My nephew only likes vanilla. Vanilla ice cream, vanilla cake, butter cookies and vanilla cupcakes. I respect that.
Sometimes, simplicity is golden.
Like these vanilla cupcakes.
These were adapted, and adapted again, from a notable bakery called Billy’s. The frosting is an easier version of “7 minute frosting”. It creates light, fluffy clouds of mallow laced with vanilla atop buttery, tender cupcakes.
I got a big thumbs up from my nephew. and that’s not easy.
Vanilla x3 Cupcakes
Sometimes, simplicity is golden.
Like these vanilla cupcakes.
These were adapted, and adapted again, from a notable bakery called Billy’s. The frosting is an easier version of “7 minute frosting”. It creates light, fluffy clouds of mallow laced with vanilla atop buttery, tender cupcakes.
I got a big thumbs up from my nephew. and that’s not easy.
Vanilla x3 Cupcakes
Ingredients:
Cupcake
(adapted from my previous post, https://www.urbandomesticdiva.com/2011/06/recipe-billys-vanilla-vanilla-cupcakes.html)
1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups Baker’s or regular sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, cut into 1-inch cubes, softened
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 vanilla bean, split in half and seeds scraped out
Frosting
2/3 cup + 1 tablespoon Caster or Baker’s sugar
3 tablespoons water
generous pinch of cream of tartar
2 egg whites
3 tablespoons water
generous pinch of cream of tartar
2 egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla extract
pinch of salt
pinch of salt
Directions:
Make the cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 325°. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer combine flours, sugar, baking powder with a fork. Add butter, and using a paddle attachment, mix and mush until butter is evenly distributed and the mixture resembles cornmeal.
In a large glass measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla extract and vanilla seeds from the vanilla bean. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition; beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not over beat.
Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about two-thirds full. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the frosting:
Place the sugar, water, vanilla extract and cream of tartar in a small saucepan over high heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 3 minutes. Then, let the syrup cool for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, place the egg whites and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until soft peaks form. While the motor is still running, gradually add the sugar mixture and beat until thick and glossy. Spread the icing over the cream filled cupcakes with a palette knife. Store at room temperature covered with plastic wrap. This kind of frosting does not do well refrigerated.
Flora is an award-winning creative director in Chicago turned food and lifestyle blogger extraordinaire. She is also author to the popular BEE NATIVE! gardening book series and various children's books that celebrate the wonder and hard work of bees and butterflies. Her blog and social spaces inspire thousands to create, learn, cook, grow, and craft, making their world lovelier one pixel/petal/seed/bite/stitch/brushstroke at a time. Follow her on all the social spaces, YouTube, and Amazon, and get creative!
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