Pink Velvet Cupcakes Vanilla Buttercream (Printable Version)

Airy, blush-pink cupcakes crowned with dreamy vanilla buttercream. Perfectly balanced sweetness with a hint of tanginess.

# What You Need:

→ For the Cupcakes

01 - 1¼ cups cake flour
02 - ½ teaspoon baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ¼ teaspoon salt
05 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
06 - ½ cup granulated sugar
07 - 1 large egg, at room temperature
08 - ⅔ cup buttermilk, at room temperature
09 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
10 - 1 teaspoon white vinegar
11 - ½ teaspoon pink gel food coloring

→ For the Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

12 - ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
13 - 2 to 2½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
14 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
15 - 2 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk
16 - Pinch of salt
17 - Pink food coloring, optional

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
02 - In a medium bowl, sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed for 1 minute until smooth. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
04 - Lightly beat the egg in a small bowl. With the mixer on low, slowly add the egg, mixing until fully incorporated. Blend in the vanilla extract.
05 - On low speed, add one-third of the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until just combined. Add half the buttermilk, mix, then repeat with another third of the dry mix, the remaining buttermilk, and finish with the final third of dry ingredients. Scrape down the bowl as needed. Do not overmix.
06 - In a small cup, stir together the white vinegar and pink gel food coloring. With the mixer on low, pour this mixture into the batter and mix until evenly tinted.
07 - Divide the batter evenly among the 12 liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Tap the pan gently to release air bubbles.
08 - Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
09 - Let cupcakes rest in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
10 - In a clean bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually add 2 cups of powdered sugar on low, then increase to medium and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla, cream, and salt. Beat on medium-high for 1–2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add more sugar for stiffness or more cream for softness. Mix in a drop of pink food coloring if desired.
11 - Transfer the buttercream to a piping bag fitted with your preferred tip or use a small offset spatula. Frost each cooled cupcake. Decorate with sprinkles, edible pearls, or pink sanding sugar if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crumb is so tender it practically melts on your tongue, thanks to the buttermilk and vinegar working together.
  • You control the shade of pink, from barely-there blush to bold fuchsia, without any artificial fruit flavor.
  • The vanilla buttercream is silky and not too sweet, so it complements rather than overpowers.
  • They look impressive but come together faster than most layer cakes.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable, cold butter or eggs will cause the batter to curdle and bake unevenly.
  • Don't overmix once you add the flour or you'll develop too much gluten and end up with tough, dense cupcakes instead of tender ones.
  • Gel food coloring is worth the investment because liquid coloring can make the batter too thin and dull the pink shade.
03 -
  • Sift your powdered sugar before making the frosting or you'll spend forever trying to smooth out lumps.
  • If your frosting feels too soft to pipe, pop the bowl in the fridge for 10 minutes and beat it again, it will firm up beautifully.
  • For the fluffiest frosting, beat the butter alone first until it's almost white before adding any sugar.
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