Very Vanilla Cupcakes With Easy Cream Cheese Frosting

blucoat's Note:

Another simple and delicious recipe from Anna Olsen, pastry chef, cookbook writer, TV host, and owner of Olson Foods + Bakery. These make really beautiful, sweet, vanilla-y cupcakes.

• Total Time: 38 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 13 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 24 cupcakes

Very Vanilla Cupcakes

• ½ cup cake-and-pastry flour
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 dash fine salt
• 3 tablespoons 2% low-fat milk
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
• 4 extra large eggs , whites and yolks separated
• 12 tablespoons sugar

Easy Icing

• 4 ounces cream cheese , at room temperature
• ½ cup unsalted butter , room temperature
• 3 cups icing sugar , sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
• 1 -2 tablespoon milk

Directions:

1. Very Vanilla Cupcakes:. Preheat oven to 350 °F and line mini muffin tins with paper liners.
2. Sift flours, baking powder and salt and set aside. Whisk milk, oil and vanilla bean paste together and set aside.
3. Whip egg whites with 6 tbsp of sugar until they hold a soft peak when beaters are lifted. In a separate bowl, whip egg yolks with remaining 6 tbsp of sugar until doubled in volume and a pale, butter colour. Fold whipped whites into yolk mixture. Fold flour into whipped eggs in two additions. Stir a spoonful of batter into milk mixture then add all back to batter, folding quickly to incorporate.
4. Pipe or spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, 3/4-full. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, until cupcake springs back when touched. Let cool.
5. Easy Icing:. Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy and smooth. On low speed, add icing sugar, 1 cup at a time, until blended. Beat in vanilla bean paste and add milk, 1 tbsp at a time until desired consistency is achieved. Ice cupcakes as desired.