• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Cookies & Bars
    • Cupcakes
    • Cakes
  • About Blair Braz
  • Contact
    • Resources

BAKED by Blair

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Cookies & Bars
    • Cupcakes
    • Cakes
  • About Blair Braz
  • Contact
    • Resources
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Cookies & Bars
    • Cupcakes
    • Cakes
  • About Blair Braz
  • Contact
    • Resources
×
  • slice of vanilla tray bake with a bite out of it
    Vanilla Tray Bake
  • cadbury mini eggs cookies
    Cadbury Mini Eggs Cookies
  • Jumbo Banana Nut Muffins
  • Mothers Day Desserts
  • Bakery Style Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chips
  • Coconut Shake
  • Easy Dinners Square Social Media Image
    13 Easy Dinner Recipes
  • a carrot banana muffin cut open
    Carrot Banana Muffins
  • picture of banana bread with slices cut
    Banana Bread Sans Gluten
  • Irresistible Raspberry Desserts You Need In Your Life
  • butterscotch and chocolate chip cookies stacked
    Butterscotch and Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • cucumber beetroot salad in a bowl
    Cucumber Beetroot Salad
Home » Cupcakes

Published: Feb 23, 2021 · Modified: Feb 20, 2024 by Blair Braz · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments

Vanilla Cupcakes from Scratch

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Light, fluffy, and insanely moist - these are the best vanilla cupcakes from scratch. These cupcakes pair with just about any frosting or filling and will become your go-to vanilla cupcake recipe in no time. Take it from me, when you find an incredible vanilla cupcake recipe you stick with it!

Vanilla cupcake from scratch, with Swiss Meringue buttercream frosting on top.

Why You'll Love this Homemade Vanilla Cupcake Recipe

  • They are so moist and flavourful! The oil used in this recipe adds an extra layer of moisture that can't be achieved when using only butter.
  • From start to finish, these cupcakes are baked and cooling in under 25 minutes!
  • They require simple ingredients.
vanilla cupcakes on a plate

Ingredients

  • Unsalted Butter: provides buttery flavour and assists
  • Vegetable Oil: gives moisture
  • Granulated Sugar: for sweetening batter and helps with creating light and fluffy cupcake through creaming process. Sugar crystals aid with whipping air into butter.
  • Egg Whites: important for leavening process
  • *Pure Vanilla Extract: the sole flavour of our cupcake! Make sure to use pure, not artificial vanilla extract for the strongest flavour.
  • Cake Flour: a low protein flour essential to create a light, beautifully textured cupcake
  • Baking Powder: creates rise in cupcakes
  • Baking Soda: helps cupcakes to rise! Does require an acid (buttermilk) to activate
  • Salt: for flavour
  • Buttermilk: provides a slight tang flavour and assists with activating leavening agents

*I use Pure Madagascar Vanilla Extract from Vanilla Blossom Flavours – you can use the code BBB2021 to receive 15% off of your order!

vanilla cupcake

Buttercream Frosting

I've paired these vanilla cupcakes with vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream frosting. You can find my silky, smooth buttercream frosting recipe here. This frosting is a little bit more labor-intensive than American buttercream, but the frosting is perfectly sweet, marshmallowy, and delicious. I highly recommend trying it out!

Vanilla cupcake from scratch on a plate, with Swiss Meringue buttercream frosting on top.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Why are my cupcakes dense? Cupcakes can become dense when you over mix your batter. As the batter mixes, gluten is produced. More gluten means more dense. Only mix batter until just combined.
  2. Can I substitute Cake Flour with All Purpose Flour? You can, however the cupcake will not be as delicate and the texture will be slightly different.
  3. Howcome my cupcakes are dry? If your cupcakes are dry you may have measured your flour incorrectly resulting in too much flour or your may have over baked your cupcakes.

If you love cupcakes, I think you'll like these too!

Decadent Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes

Decadent peanut butter chocolate cupcake on a plate, with buttercream frosting on top.

Almond Cupcakes

Almond Cupcakes on tray, with buttercream frosting

Homemade Chocolate Cupcake Recipe

Homemade Chocolate Cupcake with chocolate buttercream on top.

