richness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 16-24 cupcakes and 4 cups frosting
Amount Per Serving
Calories 379 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 Cupcake | |
| Calories | 379kcal | 19% |
| Carbohydrates | 51g | 17% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Cholesterol | 85mg | 28% |
| Sodium | 250mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 41g | 82% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
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