Classic Vanilla Cupcakes: A Delicious Treat for All Occasions

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Classic Vanilla Cupcakes are tender, moist, and flavorful. It is perfect for cupcakes, layer cakes, or sheet cakes.

Cupcakes with icing and sprinkles on a plate.

Baking a classic vanilla cupcake with fluffy buttercream frosting is a tantalizing delight – and thanks to the right ingredients and a few easy steps, it’s easier than you’d think! In this article, you’ll learn how to make a deliciously moist vanilla cupcake from scratch, topped with sweet and creamy buttercream frosting. You’ll be whipping up delicious classic vanilla cupcakes in no time!

A group of cupcakes with frosting.

Grab your baking supplies, and let’s get baking!

Shop baking equipment needed at Walmart below. Click on the item to open the product.

A tray of cupcakes with frosting and sprinkles.

Your Favorite Classic Vanilla Cupcake

Classic vanilla cupcakes are a timeless favorite, loved by both kids and adults alike. These cupcakes are light, fluffy, and bursting with sweet vanilla flavor. They are perfect for birthdays, parties, or simply as a sweet treat to enjoy any day of the week.

The cupcakes have a delicate crumb and a rich vanilla taste that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. The frosting is smooth and creamy, adding the perfect amount of sweetness to complement the cupcake.

Cupcakes with sprinkles and a bite taken out of them.

You may also want to try my Easter Sand Art Brownies, Margarita Cupcakes, How to Make Lemon Mini Cupcakes, BROWN BUTTER FROSTING RECIPE, OREO FROSTED CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES, EASY CINNAMON ROLL CUPCAKES, and Lemon Cupcake with Raspberry Frosting.

Vanilla Cupcake on a cooling rack next to a bowl of sprinkles.
A rack of Classic Vanilla Cupcake with sprinkles on it.

Ingredients

The full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions is at the bottom of this post. You can save a tree and the recipe to your personal and private recipe box here on Call Me PMc. This way, youโ€™ll never misplace it.

For the cupcakes

  • Unsalted butter, softened
  • Sugar
  • Egg
  • Vanilla
  • Milk
  • Flour
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
A group of Classic Vanilla Cupcake with sprinkles on top.

For the frosting

Classic Vanilla Cupcake with icing and sprinkles on a plate.

Classic Vanilla Cupcakes Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the mini muffin tin by placing mini cupcake liners
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter and sugar. Cream until smooth. 
  3. Add in the egg, vanilla and milk and mix until combined. 
  4. Add in the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until smooth – scraping the sides often and mixing well.
  5. Use a small ice cream scoop or a tablespoon to divide out the batter and fill each of the mini cupcake liners until they are about โ…” full. 
  6. Bake in the preheated oven for about 14-16 minutes or just until the edges are slightly brown and the center is set. Allow to cool completely before decorating. 
  7. For the frosting – in the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, salt and milk.
  8. Mix on low speed until combined. Then bump up the speed to medium and mix until smooth and fluffy. Stop the machine, scrape down the sides and mix again to ensure everything is thoroughly combined.
  9. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip
  10. Once the cupcakes are cool, pipe a mound of frosting on each cupcake.
  11. Decorate with sprinkles. 
A group of Classic Vanilla Cupcakes with frosting on top.

Cooking Tips:

  1. Make sure your butter is properly softened before starting to ensure a smooth batter.
  2. When mixing the batter, avoid overmixing as it can lead to dense cupcakes.
  3. Use high-quality vanilla extract for the best flavor.
  4. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
  5. Cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for 3 months.

Classic Vanilla Cupcake with frosting and sprinkles.

Classic Vanilla Cupcakes FAQ:

  1. Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter? It’s best to use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt in the recipe.
  2. How should I store the cupcakes? Store the cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  3. Can I freeze the cupcakes? Yes, you can freeze unfrosted cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature before frosting.


A Classic Vanilla Cupcake with frosting and sprinkles.


Classic vanilla cupcakes are a delightful treat that is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply craving something sweet, these cupcakes are sure to bring joy to your taste buds. Enjoy them with a cup of tea or share them with friends and family for a delightful treat that everyone will love.

I updated this post from an earlier version dated July 29, 2013. I made new photos and simplified the recipe instructions.

Cupcakes with icing and sprinkles on a plate.

Your Favorite Classic Vanilla Cupcake

This classic vanilla cupcake recipe has stood the test of time. A yellow cake recipe is a base for the cupcakes.
Author: Paula
5 from 55 votes
Print Rate
Save To Your Recipe Box
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 16 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
Servings: 20 servings

Ingredients

For the cupcakes –

For the frosting –

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Gather all your ingredients. Prepare the mini muffin tin by placing mini cupcake liners.
    The ingredients of a cake on a wooden table.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter and sugar. Cream until smooth.
    A bowl of yellow batter on a wooden table.
  • Add in the egg, vanilla and milk and mix until combined.
    A bowl of food with eggs and butter.
  • Add in the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until smooth – scraping the sides often and mixing well.
    A bowl of flour and butter.
  • Use a small ice cream scoop or a tablespoon to divide out the batter and fill each of the mini cupcake liners until they are about โ…” full.
    A tray of cupcakes in a pan.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for about 14-16 minutes or just until the edges are slightly brown and the center is set. Allow to cool completely before decorating.
    Cupcakes on a cooling rack next to a bowl of sprinkles.

For the frosting

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, salt and milk.
    A bowl of flour and butter.
  • Mix on low speed until combined. Then bump up the speed to medium and mix until smooth and fluffy. Stop the machine, scrape down the sides and mix again to ensure everything is thoroughly combined.
    A bowl of butter in it.
  • Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
    Cupcakes with sprinkles and frosting on a cooling rack.
  • Once the cupcakes are cool, pipe a mound of frosting on each cupcake. Decorate with sprinkles.
    A rack of cookies with sprinkles on it.
  • Storage: Cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for 3 months.
  • I made mini cupcakes. For regular size, bake them for 18 to 22 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 94mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 268IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are important to you, I recommend calculating them yourself.

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