3 Vanilla Cupcakes from Scratch in a line

If you try this recipe, make sure you take a photo and tag BAKED by Blair on social media, and use the #bakedbyblair. If you want to pin this recipe and save it for later, go ahead and click the pin button above and save it to your favourite desserts board on Pinterest! ENJOY!

vanilla cupcake

Vanilla Cupcakes from Scratch

Blair Braz
Light, fluffy, and moist vanilla cupcakes from scratch. These are my go to homemade cupcakes with a perfect crumb.
4.20 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 18 minutes mins
Course Dessert, Snack
Servings 24

Equipment

  • Electric Stand Mixer
  • Cupcake Tray
  • Cupcake Liners

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1½ cup granulated sugar
  • 5 egg whites, at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract, I use Vanilla Blossoms Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 3 cups cake flour, sifted
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ cups buttermilk, at room temperature

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees
  • In a medium bowl, sift together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt
  • Into the bowl of an electric stand mixer add butter and vegetable oil
  • Cream together butter and vegetable oil until completely combined (2-3 minutes). Scrape down the sides of the bowl
  • With the mixer on low speed, gradually pour in sugar. Turn mixer to medium to high and mix until light and fluffy 1-2 minutes
  • Scrape down the sides of the bowl. With the mixer on low speed, add the egg whites one at a time. Allow each to combine before adding in the next
  • Add in vanilla extract mix until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl
  • With the mixer on low speed, add one third of the flour mixture into the bowl and mix until just combined. Scrape down the bowl and add one half of the butter milk and again mix until just combined. Repeat this process. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Do not over mix or your cupcakes will become quite dense
  • Distribute cupcake batter evenly between 24 prepared cupcake liners
  • Bake for 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cupcakes comes out clean

More cupcakes

  • Ultimate Recipe for Cinnamon Cupcakes
  • Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcake Recipe
  • Almond Raspberry Cupcakes
  • Chocolate Orange Cupcakes Recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Jamie says

    March 27, 2021 at 1:56 pm

    1 star
    Theres no recipe posted. Its just an ingredients list and tips???

    Reply
    • Blair Braz says

      March 28, 2021 at 2:07 pm

      Hi there, the recipe is located at the bottom of the page. In order to leave a comment and star rating on this recipe post, you would have had to scroll past the recipe to leave this review. Please return back and consider adjusting your star rating.

      Reply
      • Kimberly Asuncion says

        August 14, 2023 at 9:42 pm

        Hi, can i use all purpose flour instead of cake flour? Thanks!

        Reply
        • Blair Braz says

          October 07, 2023 at 10:04 pm

          Apologies for the delay. Yes, you can. Make sure you don't over mix the batter as this will cause it to be dense.

          Reply
  2. Lisa Brooks says

    April 27, 2021 at 11:54 pm

    5 stars
    This is my go to vanilla cupcake recipe!

    Reply
    • Blair Braz says

      April 28, 2021 at 12:15 am

      Thank you so much!! I'm glad you love it!

      Reply
  3. Valerie says

    June 02, 2021 at 2:40 am

    5 stars
    I’m excited to try this recipe! Do you know the time conversion for making mini cupcakes instead of regular cupcakes? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Blair Braz says

      June 02, 2021 at 11:56 pm

      Hi there! Can't wait for you to try the recipe. I haven't made them as mini cupcakes but I would recommend starting at 10 minutes and peeking to see if they are done and go from there!

      Reply
  4. rissa says

    June 30, 2021 at 6:41 pm

    5 stars
    anything white i attenpt to bake comes out dry no matter what i shift then spoon in my flour everything be room temp i always fail but this recipe fool proof it was perfect i was amazed thank you!!!!!

    Reply
    • Blair Braz says

      July 01, 2021 at 2:10 am

      Oh my goodness, I'm so glad! Thanks for sharing the feedback.

      Reply
  5. Heather says

    February 24, 2024 at 1:07 am

    5 stars
    My go to vanilla cupcake recipe.

    Reply
  6. Lori Friedman says

    March 22, 2024 at 8:25 pm

    Can you use whole eggs vs egg whites?

    Reply
    • Blair Braz says

      March 24, 2024 at 1:46 am

      Yes, I would use 4 eggs at room temperature.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Fresh Mango Cupcakes - BAKED by Blair says:
    October 7, 2023 at 9:57 pm

    […] spin on my classic Vanilla Cupcakes from Scratch, these mango cupcakes are naturally flavoured with mango purée. Combining both oil and butter […]

    Reply

Footer

↑ back to top

Online Classes

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy

Let's Be Friends

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Connect With Me

  • Contact
  • Media Kit
  • FAQ

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 Brunch Pro on the Feast Plugin