This recipe is for a standard vanilla cupcake and makes 16-20 cakes.  A versatile  quick and easy recipe that can be used for every day baking and celebration cakes alike (not forgetting very handy for the school bake sale).  Variations on this recipe can be made for example by: Replacing 40g of flour for 40g of cocoa powder for a chocolate cupcake; Adding the zest of 1-2 lemons for a lemon flavoured cupcake etc.  Other ideas can be found on our Syrups and Flavourings page.

80g Unsalted Butter (room temp)
280g Caster Sugar
240g Plain Flour
1 Tbsp Baking Powder
1/4 Tsp Salt
240ml Whole Milk
1/5 Tsp Vanilla Paste
2 Large Eggs

  1. Line a muffin tray with 16-20 cupcake cases.
  2. Preheat the oven to 190°C.
  3. In a mixer, beat together the butter and all the dry ingredients (sugar, flour, baking powder and salt) on a low speed until it is all incorporated – it should be a pale yellow colour and resemble coarse sand or fine breadcrumbs.
  4. Beat together the wet ingredients together (milk, eggs and vanilla paste) in a separate jug or bowl using a small whisk or fork until it is all combined.
  5. Turn the speed up on the mixer to medium and add two thirds of the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients.
  6. Once all the ingredients are incorporated, scrape the sides of the mixing bowl with a spatula before adding the remainder of the liquid mixture.
  7. Turn the mixer up to high and give the cake batter a good mix for a couple of minutes so that it is all combined, and smooth and glossy in appearance.
  8. Spoon the mixture into the cases making sure you do not fill beyond the half-way point of the case otherwise the cakes may bake over the top of the cases. (I use an ice cream scoop for this with one scoop per case).
  9. Put in the oven for 18-20 mins or until golden in colour on the top.
  10. Once baked, remove from the oven and leave to cool for 5 mins in the muffin tray before transferring the cakes to a wire cooling wrack.
  11. Decorate as required e.g. using buttercream, ganache, or Sugarpaste

Posts that have used this recipe (or something similar):

Black Forrest Cupcakes

Nursery Bake Sale

Boo’s 2nd Birthday

Jubilee Cupcakes

Office Cupcakes

Birthday Cupcakes with Flowerpaste Roses