The Baker Chick

Baking up a delicious life.

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes and the Perfect Buttercream…

by 37 Comments

MG_3714

First of all- I got an extreme home makeover! Well not me, but my blog, (though I sure would love one.) I am so thrilled with how it turned out and I hope you guys like it too. My designer Shay Bocks, is outstanding and I highly recommend her!

Now, about these cuppy cakes. (The little girl Alice I babysit for calls them that and I think it’s the cutest.) I know I’ve posted a few Vanilla cupcake recipes before, but that doesn’t mean I’ve found the one. And since the bodega on my block starting selling Vanilla Beans, I’ve been meaning to try this recipe. I also have been in the process of figuring out the right proportions for creating my “perfect” buttercream and this is definitely it.

MG_37001

The formula is something like this: 2 sticks of butter softened and beat with an electric mixer until it is creamy and pale (about 3 minutes.) Then 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, (I’ve often used way more and I think that explains buttercream that was on the grainy side.) At this point the mixture will be thick and dense and it’s the right time to add any liquids or flavoring (Lemon Juice and Zest for Lemon Buttercream, Vanilla beans and extract for this frosting, or even Peppermint Extract.) If the mixture is still too thick, I add milk or cream a tablespoon at a time until it is just creamy enough. So far it has been fail proof! The frosting is perfect for piping, spreading, filling etc. Hooray! I’ve been on this quest for awhile it seems…

I brought these deliciously moist cupcakes to my good friend Hiba’s baby shower this past weekend. I have known Hiba and her sister Enaas since I was 16 and Enaas and I worked at the Gap at the local mall. (Best discount ever.) Since then, Hiba moved to NYC and we reconnected, started our book club and now she’s having a baby girl! I had lots of fun helping Enaas with her big Sister’s shower, and I got a chance to take a try at some fun DIY projects as well. (After incessant “pinning” of craft ideas on Pintrest, it’s nice to actually do something crafty right?)

Recently+Updated231
 
*Note: The original recipe had comments about the liners peeling off the cupcakes and the same thing actually happened to me. I think this is because we stored them in an airtight container and there was too much moisture. These cakes are anything but dry which is great, but the humidity in the tupperware caused the liners to peel. I recommend leaving the container slightly ajar or just cover them with tin foil or something else that isn’t air-tight!
 
Print
Vanilla Bean Cupcakes and the Perfect Buttercream…
Yield: 30 cupcakes or 60 minis
 
Ingredients
  • 3 cups cake flour
  • 1 tbsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
  • 16 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 5 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1¼ cups buttermilk, at room temperature
  • 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
For the Frosting:
  • 2 sticks of butter softened
  • 2½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2-6 tablespoons of milk or cream
  • Yield: approximately 30 cupcakes (Or 60+minis)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners. Set aside.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk together and set aside. Add the butter to a large bowl. Scrape the vanilla bean seeds into the bowl with the butter and discard the pod (or stick it in your sugar canister like I do.) Beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 3 minutes, until light and creamy in color. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for one more minute.
  3. Add the sugar to the butter mixture, ¼ cup at a time, beating 1 minute after each addition. Mix in the eggs one at a time until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Combine the buttermilk and the vanilla extract in a liquid measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients alternately with the wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients and mixing just until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix for 15 seconds longer.
  4. Divide the batter between the prepared paper liners, filling each about ⅔ of the way full. Bake 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  5. Allow to cool in the pans 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Replace paper liners and bake remaining batter if desired.
For Frosting:
  1. Beat Butter and scraped out vanilla bean with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy, (about 3 minutes.) Add the powdered sugar and beat well until mixture is thick and almost paste like. Add extract and 1 tablespoon of milk/cream. Beat well. Slowly add more milk 1 spoon at a time if you think your frosting is too thick or dry. Frost cooled cupcakes as desired.

Subscribe

* indicates required

Popular Posts

Comments

  3. These do look tasty and who would not want a perfect butter cream recipe! You have been a busy bee, baking and crafting. Great makeover and congrats to your friend Hilda.

    Reply

  14. These look amazing! So cute and perfect for a shower. Congrats on the engagement by the way. I saw that quickly the other day. Great makeover too!

    Reply

  20. I just discovered your blog, and I am now totally in love with it! I don’t know what your site looked like before, but the design is really cute. I’m looking to redesign mine soon and I bookmarked Shay Bocks page to contact as soon as my budget allows!

    These cupcakes look delicious – I love using vanilla beans instead of just extract!

    Reply

  22. Heloo…

    Delicious recipe…
    I will make these cup cakes for Children In Need Charity…
    Just one small request..if you could give the measurements in oz/gms it would be very helpful. We here in UK would not know how much is one stick of butter or one cup of flour!!
    I will wait for the exact measurements before I try these cakes..
    Well done on foodbuzz top 9 :)

    Reply

  23. @jag- thanks for your interest in the recipe!
    Unfortunately I know just as little about the grams/cups conversions as you do. I am sure that there is a way to easily convert them though- I’d just google it :)

    Reply

  32. Hi! I’m going to try this recipe this weekend but just one question: did you have enough icing for all the cupcakes or did you have to double the icing recipe? Thanks and love your website:) congrats on your marriage as well!!

    Reply

  33. Intended for Box24 Casino Online Slots site.
    A great instance people down payment twenty-five european
    on Box24 Casino Online Slots membership, the item provides you with 20 dinar 100% complement
    extra. The particular wager requirments in your case take away the bonus is usually 8 times(deposit+bonus)which ought to be 8*(25+25)=400 euro.
    What does this specific necessarily mean? Should you perform blackjack(most propose games), everytime without a doubt 1 dinar, after you competed 500 occasions, you are able to take away the actual down payment along with
    the reward incorporate ones earnings. Possibly there is just about
    any possiable people shed your downpayment as well as reward before you fulfill the bet requirments?
    I could declare, the prospect can be risky hands when you bet 1 dinar everytime.
    In the event blackjack is usually exclude on the bonus terms and conditions, I suggested
    you to definitely engage in a few greeting card Box24 Casino Online Slots as well as paigow Box24
    Casino Online Slots to meet your bet requirments.
    You’ll be able to figure out the latest benefit provide of the online Box24 Casino Online Slots website in Greatest Box24 Casino Online Slots Portion. Gi onward. Give it a look. Downpayment as well as enjoy. You will be the actual winner. At any rate, when blackjack and Box24 Casino Online Slots are generally granted regarding profitable returning this reward having a Box24 Casino Online Slots’s revenue just
    about 0, 5%, thus it can be expected in which soon after receiving back again the actual
    advantage you’ll have $100-3000*0, 005=$85 on the Box24 Casino Online Slots’s
    funds.

    Reply

  34. This business may be the industrys highest regarded company associated with printed online slots
    reviews leisure. Together with Texas hold em going through such
    a speedy expansion previously many years, you’ll find much more online slots reviews ebooks than in the past, nevertheless, you wish inside your ownership the most beneficial online slots reviews publications.

    Reply

  35. Initially he team was small, however the supervision drew great money from outside shareholders and project became very big.
    The game starts through an ante bet coming from each player
    seated on the table (typically up to 6 players are seated at the table).

    Reply

  36. made this frosting recently and it was so good and easy to make!! i didn’t have a vanilla bean but just added some extra vanilla extract and it was still delicious :) love your recipes!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Rate this recipe:  

Pumpkin Buttermilk Biscuits