Cupcakes

CUPCAKES - cute, little creation that everyone loves it..

Vanilla Cupcakes
20 regular cupcakes

3/4 cup (1-1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1-2/3 cups vanilla sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2-2/3 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out

1. Beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until well combined.
3. Measure the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
4. Measure out the milk and vanilla and stir to combine.
5. Add about a third of the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar and beat to combine. Add about a half of the milk/vanilla and beat to combine. Continue adding, alternating between dry and wet and finishing with the dry.
6. Scoop batter into cupcake cups about 2/3’s full. Turn oven down to 350 degrees and bake cupcakes for about 22-25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Vanilla Bean Frosting

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 package (8 ounces) philly cream cheese
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out
-4-5 cups powdered sugar

1. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter at medium speed until creamy.
2. Add the cream cheese and beat until combined.
3. Add the vanilla extract, vanilla seeds, and 3 cups of powdered sugar and beat at low speed, occasionally stopping to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, until light and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar to arrive at the consistency and sweetness you like.

Assemble
1. Frost each cooled cupcake with a healthy mound of frosting.
2. Top with vanilla seat salt or whatever you so desire.

For the cupcakes:

• 3 cups of all purpose flour
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 225g butter, softened and at room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup full fat milk, at room temperature
• 2 cups caster sugar

For the icing:

• 5 tbsp butter, softened and at room temperature
• 6 cups of icing sugar
• 7 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
• 3 tbsp Cointreau
• tiny pinch of salt
• 1 tbsp very finely grated orange zest

How to make Vanilla Cupcakes with Orange Frosting

I think what everyone loves most about cupcakes is the frosting, and I'm no exception. However, because frostings are usually sooo sweet, I prefer to have a very mild tasting cake base. The base I've used here is a very simple vanilla-infused sponge, and I think it goes really well with the slightly tangy orange frosting, which was a nice change from the usual lemony icings. (Makes about 36 medium cupcakes, and there should be enough frosting to generously frost all of them.)

Cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to 175°C and line a cupcake tray with cups.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together in the large bowl of your standing mixer on medium speed - about 5-8 minutes - until pale and fluffy. Add in the egg yolks, and mix for another 2 minutes. Add in the vanilla essence, and mix well.
3. Combine the salt, baking powder and flour in a bowl, and add it in 4 batches, alternating with a quarter of the milk each time. Mix until fully incorporated.
4. In a clean mixing bowl, and with a clean and dry whisk, whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Carefully, but quickly, fold the egg whites into the batter, taking care not to lose all the air.
5. Spoon the batter into the cupcake cups, so that it comes about halfway up the side of the cups. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted to the middle comes out clean.
6. Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack completely before frosting.

Frosting & Decoration:

1. While the cupcakes are cooking, place the butter into a medium bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer, and combine the orange juice and orange essence/ paste.