For as long as I can remember, this has been my go-to cupcake recipe. It is so simple and yet utterly divine. I think it has something to do with all the butter. Now don’t let butter scare you away. Contrary to misguided popular belief, BUTTER IS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOU. That is to say, REAL butter is good for you. Please don’t desecrate these sublime cupcakes with margarine. I wish I could tell you that sugar and flour are good for you too, but if it was all good for you, it wouldn’t be dessert, now would it?
I made a batch of Bonnie Butter Cupcakes for my daughter to take to school for her birthday celebration last week. The tray came home empty. See? I TOLD you they were divine. This recipe hails from an old Betty Crocker Cookbook of my mother’s. (And clearly the birthday theme this year was The Little Mermaid.)
Bonnie Butter Cupcakes
Beat on high:
2/3 cup soft butter
1-3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 tsp vanilla
In a separate bowl, mix:
2-3/4 cups flour (I used white whole wheat, whatever that means, and they turned out just fine.)
2-1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Add dry ingredients to butter mixture alternately with:
1-1/4 cups whole milk
Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes in a 350-degree oven, until they spring back when touched gently and they’re just BARELY beginning to brown. Don’t over bake. Dry cupcakes = YUCK.
Frost with Creamy Vanilla Frosting and decorate as desired. (Makes 2 dozen.)
Creamy Vanilla Frosting
Mix together:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup soft butter
Stir in:
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2-4 Tbsp milk
food coloring if desired
Beat until smooth and spread on cupcakes (or on anything, really.) I dare you not to lick your fingers.
Don’t you wish birthdays still made you that happy?
This post is linked to Tasty Tuesdays at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.
there is nothing better than food out of old cookbooks! I use my grandmother’s Betty Crocker more than I use my own and my moms. Everything is so buttery and delicious, and no artificial or de-fatted stuff is ever called for!
YUM! I’m definitely saving this recipe – thanks for sharing Jo-Lynne!
Cupcakes rock, and she looks every happy with the end result.
Yum! So simple – how can you go wrong? I’m sure they were delicious! And happy birthday to your little mermaid!
I might actually try this because it sounds delicious. Love the picture. She’s a cutie!
I’m about to whip up a batch of these for Bean’s birthday tomorrow. Did you use salted or unsalted butter? It sounds like a lot of salt to use salted plus the teaspoon of salt, so I just wanted to check before I get mixin’.
I used unsalted. Good luck! Just watch that you don’t over bake.
They look and sound delicious!! I’m a firm believer in REAL butter too! lol
If people only realized what chemicals are in margarine..yuck haha
Aww. This is so cute! My daughter will definitely love this! She is kinda a fanatic of the Little Mermaid! She will surely freak out when she sees this. Now, my son is asking me if we can replace it with Bumblebee. LOL. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe! My kids will love this!
My daughter loves Mariel the mermaid. I never thought of making this for her birthday this coming Saturday. Thanks that you give me an idea.
I’m not the brightest chef in the kitchen…but I assume this same recipe can be used to make a cake? It sounds delicious!