Vanilla cupcake

Sometimes the best cupcakes are the simplest, there are so many flavours out there but once in a while all I want is a plain vanilla cupcake. This recipe is my original recipe, the one I base all my other flavours off. It's moist, tasty and perfect for that cupcake craving. 

What I love about this recipe is that it is easy to double batch and it doesn't require a lot of equipment. The sponge and buttercream can also be dyed using food colouring to suit any occasion.

INGREDIENTS

Makes 12

Sponge

225g Plain flour

120ml milk
120ml vegetable oil
2 eggs
2tsp baking powder
1tsp vanilla extract

170g casting sugar

Buttercream

280g unsalted butter

750g icing sugar

1tsp vanilla essence

1tbsp milk

sprinkle to decorate

METHOD

1.  Preheat the oven to gas mark 4 (180C/350F). Fill your muffin tin with 12 cupcake cases. 
2. Add all your sponge ingredients to a bowl and mix together.
3. Fill your cupcake cases to 3/4 full.
4. Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes until cooked through. 
5. leave to cool.
6. Beat your butter until smooth, add your icing sugar, vanilla essence and milk, mix until smooth. 
7. Using a piping bag or a spoon decorate your cupcakes.