Vanilla Cupcakes

I recently won a Spice Islands spice set courtesy of I Heart Cuppycakes! that included pure vanilla extract. Since I've been on the hunt for that perfect vanilla cupcake, I thought it was perfect timing to test my new spices and a new recipe. This has become my new go-to vanilla cupcake recipe, but I'm still not 100% sold on it. (Anyone want to suggest a recipe?) While the flavor was good, these cupcakes were a tad dry.





Vanilla Cupcakes
Source: Melissa Bakes

Ingredients:
1 stick butter (room temperature)
2/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 cups flour
1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake tin with 12 cupcake liners.
In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.
In another bowl, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract.
Turn mixer to low and alternately add flour mixture and milk in three additions, ending with flour.
Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full and bake for 18 - 20 minutes.
Cool completely on a wire rack and top with your favorite icing.

Vanilla Buttercream
1 stick butter (room temperature)
2 - 3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 - 2 tablespoons water

Cream the butter. Add vanilla and water. Beat well. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time until desired consistency is reached and beat well.