Magnolia Bakery’s Cupcakes

Yield: 24 cupcakes

1 cup (2 sticks) of unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing pans

1¼ cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting pans

1½ cups self-rising flour

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs, at room temperature

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers. Mix the flours together in a bowl. In another small bowl, mix the milk and vanilla.

In a large bowl, cream the butter with an electric mixer at medium speed 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. Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk and the vanilla, beating well after each addition. Spoon the batter into muffin cups about ¾ full.

Bake until the tops of the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched, 20 to 22 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the pans and cool on a rack before icing.

Magnolia Bakery’s Buttercream Vanilla Icing

Yield: about 4¼ cups icing (enough for 24 cupcakes)

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

8 cups confectioners’ sugar

½ cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

food coloring (optional)

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, until the icing is thick enough to spread. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired. Frost the cupcakes. Serve at room temperature. Leftover icing freezes well for up to two months.

Magnolia Bakery’s Cupcakes

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