An easy recipe for vanilla cupcakes topped with a delicious chocolate buttercream frosting. They make the perfect cupcakes for every occasion!

Through the years, I have made so many cupcakes for children’s parties, birthdays, and any number of other get togethers. I can’t even begin to imagine how many I have baked and frosted!

There are two cupcake recipes that I turn to time and again for any number of occasions: my chocolate cupcakes and these vanilla cupcakes. Both are essential cupcake recipes that are so simple to make and absolutely scrumptious!

Easy Vanilla Cupcakes Recipe

Making these vanilla cupcakes couldn’t be simpler. The recipe uses standard ingredients you would most likely will have on hand in your pantry and refrigerator. Even though you can use an electric mixer to make your cupcake batter, it can just as easily be  mixed by hand with a whisk!

How to Make Vanilla Cupcakes

To make them, you begin by preheating your oven and placing cupcake liners in your muffin tin. Then, spray lightly with cooking spray.

Add your dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt – to a large bowl and whisk to combine.

Then, add your wet ingredients – milk, oil, egg, and vanilla – to the dry ingredients and whisk until well combined. Carefully pour in the boiling water and whisk until incorporated and your batter is smooth.

Fill your cupcake liners half full and then place into the oven and bake until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center. Remove from the oven, carefully remove the cupcakes from the pan and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, top them with your favorite frosting.

Favorite Frostings for Cupcakes

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting

Marshmallow Frosting with Coconut

How to Store Cupcakes

These cupcakes as written do not require refrigeration once baked. Simply store them on the counter under a cake dome or inside of a cupcake carrier. Be certain that the cupcakes have cooled completely before you enclose them as the moisture will cause the cupcakes to not stay fresh for very long.

If you add items to the cupcakes or to the frosting that requires refrigeration, then of course those cupcakes will require refrigeration.

How to Freeze Cupcakes

Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, wrap them well in plastic wrap.

Place each individually wrapped cupcake into a freezer-safe, air-tight zip top bag or container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To defrost the cupcakes, remove from the freezer and remove the plastic.

Allow them to reach room temperature before serving.

Here’s my Vanilla Cupcakes Recipe. I hope you love them as much as we do!

Vanilla Cupcakes Recipe

An easy recipe for vanilla cupcakes topped with a delicious chocolate buttercream frosting. They make the perfect cupcakes for every occasion!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time35 mins

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Course Dessert

Calories: 139kcal

Serving Size 1g

Cuisine American

Author: Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup boiling water

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325º F.
• Place cupcake liners in muffin tin. Spray lightly with cooking spray.
• Add dry ingredients - flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt - to a large bowl and whisk to combine.
• Add wet ingreidents - milk, oil, egg, and vanilla - to the dry ingredients and whisk until well combined. Carefully pour in the boiling water and whisk until well combined and the batter is smooth.
• Evenly distribute the cake batter into the cupcake liners. Each liner should be about 1/2 full.
• Place in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, carefully remove the cupcakes from the pan and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Once cooled, frost the cupcakes and serve.

Notes

Nutritional information is for the vanilla cupcakes as listed in the recipes. The frosting is not included in this information. 

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 123mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.7mg

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo