Soft Vanilla Cupcakes

Steps

1. 1.

   1.

   Prep tin and oven** Heat oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

2. 2.

   Cream butter and sugar

   Beat softened butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes with a hand mixer. Scrape the bowl once.

3. 3.

   Add eggs and vanilla

   Beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. If it looks slightly curdled, that's okay. Flour will bring it together.

4. 4.

   Mix dry and wet for soft vanilla cupcakes

   Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Add half the flour mix to the bowl, then half the milk, then remaining flour, then remaining milk. Mix on low until just combined. Stop when you don't see dry flour.

5. 5.

   Fill and bake

   Divide batter among liners, about two-thirds full. Bake 16-18 minutes until tops spring back and a toothpick shows moist crumbs.

6. 6.

   Cool properly

   Cool in the tin 5 minutes, then move to a rack. Frost only when completely cool, about 45 minutes.

7. 7.

   Simple frosting idea

   Beat 100 g soft butter with 200 g icing sugar and 1 tsp vanilla, splash of milk if needed. Pipe or spread.