Vanilla Cupcakes
The Best Homemade Vanilla Cupcakes with Creamy Buttercream Frosting.
I love cake.
Basically, it is highly dangerous to leave me at home alone with a triple layer cake.
Here's the thing...it is my JOB to create and taste test recipes and many of them involve a lot of cake. Now I am not really complaining but it isn't the best job if you want to be a size 2. It's just not going to happen.
Here's the deal. I am a perfectionist in the kitchen and that sometimes means I have to test and re-test recipes over and over again until I get them just perfect. This is what happens with my cakes. I recently came up with a killer vanilla cupcake recipe that I think will knock your socks off.
What do people say about vanilla? Boring. Bland. Zero flavor. Now, hold up there, cowboy. Vanilla doesn't have to be any of that. We are saying goodbye to those myths with this vanilla cupcake recipe. Because I spend most of my days being ultra critical about my own food, when I do hit the jackpot, I can't wait to share it with all of you!
Some of the most popular recipes on Modern Honey are my cakes. If you love a phenomenal chocolate cake, you must try my Love at First Sight Chocolate Cake Recipe. If you need a moist and flavorful Homemade Yellow Cake Recipe, click here.
This Vanilla Cupcake recipe is unique. The order of ingredients is different than traditional baked goods. Instead of creaming the butter and sugar, we are cutting the butter into the flour. WHEN the ingredients are added makes a big difference in the final cake. Also, there is a secret ingredient which not only brings the vanilla flavor but also makes the cake tender and moist. Any guesses? The game-changing ingredient is instant pudding mix. It just makes the cake that much better!
The Best Vanilla Cupcakes Recipe also calls for buttermilk. Oh, how I love you, buttermilk. It is what helps create that coveted delicate crumb. You can substitute whole milk mixed with 2 teaspoons of vinegar if you don't have buttermilk on hand. Just let it sit for 10 minutes before adding to cake batter.
The vanilla frosting is equally important. I don't want that overly sweet frosting you may find in many bakeries. The key is a good amount of sweet cream butter, a touch of cream cheese to offset the sweetness, powdered sugar, and vanilla. It is a simple vanilla frosting recipe but it is always a hit. A key tip is to cream the butter and cream cheese for 4 minutes before adding the powdered sugar. This adds air which creates a light and fluffy frosting. Once the butter is creamed, add the powdered sugar and continue to beat for 2-3 minutes, until it is silky smooth.
How to make Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes:
- Start by cutting Butter and Flour (dry ingredients) together. Combine cubed butter and flour together until coarse crumbs appear.
- Whisk together Eggs, Buttermilk, and Vanilla. Add only 1/2 of the mixture to batter. Stir. Add remaining and mix until just combined.
- Use Instant Pudding Mix. Add the dry powdered instant pudding mix to cake batter for a tender texture.
- Add 2 Tablespoons of Oil. Butter adds the best flavor but oil is key to keeping it extra moist.
The best light and fluffy vanilla cupcakes with light buttercream frosting.
- 4 Large Eggs
- 2/3 cup Buttermilk
- 2 Tablespoons Oil
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
- 2 1/4 cups Flour
- 1 1/2 cups Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
- 3/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Butter (softened, cut into cubes)
- 1/3 cup Vanilla Pudding Mix (instant)
- 1 cup Butter (softened)
- 4 ounces Cream Cheese (softened)
- 4 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla or Vanilla Beans
- 1 - 2 Tablespoons Cream (or Half n Half or Milk)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
- In a stand mixer, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Beat the butter into the flour mixture, one cube at a time. Continue to beat until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the 1/2 of the egg-milk mixture and beat the batter is light and fluffy. Add remaining egg-milk mixture and vanilla pudding and mix just until combined.
- Take a spatula and scrape the sides of the bowl.
- Lightly spray cupcake baking cups with non-stick cooking spray. Fill cups 2/3 or 3/4 full.
- Bake for 16-20 minutes.
- Let cupcakes cool. Frost with vanilla buttercream frosting.
- In mixing bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese for 4 minutes.
- Add powdered sugar and beat for 2 more minutes. Add vanilla and milk.
- Once the cupcakes have cooled, frost with vanilla buttercream frosting.
I hope you love these Homemade Vanilla Cupcakes! Happy Baking, my friends!
