Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

Sometimes a really delicious recipe doesn't have to be made totally from scratch. These cupcakes are a perfect example. It's hard to beat the Duncan Hines Butter Recipe Cake Mix. It is light, or should I say "light," and moist. The frosting is my version of a simple buttercream, and I love it so much that I believe it even trumps chocolate. The combination of the two makes a really fabulous cupcake.

Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

1 box Duncan Hines Butter Recipe Cake Mix
1 tsp vanilla

Prepare cake according to package directions with the addition of the vanilla. Spoon into a muffin tin lined with cupcake cups and bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Cool and frost with buttercream frosting. Yield: 22-24 cupcakes


Buttercream Frosting

2 sticks butter, softened at room temperature
1 lb confectioners sugar
5 tbsp heavy cream (milk or 1/2 & 1/2 are fine)

Beat butter at high speed until light and fluffy. Add sugar, vanilla, and cream and continue beating until desired consistency. Add more cream or sugar if needed.

Mix cake according to package directions, with the addition of a little extra vanilla.

Spoon into paper liners and bake at 375° for 15 minutes.

They will be a light golden brown on top:

The frosting will look a little dry until you add the milk.

I like to pipe the frosting onto the cupcake, but you can spread it with a knife if you want to. Be careful not to be too generous with the piping or you might run out of frosting. For me it makes JUST enough.

I also like to use Wilton White Sparkling Sugar Sprinkles on top for a little bit of sparkle. You can double click on this photo to see it better.

I made these cupcakes for some dear friends of mine who came over for dinner the other night. I wanted to send them home with one as well. I found these cute individual cupcake boxes (again by Wilton) at the Hob Lob.

I apparently love the combination of pink and green because I already had plenty of ribbon to choose from.

They come with inserts that stabilize the cupcake and keep it from touching the sides. Cool idea.

Tie it up with a little bit of ribbon and you have a great party favor.




I suggest having the cake mix and some of these boxes on hand so you can be ready to give a special little gift at the spur of any moment.