Vanilla Cupcakes

Ingredients

• •1 1/2 cup unbleached cake flour
• •1 cup granulated sugar
• •1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• •1/4 tps salt
• •6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• •2 large eggs
• •1/2 cup milk
• •2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• •6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• •1/3 cup vegetable shortening
• •1/8 tsp salt
• •4 cup confectioners' sugar
• •2 tsp vanilla extract
• •1/4 cup milk

Steps

1. 1Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a standard muffin pan, or line with greased cupcake papers.
2. 2To make the cupcakes: Combine the dry ingredients, then mix in the butter until crumbly.
3. 3Whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry in two additions.
4. 4Scoop about 1/3 cup batter into each muffin cup.
5. 5Bake the cupcakes for 16 to 18 minutes, until they're lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center of one of the middle cupcakes comes out clean.
6. 6Remove the cupcakes from the oven; after 5 minutes turn them out of the pan onto a rack to cool.
7. 7To make the frosting: Beat together the butter, shortening, and salt.
8. 8Add the sugar, vanilla, and ¼ cup milk, and beat until fluffy. Add additional milk if the frosting seems too stiff to spread.
9. 9Use a cupcake corer or small spoon to scoop some of the center out of each cupcake. Fill and ice with the frosting. Yields 12 cupcakes.