Mini Vanilla Cupcakes all dressed up for the 4th of July! This from-scratch vanilla cupcake recipe is a winner and so easy to make! Decorate with sprinkles and jimmies in colors of your choosing to customize this recipe for different holidays and occasions. Love cupcakes? Make sure to try Cherry Almond Cupcakes, Caramel Apple Cupcakes, and Pumpkin Carrot Cake Cupcakes!
Mini Vanilla Cupcakes
If you’re looking for a last minute treat for your 4th of July celebration, this mini cupcakes are IT! Super festive and fun and easy to make! I’m giving you instructions for homemade cupcakes as well as how to make these mini cupcakes using a store bought mix.
This recipes makes A LOT so it’s great for parties. You’ll end up with about 4 dozen mini cupcakes, give or take a few.
This recipe is based off of my vanilla cake recipe which is soooo good!
What Will I Need?
Cupcake Ingredients
This ingredients list is for the homemade cupcakes but you can see the ingredients needed if you are using a box mix in the recipe card below.
- unsalted butter OR butter flavored shortening
- granulated sugar
- vanilla extract OR vanilla bean paste 0- you can use clear vanilla for a very white cake
- egg whites – I’m not using the yolks to keep the cupcakes nice and white. If you prefer to use whole eggs, check out the FAQs section below.
- cake flour – don’t have cake flour on hand? No problem. Here’s how to substitute all purpose flour for cake flour
- baking powder
- salt
- milk
- red and blue jimmies sprinkles or other sprinkles
How To Make Vanilla Cupcakes
- Preheat oven.
- Line mini cupcake pan with liners.
- Cream together butter and sugar.
- Mix in vanilla extract.
- Add 3 egg whites and beat on medium speed until thoroughly combined.
- Add in remaining 2 egg whites and beat for another 30 seconds or until combined.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add half of the flour mixture to the wet mixture.
- Add milk and mix until combined.
- Stir in remaining flour mixture.
- Fold in sprinkles carefully so the colors don’t run.
- Evenly divide the batter between 48 liners.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or an until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cupcakes in pans for 7 to 8 minutes before removing from the pans and placing on a cooling rack.Â
FAQs
Can I Use Whole Eggs? You can also use whole eggs, the batter will be a little more yellow. Use 3 whole eggs instead of the 5 egg whites.
What About Using Different Colors of Sprinkles? These cupcakes can be adapted for any holiday or special occasion. Substitute in red and green jimmies for Christmas, orange, black and purple for Halloween, or pastel colors for Easter.
Can I Make Ahead of Time? Absolutely. The cupcakes can be made up to 3 days in advance, just store in an airtight container. Wait to frost and decorate the cupcakes until the day you are serving.
Special Tools Needed
Nothing too crazy here but you may need to invest in a mini cupcake pan which is great for muffins too!
- Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer
- Mini Cupcake Pan
- Cookie Scoop for even scooping of batter
More 4th of July Treats
- Red, White and Blue Sparkler Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Flag Dip
- Berries and Cream Cookies
- Red, White and Blue Patriotic Peppermint Patties
- No Bake Pull Apart Berry Cheesecake
How To Make Mini Vanilla Cupcakes
4th of July Mini Cupcakes
Ingredients
Very Vanilla Cake
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature OR butter flavored shortening
- 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract OR vanilla bean paste can use clear vanilla for a very white cake
- 5 egg whites room temperature
- 2 3/4 cup cake flour HOW TO SUBSTITUTE ALL PURPOSE FLOUR FOR CAKE FLOUR
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup red and blue jimmies sprinkles or other sprinkles
Vanilla Frosting
- 1 cups softened salted butter OR butter flavored shortening
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line mini cupcake pan with liners. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
- Mix in vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste) until combined.
- Add 3 egg whites and beat on medium speed until thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds.
- Add in remaining 2 egg whites and beat for another 30 seconds or until combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add half of the flour mixture to the wet mixture and mix until combined, scraping down sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Add milk and mix until combined.
- Add remaining flour mixture and mix until combined, scraping down sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Fold in sprinkles carefully so the colors don't run.
- Evenly divide the batter between 48 liners.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or an until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cupcakes in pans for 7 to 8 minutes before removing from the pans and placing on a cooling rack. Let cool completely.
Very Vanilla Frosting
- Beat butter in a large bowl on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually add 6 cups of powdered sugar, mixing until smooth.
- Add vanilla extract and milk and continuing mixing until smooth.
- Add remaining powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
- Add additional milk or powdered sugar to achieve your desired consistency.
- Pipe or spread frosting onto cooled cupcakes and decorate as desired.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Notes
Tools Needed
Short on time? Use a boxed mix instead:
Ingredients- 1 box (15.25 oz) white cake mix
- 4 large egg whites, room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
- ½ cup red and blue jimmiesÂ
- frosting - homemade, or store bought
- sprinkles to decorate
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line mini cupcake pan with liners. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cake mix, egg whites, buttermilk, and oil until smooth.
- Carefully fold in sprinkles so colors don’t run.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
- Decorate with frosting of your choice, sprinkles and/or other decorations
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