Pink Velvet Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream (Printable)

Airy blush-pink cupcakes crowned with dreamy vanilla buttercream swirls. A hint of tanginess balances sweetness for irresistible bites.

# What You’ll Need:

→ For the Cupcakes

01 - 1¼ cups cake flour or all-purpose flour sifted with 2 tablespoons cornstarch
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 - Optional: drop of pink food coloring for tinted frosting

# How To Make It:

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 texture is cloud-soft with a slight tang that keeps the sweetness from overwhelming.
  • They look absolutely stunning without needing fancy decorating skills.
  • The buttercream is silky and pipes beautifully, even if youre rusty with a pastry bag.
  • You can dial the pink up or down depending on your mood or occasion.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more easily and create a smoother, more even batter, so let your butter, egg, and buttermilk sit out for 30 minutes before you start.
  • Overmixing after you add the flour will develop too much gluten and turn your tender cupcakes tough and dense.
  • If your buttercream feels too stiff, add cream a teaspoon at a time, and if its too loose, beat in more powdered sugar until it holds a swirl.
  • Check your cupcakes a minute or two early because every oven runs a little differently, and overbaking will dry them out.
03 -
  • Use a cookie scoop to fill your liners evenly so all the cupcakes bake at the same rate and come out the same size.
  • If your buttercream looks curdled after adding the cream, keep beating on medium-high for another minute and it will come back together smooth and silky.
  • For mini cupcakes, fill the liners only halfway and start checking for doneness at 10 minutes.
  • A toothpick test is your best guide, look for a few moist crumbs clinging to it, not wet batter, for the perfect tender crumb.
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