White Cupcakes are a delicious treat with a moist, fine crumb and a dense texture, making them ideal for a special occasion! They are perfect for frosting and decorating to fit your celebration or event, but also good enough to enjoy the cupcake itself! If you are looking for more Cupcakes, I have you covered!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Flour: I used cake flour in this recipe. Cake flour is very low in protein (about 6-8 percent) when compared to all-purpose flour (10-12 percent). Used in these cupcakes, it results in delicate, fine-crumbed cupcakes. If you don’t have any on hand, make your own!
Butter: Use room-temperature unsalted butter. If using salted butter, you may want to lessen or omit the salt in the recipe.
Extracts: Both vanilla and almond extract are added to the muffin batter. If you have a nut allergy, you could substitute vanilla for almond extract. Or, you can also use Imitation Almond Extract which is typically not made with almonds. Be sure to check the ingredients. If you just don’t like the flavor, the cupcakes do not taste almondy. It simply adds a freshness, a refined elegance, to the overall flavor.
Eggs: You will need only egg whites in this recipe. This gives you a lighter and fluffier cupcake. Try to separate them from the yolks as best as you can. To separate the egg white from the yolk, simply crack the egg over a slotted spoon that is over a bowl. Let the egg whites fall through the slots in the spoon. Don’t throw away the yolks! Beat them and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days to use in other recipes like my Browned Butter Toffee Cookies.
Milk: Whole milk is my preferred milk to use. However, you could use lower-fat milk if that is all you have on hand.
How to Store Cupcakes
To store cupcakes, first, let them cool completely. Then, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. I do not recommend storing these cupcakes in the refrigerator; they will dry out faster.
Can I Freeze Cupcakes?
Yes! In fact, freezing cupcakes is a great way to preserve their freshness. To freeze cupcakes, let them cool completely. Then, store them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2-3 months. When ready to frost or enjoy, let them thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
Best Frosting for White Cupcakes
That is a loaded statement because it will absolutely vary based on your preferences!! These cupcakes are pictures with my American Buttercream, but here are a few more ideas!
- Strawberry Ermine Frosting
- Lemon Ermine
- Stabilized Whipped Cream
- Chocolate Buttercream
- Easy Coconut Frosting
Elegant White Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups (275 g) cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks / 227 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 ½ cups (500 g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 5 large egg whites
- 1 cup (225 g) milk, room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare muffin tins with liners. (This recipe yields 23 cupcakes.)
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together butter, sugar, vanilla, and almond extract until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- With the mixer on the lowest speed, carefully add in egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- With the mixer still on low, add ⅓ of the flour mixture into the creamed mixture, then half the milk, another third of the flour mixture, the remaining milk, and then the remaining flour mixture. Mix just until combined. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Using a ¼ cup ice cream scoop or a ¼ measuring cup, fill each lined muffin cup with the batter.
- Bake for 21-23 minutes, or just until the cupcakes start to brown at the edges and the center springs back when touched.
- Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool in the pan for about five minutes. Then, invert onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
My son has a birthday coming up and you better believe I will be making these for him! These might just be the PERFECT white cupcakes!
Elizabeth
No frosting was needed for these soft and flavorful cupcakes! They were moist and delicate and would be the perfect treat to share at a party or celebration! These are versatile enough to add your favorite frosting.
Bella
This has such a lovely, sweet flavor! It was soft and moist, just how cupcakes should be. The cupcake still tastes great without frosting.
A soft, tender, flavorful cupcake! I meant to eat just half! Oops!! Would be delicious with your favorite chocolate, lemon, or even an orange frosting! Love!!!
Selena
These are the perfect white cupcake. The texture is soft and lovely. The hint of almond is just perfect. So delicious!
As a follow-up just thinking after my first comment, I wonder if it would be better to whip the egg whites and fold them in as opposed to adding them into the mixer? My Kitchen Aid tends to get hot quickly, it’s an older model. That might have caused something to happen to butter and egg whites. Not sure. I will definitely make this recipe again though and give it a try!
Thanks for the thoughtful feedback Taylor! I will try your tips as well! 🙂
Can I make these as mini cupcakes?
This is the best cupcake recipe ever! I made them for my daughter’s 7th birthday and everyone 7-70 loved them. The recipe does make 3 dozen and it’s best to keep them small so they don’t overflow. Although the overflow is appreciated for a few because that caramelized goodness is the best mix of cupcake and sugar cookie. A real treat for the baker! I also really appreciate the good instruction and need for precision. A+++++
Great 👍 recipes
I just laughing at some of these comments!! Seriously if you have all the right ingredients and follow instructions and have a functioning oven how can you destroy a recipe!
I know I have when the butter was too firm and I put in it the microwaves and it became more than soft it destroyed your white cake recipe and I turned it into a “snack cake” for my grandkids !
But these cupcakes are really easy and fun to make and frost !!
Thank You😉
I see that you stress the importance of sticking exactly to the recipe and instructions to achieve the best results. I’m wondering though, is King Arthur’s white all-purpose flour (regular, NOT cake flour) okay to use? I don’t have any cake flour, so I’m hoping regular King Arthur flour okay seeing as how it’s the same brand. Does it matter if I don’t use cake flour?
These work THE BEST cupcakes I have ever made and eaten!!! They are amazing! All my friends flipped for them as well! Thank you for sharing!
I have made these several times now and have had perfect results every time. You must follow the instructions exactly as written. Thank you for sharing such an amazing recipe!
I almost never leave reviews but I had to comment on this one! I’ve loved every recipe of yours that I’ve tried, but I’m MOST excited about this one!!! I’ve made a ridiculous number of white cupcakes, and they’ve never been…perfect. These are delicious, and the perfect texture, and actually tasted even better the next day. THANK YOU for this recipe! 😀
These are as far from elegant as anything I’ve ever baked!
If I could post a pic of these, I would. I’ve made plenty cupcakes before & these turned out awful for me. Rose pretty, then into the 13-14th minute of baking, they began to flop!