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Simple Vanilla Cupcakes

5 from 4 votes
Bree HesterBy Bree Hester
Bree Hester
Bree Hester Founder of Baked Bree

Bree Hester is the recipe developer, writer and food photographer behind Baked Bree. She started Baked Bree in February 2010 as a love letter to anyone that has ever come to her house for a meal. O…

Expertise: Recipe developer, food photographer and writer View all posts →
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Simple Vanilla Cupcakes – Nigella Lawson Simple Vanilla Cupcakes topped with Royal Icing. These are made in the food processor and are simple to bake.

Delicious vanilla cupcake with white frosting and blue flower decoration.

Need a really simple and beautiful cupcake? Here you go. I love to lay in bed at night and leaf through cookbooks. It calms me. One of my favorites is Nigella Lawson’s How to Be a Domestic Goddess. I was intrigued by the idea of icing the cupcake with royal icing. It kept me up that night. I woke up the next morning and made these immediately. And then we ate them all. They were delicious.

When I made these cupcakes for the first time I was convinced that there would not be enough batter to fill all 12 liners. But there was, you just need to have a little faith and you need to completely scrape the bowl. The cupcakes only need a few tablespoons of batter because you really do not want them to bake up higher than the cupcake liners. You need room for the icing to cover the top and leave of blanket of sweet goodness. This icing is perfect for travel because it dries hard. It is like the frosting that you get on a Christmas cookie. These are a wonderful little treat. I like to put sugared flowers on mine that you can find in a bakery supply store or even at a craft store. But they are just as beautiful plain.

Flour, baking soda, eggs, sugar, milk, and baking powder for baking recipes on a kitchen countertop.

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

  • 1 stick plus 1 Tablespoon butter room temperature
  • 1/2 cup plus 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 to 3 Tablespoons milk temperature

For the Royal Icing:

  • 2 egg whites (or powdered egg whites)
  • 3 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • food coloring (optional)
  • sugared flowers (optional)

* adapted from Nigella Lawson *

Soft zucchini muffins with white frosting on cooling rack, fresh baked cinnamon-spice flavor.

Instructions

Step 1:

Put all of the ingredients in a food processor except for the milk.

Step 2: Pour the milk through the tunnel and process until smooth.

Step 3: Put the batter in the prepared muffin tins. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until brown in a 350 degree oven. Cool completely and then ice.

Step 4: Combine the egg whites and confectioners sugar in a mixing bowl and whip with a mixer until opaque and shiny, about 5 minutes.

Delicious cupcakes with white frosting and blue flower decorations on a cooling rack.

Step 5: Whisk in the lemon juice to thin out the icing.

Step 6: Mix for a few more minutes until you reach the consistency for spreading on cupcakes.

Step 7: Spread the icing on the top of the cooled cupcakes.

How cute are these sugar flowers?

Step 8: Top with a sugar flower and let harden.

My new favorite cupcake.

Delicious vanilla cupcakes with white frosting and blue fondant flowers on a cooling rack.
Delicious vanilla cupcake with white frosting and blue flower decoration.

Simple Vanilla Cupcakes

Bree Hester
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Wait Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 55 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 262 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 stick plus 1 tablespoon butter room temperature
  • 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons milk temperature

For the Royal Icing:

  • 2 egg whites or powdered egg whites
  • 3 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • food coloring optional
  • sugared flowers optional

Instructions
 

  • Put all of the ingredients in a food processor except for the milk.
  • Pour the milk through the tunnel and process until smooth.
    Creamy cake batter in food processor ready for baking.
  • Put the batter in the prepared muffin tins. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until brown in a 350 degree oven. Cool completely and then ice.
    Baked Bree cupcake batter in a muffin tin ready for baking.
  • Combine the egg whites and confectioners sugar in a mixing bowl and whip with a mixer until opaque and shiny, about 5 minutes.
    Smooth creamy frosting being mixed in a stand mixer, perfect for baking and cake decorating.
  • Whisk in the lemon juice to thin out the icing.
    Whipped cream being mixed in a stand mixer, baking and dessert preparation.
  • Mix for a few more minutes until you reach the consistency for spreading on cupcakes.
    Whipped egg whites in a mixing bowl for baking recipes.
  • Spread the icing on the top of the cooled cupcakes.
    Soft zucchini muffins with white frosting on cooling rack, fresh baked cinnamon-spice flavor.
  • How cute are these sugar flowers?
    Blue flower-shaped cake decorating sugar pearls, bakery cake decorating supplies for baking, Baked Bree.
  • Top with a sugar flower and let harden.
    Delicious cupcakes with white frosting and blue flower decorations on a cooling rack.
  • My new favorite cupcake.
    Delicious vanilla cupcakes with white frosting and blue fondant flowers on a cooling rack.

Nutrition

Calories: 262kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 162mgFiber: 0.2g
Keyword Simple Vanilla Cupcakes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

About Bree Hester

Bree Hester is the recipe developer, writer and food photographer behind Baked Bree. She started Baked Bree in February 2010 as a love letter to anyone that has ever come to her house for a meal. Over the years it has evolved into so much more than that. While Bree may have hung up her apron for the last time, the reins have now been passed over to a passionate team of foodies.

Reader Interactions

Published: Aug 25, 2010 | Updated: Feb 17, 2026
5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




  1. Ubi says

    Posted on 8/18 at 8:19 pm

    5 stars
    Tried it and it came out great! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Fresh-faced woman smiling in front of pink flower wall, casual fall outfit, cozy black jacket and pink top, bright and cheerful ambiance.Anneliese Duprey says

      Posted on 12/12 at 10:29 am

      So glad to hear! Thank you for reading.

      Reply
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