Vanilla Cupcakes

Soft, fluffy vanilla cupcakes with swirls of buttercream frosting.

Ingredients

• For the cupcakes:
• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup (115 g) butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp vanilla essence
• 1/4 tsp salt
• For the frosting:
• 1 cup (225 g) butter, softened
• 3 cups icing sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla essence
• 2 tbsp milk

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 175 C (350 F) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper cases.
2. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla essence.
4. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the batter alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour.
5. Fill each paper case two-thirds full.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. For the frosting, beat the butter until creamy, then add icing sugar gradually with the vanilla and milk. Beat until smooth.
9. Pipe swirls of frosting onto the cooled cupcakes and serve.