This classic white cupcakes recipe is simply the best. The cake is moist, fluffy, and tender all at the same time and the flavor is a traditional combination of almond and vanilla – plus I’ve got a tip that will give your cake so much flavor people will be begging to know how you do it. These classic cupcakes are topped with a creamy-rich, whipped cream cheese icing that has the consistency of Swiss buttercream but is SO much easier! These sweet little white cupcakes are exactly right for birthdays, weddings, baby showers, Mother’s Day – or any occasion when a homemade cupcake is appropriate… (every dang day!)
For this recipe you’ll need: all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, unsalted butter, sugar, sour cream, almond extract, vanilla-butternut flavoring, egg whites, milk, cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, Confectioner’s sugar, white chocolate instant pudding powder
White cake makes everything seem like a special occasion – and these cupcakes are no exception. I used to think that white cake was difficult to make and so it was the one cake mix I bought for years. Once I found this recipe I realized that not only was white cake just as easy to make as any other cake but homemade white cake is WAY more delicious than a mix!
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I’m planning on making this white cupcakes recipe for Easter and, like I did here, tinting the frosting in pastels. We generally try to do a big family dinner after church on Easter Sunday and not much else now that the kids (and grandkids that live here) are beyond the Easter Bunny stage. It’s a much more casual affair than it used to be, for sure!
When I was little Easter meant a new dress with a starched petticoat so it stood out like an upside down cupcake liner. There’d be a new pair of shiny patent leather shoes, ruffly socks, a hat, and white gloves. I can’t tell you how many years of pictures there are that attest to that exact mode of dress on Easter Sunday!
When my kids were small I dressed them up, too. Nowadays, though, things seem to be getting increasingly casual with people wearing jeans and shorts to church – even on Easter. I haven’t decided how I feel about that (even though it’s none of my business). I guess I’m kind of sad that so many social graces have been lost over the years. I can’t prove that wearing gloves to church on Easter would make our society less crazy or that lingering around the dinner table after a big family meal would solve so many of our problems but I don’t think it would hurt. Adults and kids alike want to know they belong somewhere, to someone, and home is a predictable place. I think having traditions like Sunday dinner helps that happen.
And… this white cupcake recipe should be a tradition, too.
White Cupcakes Recipe FAQs
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about homemade cupcakes:
Can this recipe be made sugar free or gluten free (or…)
I always recommend that the recipes on Restless Chipotle be made as they are written – at least the first time. After that you can tweak to fit your own needs. I’ve never tried to make these gluten free or sugar free so I can’t really comment on whether or not substitutions will work. My best advice is to give it a try and see what happens.
Can I substitute yogurt for the sour cream?
Yes and no. If you substitute a whole milk Greek yogurt for the sour cream then it should be fine. You cannot substitute a low fat or nonfat yogurt for the sour cream in this recipe because they have stabilizers and will break down and become watery. Trust me – go with the sour cream.
Do you have to use unsalted butter in a white cupcakes recipe?
The reason most recipes call for unsalted butter is that you can then control the amount of salt in the finished cupcake. If you use salted butter you don’t really know how much salt is in there. Saying that, I often use salted butter and adjust the salt in the recipe accordingly. Some brands of butter are saltier than other brands so always taste!
Can this recipe be made as a cake?
It sure can! If you want a 2-layer 8-inch cake you’ll need to double the recipe. Bake it at 375F for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. I also have a recipe for a homemade white cake mix that’s fantastic!
What other flavorings can I use?
If you want that traditional wedding cake flavor you’ll want to stick with what I’ve done with a mixture of almond and vanilla but if you are adventurous you can use any clear flavoring you’d like. Coconut flavoring is really good! Vanilla-butternut flavoring adds a flavor to these cupcakes that everyone loves but no one can quite put their finger on!
In the days before vanilla was a thing (ie: a very long time ago) people used to flavor desserts with rosewater. I’ve flavored these cupcakes with rosewater (make sure it’s culinary grade), orange water, coconut flavoring, just vanilla, and just almond. I don’t think you can go wrong!
Can I freeze these cupcakes?
You can definitely freeze these cupcakes for up to three months. Just bake them and place them in layers in a freezer container with waxes paper between each layer of cupcakes. Don’t frost them before freezing.
How long can I store homemade cupcakes at room temperature?
If you’re not going to eat them the same day that you make them just freeze them. Cupcakes will store at room temperature for a day or two but they are at their best when eaten or frozen the day they are made.
Tips for Perfect Cupcakes
Here are some tips for creating perfect cupcakes from this white cupcake recipe!
- Use the highest quality ingredients you can afford. It makes a difference in the taste – especially in a white cupcakes recipe because there are no strong flavors to offset butter that’s slightly off or an artificial vanilla flavoring.
- Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature before beginning. This is important!
- Be sure to cream the butter and sugar long enough – 3 to 4 minutes!
