Reliable Vanilla Christmas Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (180 g)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder (6 g)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (3 g)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (113 g)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar (150 g)
• 2 large eggs (100 g)
• 1/2 cup whole milk (120 g)
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (226 g)
• 3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar (420 g)
• 2 tablespoons whole milk (30 g)
• 1 teaspoon green and red gel food coloring, optional (4 g)

Instructions

1. Prepare pan. Heat the oven to 350°F and line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until evenly blended.
2. Cream butter. Beat 1/2 cup softened butter with granulated sugar for 2 to 3 minutes, until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Finish batter. Add half the flour mixture and mix gently on low only until incorporated. Pour in 1/2 cup milk, mix briefly, then add remaining flour mixture. Stop as soon as batter looks smooth and no dry streaks remain.
4. Bake cupcakes. Divide batter among liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until tops spring back lightly and a tester from the center shows moist crumbs. Cool in pan 5 minutes, then transfer cupcakes to a rack.
5. Make frosting. Beat 1 cup softened butter until creamy. Add confectioners’ sugar in three additions, alternating with 2 tablespoons milk, and beat until light and fluffy. Divide frosting among bowls, leaving one portion white and tinting others green or red.
6. Decorate tops. Cool cupcakes completely before frosting. Pipe green spirals for trees, red rings for wreaths, or white swirls for snow. Add sprinkles immediately so they adhere. Serve when frosting holds its shape.

Notes

• For clean liners, fill each cup two-thirds full in a light-colored metal pan. A scoop portions batter evenly.
• With one piping bag, decorate white cupcakes first, then green, then red. Wipe the tip between colors to keep each design crisp.
• Use a large open-star tip for textured trees and a round tip for wreaths. A snipped resealable bag makes easy swirls without specialty tools.

Nutrition Facts