Thursday, March 15, 2012

Vanilla Bean Heaven!

It was a coworker's birthday today which was the perfect excuse to try a new cupcake recipe! This was also the perfect recipe to use some of my yummy vanilla bean paste in. Oh my goodness, the actual cupcake was divine and unless I have to make a ton of cupcakes I will never make box cupcakes again. It was so soft, light and fluffy. Combined with the buttercream? Vanilla Heaven. I used some store bought chocolate to accommodate the chocolate lovers and while it was good, it overwhelmed the luscious vanilla flavor. If you melt the frosting in the microwave you can dip the cupcakes in and get that smooth glossy finish (I learned this in my Christmas Cupcake Book!).
I gave one to Banks (our doorman). He had it with his coffee and when I came home he said it was the highlight of his day and if I ever started my own bakery he wanted to be number one on my client list. Plus he always asks about how my kids were so he wins in my book.
Vanilla Bean Cupcakes 
with Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting
Cupcake Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups whole milk, room temperature
4 large egg whites, room temperature
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
seeds scraped from one vanilla bean or 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Buttercream Frosting Ingredients: 
1.5 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1.5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
Directions for cupcakes:
1. Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
2. Whisk together the milk and egg whites in a separate bowl.
3. Cream butter, sugar, vanilla extract and beans until light and fluffy. Slowly add a little of the flour mixture, then add a little milk mixture. Keep alternating slowly until both are fully incorporated. Make sure it is mixed well.
4. Fill muffin tin, 2/3 way full. Bake for 20-24 minutes.
Directions for frosting:
1. Cream together butter and vanilla bean paste. Slowly add confectioners sugar.
2. Add vanilla and milk and mix until incorporated and fluffy!
Go Orange and Blue!

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