Vanilla Cupcakes

If you're just starting your marvelous cupcake adventure, I dearly recommend this simple recipe for basic vanilla cupcakes. They're topped with classic buttercream icing - of which, to be honest,  I'm not a huge fan...YET - but you can easily replace it with cream cheese icing. But just so you're aware of the basics, I'm putting the recipe here as well. Mind you, cupcakes taste best within an hour from baking...but I doubt they'd stay that long anyway ;)

Recipe takien from this fantastic website (check out their video clip for the recipe!).

Serves: 12. Preparation: 25 min. Baking: 17-20 min.

Equipment:

- zest grater,

- 2 bowls,

- mixer,

- muffin tin,

- muffin cases (or a bit of butter to grease the tin)

Ingredients:

* cupcakes:

- 113g (1/2 cup) soft unsalted butter,

- 130g (2/3 cup) granulated sugar,

- 3 eggs,

- 1 tsp vanilla extract,

- zest of 1 lemon,

- 200g (1 1/2 cup) flour,

- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder,

- 1/4 tsp salt,

- 60ml (1/4 cup) milk

* buttercream icing:

- 230g (2 cups) sifted powdered sugar,

- 113g (1/2 cup) soft unsalted butter,

- 1 tsp vanilla extract,

- 2 tbsp milk,

- food colouring (optional)

- sprinkles (optional)

Method:

Line the muffin tin with paper cases, or grease it with butter.

Grate the lemon zest.

Preheat oven to 180ºC/350ºF.

In a (larger) bowl, mix together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (ca. 2-3 min.).

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Stir in the vanilla extract.

In the other (smaller) bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, flour, baking powder, and salt.

With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mix and milk to the butter mix, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat only until incorporated.

Fill in the muffin cases.

Bake for about 17-20 min., until a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean.

In the meantime, prepare the icing:

In a bowl, beat the butter until smooth and creamy.

Stir in the vanilla extract.

With the mixture on low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar.

Add the milk, and mix everything on high speed until fluffy (ca. 3-4 min).

At the end you can add and mix in the food colouring (a teeny-tiny amount will do).

Allow the cupcakes to cool completely.

Decorate them with the icing, using either a piping bag, or simply a knife ;)

Finally, sprinkle them, and...enjoy :)