The BEST Vanilla Cupcakes. Ever.

I know a lot of people write off vanilla saying they are boring or simple, but when vanilla cupcakes are done right it gets ridiculous {I know, I'm a little dramatic}.  For Easter I wanted to make cupcakes for my family lunch, and I stumbled upon {THIS} recipe when I was poking around Pioneer Woman's blog.  Ree hasn't failed me yet...  


Ingredients for Cake:
{serves 18}

• 1 Cup Vegetable Oil
• 1-3/4 Cup Sugar
• 2-1/2 Cups Cake Flour
• 1-1/4 tsp Salt
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Cup Buttermilk
• 2-1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1-1/2 tsp Vinegar

Directions for Cake:


1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and line 18 muffin tins.


2.  Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy {use your mixing bowl}. 


3.  In a separate bowl combine flour and salt {PW says to sift together...mine sifter is a little under the weather so I just combined}.  


4.  In an another separate bowl {ready for dishes? don't worry it is worth it} whisk salt, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, soda, and vinegar.

5.  With your shortening/sugar bowl still on the mixer, alternate flour and buttermilk until completely combined.   


6.  Pour batter 2/3 the way up in the muffin tins, and bake 17-20.  Allow cupcake to cool completely before icing them.  


Ingredients for Icing:

• 1 Stick of butter
• 1-8 oz pkg Cream Cheese
• 4 Cups Powder Sugar {again I was suppose to sift}
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 tsp vanilla extract

Directions for Icing:


1.  Mix everything together.  Apply to cool cupcakes.  Lick the bowl.  

You have to try this recipe.  I have eaten a lot of cupcakes in my life time...and these rocked my world.   


{Leslie}