Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/2 cup milk, at room temperature
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature, separated
- Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows, or about 2 cups frosting of your choice
- Colorful sprinkles
- Equipment: A twelve 1/2-cup muffin pan
Directions
Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line the muffin pan with paper cupcake liners.
In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and sugar and mix on low speed until just incorporated. Raise the speed to high and mix until light and fluffy, about 10 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape the sides of the bowl down with a rubber spatula.)
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and vanilla, and also set aside.
Add the egg yolks to the creamed butter one at time, waiting for each one to be fully incorporated before adding the next.
Reduce the speed of the mixer to low. Alternately, add the flour mixture in 3 additions and the milk in 2 additions, waiting for each to be fully incorporated before adding the next (scrape the bowl down occasionally). Raise the speed to medium and mix briefly until a smooth batter is formed. Transfer the batter to a large bowl.
Thoroughly clean the bowl of the mixer and put the egg whites inside. Whip the egg whites on high speed, using the whisk attachment, until stiff peaks are formed.
Working in 3 batches, using a rubber spatula, fold the egg whites into the batter, until just incorporated. Divide the batter evenly among the cups in the muffin pan. Bake, rotating the pan once, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
Remove the cakes from the oven and cool completely.
Using a palette knife or rubber, spread some of the frosting all over the tops of the cakes and decorate with the sprinkles.
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoons heavy cream, at room temperature
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon grated orange zest
In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand-held electric mixer in a large bowl, mix the cream cheese and sugar on low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to high, and mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape the down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.)
Reduce the speed of the mixer to low. Add the heavy cream, vanilla, and zest. Raise the speed to high and mix briefly until fluffy (scrape down the bowl occasionally). Store in the refrigerator until somewhat stiff, before using. May be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Yield: about 1 2/3 cups, enough for 12 cupcakes
Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved
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By PWog
downtown Los An...
on December 16, 2011
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Light and delicious taste. I made these for a family event and they received rave reviews. I topped them with vanilla frosting.
By barbiecupcakequeen
on November 27, 2011
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These were very dry. They weren't worth the amount of work you have to put into them. It took me about an hour just to mix all the ingredients and follow all instructions. I paired them with a simple butter cream. Overall just very dry i wouldn't recommend the recipe.
By "Givememybacon"
FL
on October 25, 2011
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I made a batch of these vanilla cupcakes and topped them with chocolate ganache and I can tell you every one in the house thought they were real good. The cream cheese frosting recommended with them did not seem too appealing, that's why I opted for the ganache and I can tell you it gives excellent contrast to the taste buds. Oh, and they looked beautiful and decadent as if they were bought from a bakery. I will keep this sweet recipe.
Read all 39 reviews