Recipe of the Week - Quick Vanilla Buttercream

Week 48

This recipe comes from Gale Gand, one of my favorite chefs on the Food Network.  She had a show called Sweet Dreams from 2000-2008 and is a great pastry chef and teacher! 

Billy's Bakery (NYC)

Quick Vanilla Buttercream

3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream

In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes. Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for one minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

Recipe of the Week - Magnolia Bakery Vanilla Cupcakes

Week 46

I went to see Sex and the City 2 last night and it was Fab-u-Luss! There was a scene where Charlotte was baking cupcakes and wearing a super cute cupcake apron. Of course, the scene that put cupcake bakeries on the map was from the HBO series - Carrie eating a cupcake from Magnolia Bakery.

To celebrate the opening weekend of the movie and vanilla cupcakes....here is the recipe from Magnolia Bakery!

Magnolia Bakery Vanilla Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups Self-Rising flour
1 1/4 All-Purpose flour
1 cup butter - softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs - room temperature
1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare cupcake pans with liners.  Combine flours and set aside.

Cream butter and add sugar gradually.  Beat until fluffy (about 3 minutes).  Add eggs, one at a time.  Add dry ingredients in 3 parts, alternating with milk and vanilla.  Do not overbeat.  Fill liners 3/4 full.  Bake for 20 minutes - checking frequently after 15 minutes. Cool completely.


Magnolia Bakery Vanilla Buttercream


1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons milk

Recipe of the Week - Creamsicle Cupcakes

Week 41

I got my kayak out of the barn today and cleaned it up....even though we got 10 inches of snow Thursday.  So maybe if we think "ice cream" it will warm up and we can switch from winter to summer activities.  Hoping warm weather will come to the Lake Tahoe area soon!

Cupcake Rehab

(Beating Batter & People with Whisks since 2007)

Creamscicle Cupcakes

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. orange extract
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
¼ cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract and orange extract.

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour.

Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter and bake for about 18-20 minutes.  Cool completely.  Frost with your favorite vanilla buttercream or with cream cheese frosting - tinted orange if you prefer.

Recipe of the Year - Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Week 24

This week we honor 2009 with the most-Googled cupcake recipe of the year....vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting!

Vanilla Cupcakes

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Zest of 1 large lemon
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk


Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

2 cups confectioners sugar-sifted
1/2 cup unsalted butter-room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons milk or light cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and lemon zest.

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter and bake for about 18-20.  Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost with vanilla buttercream.

Mad Hatter Cupcakes (Las Vegas)

The third cupcake bakery I visited in Las Vegas was Mad Hatter Cupcakes.  I almost didn't go there because I didn't think I had time to find it before going to the airport.  But I was driving along and just happened to look up and see the very street the bakery was on.  I am soooo glad I didn't miss this bakery!

Mad Hatter Cupcakes is unique because the cupcakes are not pre-frosted.  You choose your cake flavor and then choose the frosting. They have a gorgeous laminated menu card - which you can take home for later use and they have punch cards so that you can eventually get free cupcakes.  The staff explained how the process works (choosing your cake & frosting flavors) and then quickly filled my order. 

I bought a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting and a vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream.  Both cakes were moist and the flavor of the cake was distinct.  As you already know, I can be a tough critic on cream cheese frosting.  This cream cheese was the best I tried in Las Vegas - but still needs more cream cheese (in my southern opinion).  The vanilla buttercream was excellent - sweet and smooth and full of vanilla flavor.  I was offered fillings and toppings but declined. I just wanted cake and frosting with no distractions.

My cupcake adventure at Mad Hatter Cupcakes was fantastic.  I will go back every time I visit Las Vegas.  I may even plan my next trip around their cupcakes!

Happy National Vanilla Cupcake Day!

Celebrate today with a vanilla cupcake...and vanilla buttercream of course!