- Mix gently! Cupcakes are made fluffy by air bubbles. If you mix them too long you’ll break all the bubbles and your cupcakes will be tough. Always mix on low speed just until your batter is blended and then if you need to mix a little more do it by hand.
- Don’t overbake!! If no wet batter is on a toothpick when you check them they’re done — even if a few crumbs cling to the toothpick.
- Use a scoop to fill the cupcake liners so that they are all the same size. The measurement is about a scant 1/4-cup of batter for each cupcake.
- Bake in the center of your oven.
- If your cupcakes rise unevenly one of 3 things has happened – uneven heat, too hot of an oven, or your oven isn’t level. You can try turning your pans during baking to keep them baking evenly, get an oven thermometer to check that the temperature is correct, and if you live in an old house like I do you’ll just want to get used to uneven cupcakes since there is NOTHING that’s level in an old house.
- Let cool completely before frosting.
- Kids’ birthday? Try these cute, edible Minion cupcake toppers
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This cupcake scoop is perfection. The plunger actually scraps out any batter on the scoop and gets it all into the cupcake pans!
White Cupcakes Recipe
These homemade white cupcakes are SO good! If you love this recipe please consider giving it 5 stars. If you’re still looking for the perfect cupcake check out the 50 Best Cupcake Recipes post — Chocolate #6 is simply amazing! Another favorite of mine, that would be SO amazing for Mother’s Day, is this Rose Gold Velvet cupcake recipe with spice and rose flavors. Isn’t it gorgeous?
White Cupcakes Recipe
Ingredients
White Cupcakes
- 1 1/4 cups flour , all-purpose
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter ,room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup sour cream , do not use low fat
- 1 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla - butternut flavoring , or vanilla
- 3 egg whites , room temperature
- 1/2 cup milk
Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese , room temperature - do not use low fat or fat free
- 1 pint heavy whipping cream
- 1 1/4 cups Confectioner's sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant pudding powder white chocolate or vanilla
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
White Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Line muffin cups with cupcake liners.
- Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl - set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy, about 4 minutes.
- Add the sour cream, almond extract, and vanilla-butternut flavoring.
- Mix until combined.
- Add the egg whites and beat well, scraping down the bowl often.
- Add the flour mixture to the egg white mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the milk.
- Beat on low speed for a minute, scraping down the sides to ensure all the ingredients are incorporated into the batter.
- Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 of the way up.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with a few crumbs clinging to it.
- Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let cool 5 minutes before removing from the pan.
- Cool completely before frosting.
Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat the cream cheese, and Confectioner's sugar until fluffy.
- Add the cream, pudding mix, and almond extract.
- Beat until it thickens and stiff peaks form.
Notes
Nutrition
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This recipe is included in Meal Plan Monday – check it out!
Virginia Alvarado says
Taste is amazing. However, my cupcakes sank in the middle when cooled. What causes this?
Marye Audet says
Virginia, there are a variety of reasons – underbaking, filling the cupcake liners too full, overmixing… When that happens to me I just put some jelly or pudding in the center and add my frosting on top!
Mandy Campbell says
I AM WANTING TO MAKE AN OREO CUPCAKE BY ADDING CRUMBLED BITS OF OREO INTO THE BATTER, OBVIOUSLY THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE BEST GENTLY FOLDED IN LAST… BUT MY QUESTION SINCE YOU DO HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THIS BATTER IS DO YOU THINK I SHOULD WORRY ABOUT CHANGING ANY OF THE INGREDIENTS SINCE I AM MORE OR LESS ADDING IN AN DRY INGREDIENT WHICH WILL PULL ON THE MOISTURE OF THE SURROUNDING BATTER OR IS THIS A BATTER THAT DOES WELL WITH ADDING IN TWEAKS LIKE THIS?
Cindy says
Hi! Cupcakes cakes came out delicious, however , the frosting consistency was liquid, next time I think I have to use less than a pint of the heavy whipping cream.
Thank you!
Marye Audet says
I’m sorry it didn’t work for you. It’s a recipe I use often. I wonder if there were brand differences?
Grace says
What can I sub for pudding mix in the icing?
Marye Audet says
There is no substitute, sorry. 🙁
Dina says
I was curious as to why you chose all purpose flour over cake flour. I always thought that cake flour would
result in a more tender, less dense cake. I thought of swapping it out. Would you recommend the all purpose over cake flour?
Marye Audet says
This recipe was created with all-purpose flour and that’s how it works best. If you’d like to swap out and use cake flour you certainly can.
Cleopatra says
I dont have almond extract, what can I use?
Marye Audet says
vanilla or whatever you like.
Julie B Hicks says
These cupcakes are so moist everyone loved them but I did not care for the icing to decorate with
Marye Audet says
I’m glad you liked the cupcakes, Julie. What didn’t you like about the icing?
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
Save one for me — I’d love one of those light cupcakes. I’m not usually a cake eater — sometimes they’re too darn dry. Yours certainly don’t look that way. YUM!!