Christmas Cupcakes

Ingredients
Vanilla Cupcake Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups cake flour (not self-rising flour)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup salted butter, room temperature
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/3 cup full-fat sour cream
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (or canola oil)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup whole milk, room temperature
- optional: sprinkles (see note below)
Vanilla Buttercream Ingredients:
- 1 cup salted butter, room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1
To Make The Cupcakes:
- 2
Prep the oven and cupcake liners.
- 3
Heat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line two cupcake pans with about 16 liners total (or you can bake multiple batches with one pan).
- 4
Mix together the dry ingredients
- 5
In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together cake flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt until combined.
- 6
Add the butter.
- 7
Add the butter (be sure that it is room temperature) and mix on medium-low speed for 3 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. The batter should have a fine crumb texture.
3 min - 8
Whisk together the wet ingredients.
- 9
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream, oil and vanilla extract until smooth.
- 10
Add the wet ingredients.
- 11
Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and beat on medium-speed for 30 seconds, or until just combined. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the milk until it is just combined. The batter will be liquid.
- 12
Bake
- 13
Fill the cupcake liners so that they are just over halfway full. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cupcakes cool completely to room temperature.
14 min - 14
To Make The Buttercream:
- 15
Beat the butter.
- 16
Add the butter to a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes until it is light and fluffy.
2 min - 17
Add the remaining ingredients.
- 18
Add the powdered sugar, heavy cream and vanilla extract and beat on low speed for 1 minute until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat on medium speed for 2 more minutes until completely smooth.
1 min - 19
Adjust consistency if needed.
- 20
If the buttercream seems too thin, add in 1 to 2 cups of additional powdered sugar and beat until smooth. If the buttercream seems too thick, add in 1 tablespoon of heavy cream (or more, if needed) and beat until smooth. See notes below for storage directions.




