Ah the vanilla cupcake. You can find them literally everywhere you go but it is difficult, even if you baked them yourself, to find a truly outstanding one. I’m setting out on a search to bring you the best, ultimate recipe that I will then recommend in my new Cupcake Academy area as the one true path to cupcake deliciousness.
Here’s my take on what the ultimate Vanilla Cupcake should be –
- light and fluffy, but with a good structure that comes away from the paper case easily and holds frosting well
- delicious – and it should taste of vanilla – otherwise we can’t really call it a vanilla cupcake
- sweet (it is a cupcake!) but not too overwhelmingly sweet that you feel the need to book an emergency dentist appointment
After some exhaustive work googling, three clear frontrunners emerged to be considered the best Vanilla Cupcake ever.
- Martha Stewart’s Vanilla Cupcakes
- The Ultimate Vanilla Cupcake as tested by The Cupcake Project
- Magnolia Bakery’s Vanilla Cupcakes
- Primrose Bakery Vanilla Cupcakes
- Peggy Porschen Vanilla Cupcakes
And I’m going to bake my way through all the recipes in order to find MY ultimate vanilla cupcake.
Any recommendations – what do you think is the best vanilla cupcake recipe you’ve ever tried? Do you have an amazing recipe you’d like me to taste-test?
x Kerry
Tara says
September 10, 2012 at 11:37 amI can’t wait to see the final results of this one! I have made the Martha Stewart red velvet cupcakes and they were amazing… haven’t tried the vanilla ones, but I have made a few of her recipes and they usually end up pretty delicious!
Erin says
August 12, 2012 at 11:23 pmThe bakery where I worked in high school did THE BEST vanilla cupcakes. I’ve been trying to recreate them ever since but have never come close. Can’t wait for Cupcake Academy 🙂
kerrycooks says
August 13, 2012 at 12:07 pmYou WORKED there and you NEVER STOLE the recipe! Erin!
OceanBreezesAndCountrySneezes.blogspot.com says
August 10, 2012 at 2:30 pmMy nana had the best cake recipe and she used to make cupcakes from it all the time – for me it’s still the best recipe and it’s what I compare everything to!
kerrycooks says
August 10, 2012 at 3:14 pmOoh…. would you care to share the recipe or is it top secret?
Susannah Bianchi says
August 10, 2012 at 11:00 amI live not too far from one of the Magnolia Bakeries – there are several now, so I am going to go try their vanilla cupcake. I love the idea of an academy. I see rows of cupcakes dressed like creamy cadets led by Betty Crocker.
You enjoy your weekend Miss.
kerrycooks says
August 10, 2012 at 11:03 amOoh exciting! Take a picture for me! You too 🙂
Susannah Bianchi says
August 10, 2012 at 2:07 pmBefore I devour it, you bet
Nelly says
August 10, 2012 at 9:05 amI personally prefer Hummingbird’s recipe. I have tried all the ones on your list and the most consistant one for me has to be hummingbird. Also very easy to adapt to different flavours.
kerrycooks says
August 10, 2012 at 9:13 amInteresting, thanks Nelly! I’ve had some mixed results with the Hummingbird one in the past, you’re probably better at following the recipe correctly than I am!