Cupcake Recipe

Here's the recipe I promised for the homemade cupcakes. I call these the Wesley cupcakes because the first time I had them my friend Wesley brought them to me. I was hooked ever since. It's a little extra work than using mix from a box, but well worth it! They're delicious! If you have real vanilla instead of imitation, they're even better! I think she got this out of a Betty Crocker cookbook if I recall correctly.

Silver White Cake (or Cupcakes)
(You can use this to make cupcakes, a 9x13 cake, or two 9-inch round cakes)
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups milk
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 large egg whites

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pan with baking liners or grease bottom and sides & lightly flour cake pan.
2. In large mixing bowl, beat all ingredients except egg whites with electric mixer on low speed for about 30 seconds. Then for about two minutes on high speed. Make sure to scrape bowl occasionally to mix all ingredients well.
3. Beat in egg whites on high speed for about 2 minutes. Pour into baking cups or cake pans.
4. Bake cupcakes for about 15-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
(9x13 cake takes about 40-45 min. & two 9-inch pans takes about 25 min.)
5. Cool completely on wire racks for about 1 hour. Frost with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting (see below).
*Makes about 24 cupcakes

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 Tablespoons milk

1. In mixing bowl, mix powdered sugar and butter with spoon or electric mixer (I use a mixer) on low speed. Stir in vanilla and 1 tablespoon of milk
2. Gradually beat in just enough of remaining milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable. (I usually have to use the whole other tablespoon) If frosting is too thick, beat in a little more milk, a few drops at a time. If frosting becomes too thin, beat in a small amount of powdered sugar.

*Add a few drops of food coloring to color frosting if you desire!