Decadent Vanilla Frosted Cupcakes

1.Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.

2.In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

3.Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, mix in the vanilla extract.

4.In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.

5.Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the whole milk. Start and end with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.

6.Scoop the batter into the prepared cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.

7.Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

8.While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the vanilla buttercream frosting. In a medium bowl, beat together the softened butter and powdered sugar until well combined and fluffy.

9.Add the vanilla extract and heavy cream (or milk) to the butter mixture. Beat until the frosting is smooth and creamy, adjusting the consistency with more cream if necessary.

10.Once the cupcakes are completely cooled, use a piping bag or a spatula to frost each cupcake generously with the vanilla buttercream.

11.Optionally, decorate with sprinkles or edible glitter for an extra touch of decadence.