Vanilla Cupcakes with Piped Buttercream Swirls

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Soft vanilla cupcakes topped with piped buttercream swirls, ready to be personalised for any occasion. This British-inspired recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, baking powder, unsalted butter into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 12, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 12 British cuisine 280 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
  2. Step 2: In a bowl, sift together 150 g all-purpose flour and 1 1/2 tsp baking powder.
  3. Step 3: In a large bowl, beat 115 g softened unsalted butter with 150 g caster sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  4. Step 4: Add 2 large eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, followed by 1 tsp vanilla extract.
  5. Step 5: Alternately add the flour mixture and 60 ml whole milk in small batches, mixing gently until just combined.
  6. Step 6: Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full.
  7. Step 7: Bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, then cool on a wire rack.
  8. Step 8: For the buttercream, beat 100 g softened unsalted butter until creamy, gradually add 200 g powdered sugar, and beat until smooth and fluffy; add food coloring if desired.
  9. Step 9: Pipe the buttercream onto cooled cupcakes using a star tip, creating swirls.
  10. Step 10: Decorate cupcakes with personalised toppers or edible decorations as desired.

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