Vanilla Cupcakes and Product Review {Annah}

This was the first time I made cupcakes from scratch. It went ok, but I was not excited about the texture of the cupcake. I went to the store just to get the cake flour that this recipe recommends to give the cupcakes a lighter fluffier texture. Don't get me wrong they were not dense, but they did not come out light and fluffy like the box cake mix. The flavor of the cupcake was good though. I will use the cake flour again, but probably try another recipe for vanilla cupcakes. If you do make these cupcakes do not be shocked when the cupcake mixture is really liquidy compared to box mixes. I like a fuller cupcake so even though it says the recipe will make 15-16 cupcakes it only made 11-12 for me.

Now for the product review of Duncan Hines frosting creations. I had a coupon for them and saw on another blog someone who tried the mix-ins and enjoyed it. Darn coupons always getting you to buy things you wouldn't usually! The frosting can is bigger then the others, but don't be fooled there is not more frosting just more"room" to mix in the flavor packet. I choose to mix in the cotton candy flavor, and I was very happy with the final product. It truly tasted like cotton candy and was a fun change to the usual chocolate or vanilla. All in all I would buy the flavor packets if you want a funky flavor, but I would say skip on buying the special can. Just make your own frosting or buy a vanilla frosting that is on sale.

Ingredients 

1 1/4 cups cake flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup oil (vegetable, canola or extra light olive oil)

1/2 cup buttermilk

(or 1/2 cup milk plus 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar or lemon juice- add acid to the milk then set aside for 5 minutes before using)

Duncan Hines frosting creations cotton candy

Directions

Preheat oven to 350*F.

In a medium bowl, add cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Stir together with whisk, and set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, add eggs and beat 10-20 seconds.  Add sugar and continue to beat on medium speed about 30 seconds.  Add vanilla and oil, beat.

Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add about half of the flour mixture.  Add half of the milk, then the rest of the flour and the rest of the milk.  Beat until just combined.  Scrap down the side of the bowl.

The batter will be thin. Pour batter into a muffin pan prepared with paper liners.  Fill liners about 2/3 full.

Bake cupcakes in pre-heated oven for 12-14 minutes.

Cool in pan 1-2 minutes, then remove cupcakes from pan (carefully) and finish cooling on a wire rack.

Frost when cupcakes have completely cooled 

This was supposed to yield 15-16 cupcakes. I only got 11-12 out of the above recipe.