Christmas Vanilla Cupcakes – Page 2

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with the flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy.
Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Beat on high speed until the frosting is fluffy and smooth, adding more cream if needed to reach your desired consistency.
For a festive look, divide the frosting into two bowls and add a few drops of red food coloring to one and green food coloring to the other. Mix until the colors are evenly distributed.

Using a piping bag fitted with a star tip, pipe the frosting onto each cooled cupcake. Alternate colors for a festive look or swirl both colors in the piping bag for a marbled effect.
Add holiday sprinkles, edible glitter, or small decorations as desired.

Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter, eggs, and milk are at room temperature for a smooth batter and even baking.
Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter can make the cupcakes dense. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
Get Creative with Frosting: Try a swirl effect by filling a piping bag with both red and green frosting on each side. This creates a festive marbled look when piped.
Holiday Decorations: Add small festive decorations like mini candy canes, sugar snowflakes, or edible pearls to take these cupcakes to the next level.

These Christmas Vanilla Cupcakes pair well with: