Simple vanilla cupcakes recipe (with healthier option) (2024)

Simple vanilla cupcakes recipe (with healthier option) (1)

Looking for an easy homemade vanilla cupcake recipe that tastes delicious. Look no further. These simple vanilla cupcakes are fluffy and moist (and can be made into healthy cupcakes with a few substitutions).

Simple vanilla cupcakes recipe (with healthier option) (2)

Super quick and simple vanilla cupcakes

There are a million and one vanilla cupcake recipes out there on the interwebs but here’s why you can stop searching for recipes:

  • They’re an all-in recipe. You throw it all in the bowl, mix and bake. Practically fool-proof.
  • They’re light and fluffy and delicious.
  • Vanilla cupcakes that still taste fresh two days later? Yep that’s these.
Simple vanilla cupcakes recipe (with healthier option) (3)

Ingredients needed to make simple vanilla cupcakes

These simple vanilla cupcakes are pretty standard in their ingredients but have one surprise.

Bare with me, the first time I saw it I doubted it but now many many batches in, I know it might be the key to their success.

  • ORANGE JUICE – Yep the secret ingredient. Don’t worry, you can’t taste the orange juice.
  • EGGS – help bind the ingredients and add richness
  • BUTTER – I’m not a fan of using margarine or vegetable oil in my baking. I prefer pure ingredients.
  • SUGAR – Caster sugar or if you want to make them a little healthier, use Rapadura sugar.
  • FLOUR – You can use regular flour or for a healthier version, wholemeal or spelt flour.
  • BAKING POWDER – don’t forget this one, it helps the cupcakes rise.
  • VANILLA EXTRACT – You can’t make vanilla cupcakes without vanilla. Go for extract (or scrape the inside of a vanilla bean) over vanilla essence.
Simple vanilla cupcakes recipe (with healthier option) (4)
Simple vanilla cupcakes recipe (with healthier option) (5)

Tips for PERFECT vanilla cupcakes

  • Room Temperature Ingredients– look I have to admit, I am often guilty of using ingredients straight from the fridge, but if you want them to be perfect, it helps if everything is at room temp – eggs, butter & OJ
  • Precise Measuring – it’s best to be precise when measuring the ingredients for perfect vanilla cupcakes.
  • Don’t Put Too Much Batter In– If you fill them more than 2/3 of the way they will overflow and make for messy tops (you can always cover it with icing though).
Simple vanilla cupcakes recipe (with healthier option) (6)
Simple vanilla cupcakes recipe (with healthier option) (7)

How to ice vanilla cupcakes

The best thing about these simple cupcakes is that they are incredibly flexible.

You can change up the icing for whatever you like.

Buttercream icing is my favourite for classic vanilla cupcakes. Don’t have icing sugar? You can make your own icing sugar with just 2 ingredients in 60 seconds.

There are some flavouring ideas below the recipe.

Chocolate fudge icing is perfect if you want to make them a little fancier.

Simple vanilla cupcakes recipe (with healthier option) (8)

What are the healthier ingredients?

Rapadura Sugaris the pure juice extracted from the sugar cane (using a press), which is then cooked to evaporateoff the water,whilst being stirred with paddles.

It is then seive ground to produce a grainy sugar. It has not been cooked at super high heats and spun to change it into crystals, and the molasses has not been separated from the sugar.

It is produced organically, and does not contain chemicals or anti-caking agents.

Spelt flour is flour made from spelt – a species of wheat,Triticum spelta,that is believed to have been cultivated for thousands of years, and is sometimes considered a subspecies of ordinary wheat rather than a separate species.

It has a nutty, slightly tangy flavor, but not so much that it changes the taste of things.

Simple vanilla cupcakes recipe (with healthier option) (9)

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Simple vanilla cupcakes recipe (with healthier option) (10)

Super quick wholefood vanilla cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 2 free-range eggs
  • 125g unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup rapadura sugar (or use caster)
  • 225g wholemeal spelt flour (or wholemeal flour)
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180C fan forced and line a 12-hole cupcake tray with cupcake cases.
  2. Throw all the ingredients a food processor or blender and blitz until combined and smooth.
  3. Scrape down the sides and then blitz again for a couple of seconds.
  4. Divide the batter between the cupcake cases.
  5. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  6. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
  7. Ice as desired.
Nutrition Information

Yield 12 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 2237Total Fat 117gSaturated Fat 67gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 43gCholesterol 641mgSodium 1639mgCarbohydrates 271gFiber 24gSugar 123gProtein 47g

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Simple vanilla cupcakes recipe (with healthier option) (2024)

FAQs

Are cupcakes healthy? ›

Cupcakes are high in sugar and saturated fat, two nutrients that should be consumed in moderation. Women should stay under 24 grams of added sugar per day, and men should aim for less than 36 grams per day. Added sugar is any sugar that's not found naturally in foods (like the natural sugar in fruit or milk).

