{tasty tuesdays} Cupcakes!

This may not be the most practical (practicality, schmacticality, right?) Tasty Tuesdays ever, but I thought this recipe was worth sharing. I made cupcakes for Emma's birthday party-- strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate-- and the vanilla ones were actually my personal favorite. Besides, cupcakes are just so fun, aren't they?? When I think of "cheerful" or "happy" foods, a cupcake is one of the first things that comes to my mind.

Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Buttercream Frosting
1 cup unsalted butter, very soft
7-8 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour and baking powder and add in four parts, alternating with the milk and the vanilla extract, beating well after each addition.
Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers. Spoon the batter into the cups about three-quarters full. Bake until the tops spring back when lightly touched, about 20 to 22 minutes.
Remove cupcakes from pans and cool completely on a rack before icing.

To make the icing - place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, until icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency (you may very well not need all of the sugar). If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly.
Use and store icing at room temperature, as icing will set if chilled. Can store in an airtight container for up to three days. NOTE: this frosting recipe actually makes enough to frost more like 30-35 cupcakes, since I only doubled it and was able to frost all 60 cupcakes I made, with frosting left over!

As you can see, I left my frosting white and placed flowers I had piped in advance (made from a different frosting recipe I learned in a cake-decorating class) on top. Simple, but oh-so-girly and cute. Emma loved her cupcakes!

The beauty of cupcakes is how the possibilities are endless... if you go here, there are lots of really fun and super-cute ideas for decorating them. Or, get creative on your own. Either way, a cupcake is sure to make you smile.

Have fun! :)

ps. I would like to dedicate this post to MY cuppycake. hehe.