Pink Velvet Cupcakes Vanilla Buttercream (Printable Version)

Airy, blush-pink cupcakes with tender crumbs and dreamy vanilla buttercream swirls, perfectly balanced with tangy sweetness.

# 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 - 1 drop pink food coloring, optional

# Step-by-Step:

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 or stand mixer, 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 or stand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy for about 1 minute. Gradually add 2 cups of powdered sugar on low, then increase to medium and beat until smooth for about 2 minutes. Add vanilla, cream, and salt. Beat on medium-high for 1–2 minutes until light and fluffy. If needed, 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 dissolves on your tongue, thanks to the buttermilk and vinegar working their magic together.
  • That soft pink hue feels like a celebration without needing a single reason beyond treating yourself well.
  • The vanilla buttercream is silky enough to pipe into tall swirls but sturdy enough not to slide off in a warm room.
  • You can mix the batter by hand if your mixer is busy, and they still turn out beautifully every single time.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are the secret to smooth batter—cold butter won't cream properly, and cold eggs can cause the batter to curdle.
  • Don't skip the vinegar step even if it sounds odd, because it reacts with the baking soda to create extra lift and intensifies the pink hue.
  • If your buttercream feels too stiff to pipe, add cream one teaspoon at a time until it loosens, but add sugar if it's too soft to hold a swirl.
03 -
  • Sift your powdered sugar even if the bag says it's pre-sifted, because those hidden lumps will show up in your frosting and drive you crazy.
  • If you want sky-high frosting swirls, use a large open star tip and start from the outside edge, working inward in a tight spiral.
  • Let the cupcakes cool completely on the rack before storing them, or trapped steam will make the bottoms soggy and peel away from the liners.
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