Hummingbird bakery vanilla cupcakes

Prep: 40 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Hummingbird bakery vanilla cupcakes
These vanilla cupcakes, topped with candy-coloured vanilla frosting and sprinkles, are what the Hummingbird Bakery is best known for. When you make these at home, don’t overcook them, they should be light golden and spring back when touched. This way the sponge will be airy and moist with a hint of vanilla. 

For the cake:

120g plain flour

140g caster sugar

1½ tsp baking powder

a pinch of salt

40g unsalted butter, at room temperature

120ml whole milk

1 egg

¼tsp vanilla extract

1 quantity vanilla frosting

hundreds and thousands or other edible sprinkles, to decorate

a 12-hole cupcake tray, lined with paper cases

For the vanilla frosting:

250g icing sugar, sifted

80g unsalted butter, at room temperature

25ml whole milk

a couple of drops of vanilla extract

For the cake:

Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F) Gas 3.

Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat on slow speed until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined. Gradually pour in half the milk and beat until the milk is just incorporated.

Whisk the egg, vanilla extract and remaining milk together in a separate bowl for a few seconds, then pour into the flour mixture and continue beating until just incorporated (scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula). Continue mixing for a couple more minutes until the mixture is smooth. Do not overmix.

Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until two-thirds full and bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until light golden and the sponge bounces back when touched.

A skewer inserted in the centre should come out clean. Leave the cupcakes to cool slightly in the tray before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

When the cupcakes are cold, spoon the vanilla frosting on top and decorate with hundreds and thousands.

For the vanilla frosting:

Beat the icing sugar and butter together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed.

Turn the mixer down to slow speed. Combine the milk and vanilla extract in a separate bowl, then add to the butter mixture a couple of tablespoons at a time. Once all the milk has been incorporated, turn the mixer up to high speed.

Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. The longer the frosting is beaten, the fluffier and lighter it becomes.

Serves
makes 12 cupcakes

Preparation Time
40 minutes

Cooking Time
25 minutes

Main ingredients
Dairy, Flour

Recipe Type
Party Food, Cakes & Baking, Easy Recipes, Cake Stall, Cupcakes

Special Info
Nut free, Vegetarian, Pregnant Mums

Level of Difficulty
Easy

We tested this as a gluten free recipe and it works really well.  Replace the flour and baking powder with gluten free options and follow the exact same instructions.

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