Every cupcake baker needs to start somewhere. These two recipes are for everyone's favorite flavors: chocolate and vanilla! Some people might find these flavors to be boring, but I think they are perfect! Additional ingredients can always be added to fancy them up and the "plainness" of the flavors allows for the use of more interesting frosting.
This chocolate recipe has been in my family forever and it is absolutely the best chocolate cake I've ever had. And as an added bonus, there are no eggs in the batter so feel free to lick the bowl!
No Eggs Chocolate Cake:
3 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
8 Tbsp. cocoa
2 c. water
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
2 tsp. vanilla
¾ c. canola oil
2 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
8 Tbsp. cocoa
2 c. water
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
2 tsp. vanilla
¾ c. canola oil
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your cupcake tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl, sift together the first five ingredients. Put the remaining ingredients in the large bowl of a stand mixer. Beat until well blended, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually add the dry ingredients until well combined. Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
This next recipe is for vanilla cupcakes. I love a vanilla cupcake because they are so versatile! You can add any flavor frosting to make it more interesting. You can also add in additional items to the batter, like sprinkles or finely chopped fruit, and it completely transforms the cake.
Vanilla Cupcakes:
1-3/4 c. cake flour, not self rising
1-1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into 1" pieces
4 large eggs
1 c. whole milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into 1" pieces
4 large eggs
1 c. whole milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line you cupcake tin with paper liners.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix on a low speed until combined. Gradually add the butter until just coated with flour.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. With the mixer on a medium speed, gradually add this mixture in three parts. Beat until the ingredients are incorporated, but don't overbeat.
Fill the cupcake liners until they are 2/3 full. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, for about 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