How many calories are in a simple vanilla cupcake? ›

Vanilla cupcakes contains 230 calories per 59 g serving. This serving contains 11 g of fat, 1 g of protein and 32 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 24 g sugar and 0.2 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Vanilla cupcakes contains 4 g of saturated fat and 10 mg of cholesterol per serving.

Are cupcakes better with oil or butter? ›

There are no surprises here: butter tastes better than oil in baking recipes. However, in recipes with other bold flavors – such as chocolate, coffee, or citrus – butter can sometimes compete with the other flavors and this is normally when a recipe calls for oil instead.

What is the secret to moist cupcakes? ›

Instant Clearjel or Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix—this is a secret ingredient to a moister cupcake--the modified cornstarch in these ingredients gives your cupcake more stability and a softer texture.

Which is healthier muffin or cupcake? ›

Cupcake recipes generally contain much higher levels of sugar and fat. This makes cupcakes sweeter, and juicier with finer crumbs. Muffins usually have fruit, nuts, and other ingredients mixed into the batter to compensate. Because of this, muffins are usually considered healthier than cupcakes.

Can you eat cake and be healthy? ›

A small dessert consumed daily can be part of a healthy diet. The key is to control portion sizes. You'll also want to pay attention to other foods you eat that contain added sugars, such as cereals, protein bars, juices, bottled teas and coffees, so you don't overdo your daily sugar intake.

How many calories in a homemade vanilla cupcake? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
213Calories
12gFat
24gCarbs
3gProtein

How many calories in a sugar free cupcake? ›

Tastykake
Nutrition Facts
For a Serving Size of 1 package (42.53g)
How many calories are in Sugar Free Vanilla Single Serve Cupcake? Amount of calories in Sugar Free Vanilla Single Serve Cupcake: Calories 140Calories from Fat 81 (57.9%)
% Daily Value *
15 more rows

How many calories in a vanilla cupcake without frosting? ›

Calories in Vanilla Cupcake (no Frosting)
Calories171.5
Total Carbohydrate27.7 g
Dietary Fiber0.3 g
Sugars18.2 g
Protein2.7 g
8 more rows

What is the healthiest oil for cupcakes? ›

Canola oil doesn't contain any cholesterol too. By using canola oil in your recipe, your cake will be deliciously healthy! Whenever possible, use canola oil for baking.

Is cake better with milk or water? ›

Baking tip #2: adding milk to your box cake mix in place of water adds a dense texture to your dessert leaving it moist and flavorful like a homemade cake. Or, if you prefer, you can add buttermilk, giving your cake a tangy flavor to balance out the sweetness.

What can I substitute for oil in cupcakes? ›

Melted, unsalted butter is the perfect substitute for oil, and can even add a richer flavor to baked recipes. Swap in butter for oil in a 1:1 ratio, melting butter in the microwave or on the stovetop. Vegan butter or ghee can also work in this instance.

Should I use milk instead of water for cupcakes? ›

Yes, you can substitute milk for water when preparing SuperMoist cake mixes, however, the cake may be slightly drier than if prepared with water. Also keep in mind that milk will add calories and change the nutrition slightly.

Why are cupcakes healthy? ›

Carbohydrates are one of the major sources of energy in plenty of foods. And cakes & cupcakes are generally made by mixing flour and sugar together, which are excellent sources of carbohydrates. They can provide the entire body, including muscles, brain and nervous system, with a sufficient amount of energy.

Is cupcake junk food? ›

Calories and Fat

Eating too many calories on a daily basis will cause you to gain an unhealthy amount of weight, which increases your risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Even worse, cupcakes and frosting contain saturated fat, which raises your cholesterol level and your chances of developing heart disease.

How many calories are in one cupcake? ›

Popular Types of Cupcakes
Plain Cupcakes
Fat(g)Cals
1 small3.6294
1 medium5.80150
1 large9.28241
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How unhealthy is a muffin? ›

Most store-bought muffins are like glorified cupcakes—they're full of sugar and simple carbs. "They can be packed with added sugar and low in fiber, sending your blood sugar levels on a roller coaster before you even get to work," says Charlotte Martin, MS, RDN, CSOWM, CPT.

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