The Modern Proper says
Instant vanilla pudding?! Yes. I make pudding cookies and they are to die for, why not add it to cake or cupcakes? And these are so cute.
Kerry says
Can I make this recipe for a cake? ( instead of cupcakes) same measurements?
Modern Honey says
Hi Kerry! You absolutely can make it into a cake. This is a very close recipe and will give you an idea on baking time -- https://www.modernhoney.com/yellow-birthday-cake-milk-chocolate-frosting/. Great question!
Kerry says
Thank you!!! Love all your recipes ❤️
Jenna says
I made these for mother’s day and they were DELICIOUS! I have searched for a good yellow cake/cupcake recipe for years because it is my mom’s favorite, and this is my new favorite! I taste tested one even without the frosting and it was sooo good, the “crust” on top was great. I brought the left overs to work and they were gone in a heartbeat. Do yourself a favor and make these cupcakes! This is my go to site for delicious desserts. Thank you again for another great one for my cookbook!:)
lauren says
hey Melissa,
Can I substitute cake flour for the ap flour?
Ahviee says
I've been testing out so much vanilla cupcakes and I almost have up.I'm so glad I found your blog.It was so good.Thank you so much
Modern Honey says
That made my day! So happy you loved the cupcakes. Thank you for trying them!
Elaine Calabro says
I saw your favorite cake pans. Mine are my grandmothers. Have to be 40 years old. They have a rivet in the center to which is attached a gadget that turns under the cake to insure release. Why did they stop making them? They are great and helped me out of a few jams. Have seen them nowhere so I baby mine. Can't wait to try your recipes..
Tanya says
I've been searching for a good vanilla cupcake recipe forever.... this is beyond good!! Thank you so much.
Laura says
Made these last weekend and everyone loved them. Very moist and light. The buttercream was perfect!!! Thanks for sharing
Nikki says
Really delicious! I appreciated your detailed, easy to follow instructions.
Erica says
Delicious!
mira says
Just made them for my 2year old grand's birthday party with your chocolate buttercream frosting. The cake was tender and delicious! My cupcakes were very flat on top, though. Can you get yours to dome nicely? What did I do wrong?
Safiyya says
I made these cupcakes and my family absolutely loves them! And the best part was it wasn't complicated to make. Thank you for this wonderful simple and delicious recipe.
Celeste says
Question how do you think the godiva white chocolate vanilla bean pudding would do in this recipe...i saw that you used it in another recipe, i have not tried godiva before so just wanted to know if it would work well
Lisa F says
I did that today! Amazing cupcake!
Celeste says
Hummmmm...Mmmmmmm...Mmmmmm (I had to start humming on this one) girl this recipe was awesome!!! okay last comment on 8/9/19 I asked about using the Godiva White chocolate vanilla bean pudding mix with this recipe so what I did was I figured I would mix 1 box of vanilla Jell-O pudding mix with the 1 box of the Godiva White chocolate pudding mix the measure 1 /3 cup of that mixture in the recipe worked out great!! This was really the best vanilla cupcake recipe thank you! thank you! it was delicious and I got so many complements and people trying to guess what is that distinctive flavor in this "secret ingredient" cupcake.
Heather says
Hi, I am very excited to try this, but a have a couple of questions. 1) In one place it mentions beating the butter into the flour, and in another section it says to cut. So, should I put a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour, or a mixer to beat the butter into the flour?
2) How big of a package of pudding mix do you need to equal 1/3 cup (would a 3.4oz package be enough?)
Thank you
Ayanna says
This receipe was so delicious it was buttery and full of vanilla flavor. However, my cupcakes did not rise. I cooked them for the full 18 minutes and they were completely flat. I should add that I used French vanilla creamer as my liquid instead of buttermilk by chance could that be the reason for them not rising?
Debbie Schols says
These cupcakes are delicious. I was just wondering... about how many it makes when you do them. That helps to adjust how much to put in even when you say fill 2/3 to 3/4 full.
Teresa mariani says
I have tried just about ever vanilla cup cake for my home business. Flavour to me, is more important than presentation at times and this, hands down is the best one yet! I very rarely leave a review but for those looking for “ the one” look no further! For those saying it went flat, check your baking powder expiry date. Fresh works best!