48 cupcakes is a lot.
But can you really have too many Chocolate Cupcakes with Nutella Cloud Frosting? Notsomuch – they were GONE by the end of the wedding shower. The chocolate part was good, but the frosting is what stole the show. And I have Sweetapolita to thanks. Click here for her phenomenal recipe.
The final dish I’ll share from the wedding shower catering experience wasn’t actually made for the shower. I did use that leftover icing though! Obvious that meant I needed more cupcakes…
I had found some vanilla beans in Mom’s pantry and she didn’t have to ask me twice to put them to use in an Easter dessert.
These Vanilla Bean Cupcakes were fantastically light. A perfect pairing for the rich Nutella Dream Icing.
My Easter cupcakes were slightly more healthy less bad for you than the chocolate cupcakes, yet no less delicious.
Without butter, these were fluffy to the point that you barely realize you’ve eaten the whole thing before it’s gone. Sub in non-dairy milk and vinegar for the buttermilk and you’ve got a vegan cupcake (except the frosting – it’s full of butter).
Vegan or not – try these. You won’t regret it. In fact, you won’t even notice that you’ve just eaten 3 of them.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
- 1 1/4 C all-purpose flour
- 2 T cornstarch
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 C buttermilk
- 1/3 C canola oil
- 1/2 C sugar
- 1/4 C xylitol
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped
- Nutella Dream Icing
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Sift the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl.
Beat together milk, oil, sugar, vanilla extract and vanilla bean in a large bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, stirring until just combined.
Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 10-12 mins. Allow to cool completely before icing.
Notes:
- Use a full 3/4 C sugar, or an alternate sugar substitute if you do not have xylitol
- Make it vegan by using non-dairy milk and 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar. Let stand 5-10 mins before using to allow milk to curdle
Makes 12 cupcakes.
***
Happy Friday the 13th! It’s my lucky day.
What’s your favorite cupcake flavor?
What are you most looking forward to this weekend?
56 comments
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Khushboo
April 13, 2012 at 8:14 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh boy, Laura….you had me at Nutella! Love that the cupcakes are semi-healthy…more room for Nutella
! I’m not too biased with cupcake flavors although I do think that red velvet is majorly overrated….give me plain chocolate with vanilla icing (or vice versa) any day instead!
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:15 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That was my thought process too!
Lee
April 13, 2012 at 8:20 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I like a cupcake that has cream cheese icing. I’m really a bigger fan of the icing than the cake.
Kaitlin
April 13, 2012 at 8:24 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Uh oh, these look dangerous. I’d have a hard time not eating like 5 of them!
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:18 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
We won’t talk about how many I ate…
Cait's Plate
April 13, 2012 at 8:41 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh my gosh these just look awesome! I’m a sucker for a good vanilla bean cupcake with chocolate frosting…can’t beat that if you ask me!
Dana
April 13, 2012 at 8:42 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
These do sound great, I’ve heard that Sweetapolita’s Nutella icing was excellent! Since I love Nutella, guess I need to try it out! Your cupcakes look great!
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:17 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh yeah – it was heavenly!
Jennie @themessybakerblog
April 13, 2012 at 8:45 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wow, these look amazing. I love vanilla bean.
Hotly Spiced
April 13, 2012 at 9:13 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
What delicious looking cupcakes. I love the icing and they way you have decorated them. I am quite sure I would not have noticed if I had eaten three of them! xx
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:19 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you! The icing was supposed to be fancier… then I remember I’m a terrible cake-icer.
Mindy - Clueless Nut
April 13, 2012 at 9:18 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love a good cupcake! Its like a balanced portion of a piece of cake- at least that is what I tell myself – until I eat 4.
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:20 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
LOL! I love that mentality… also until I eat 4.
Kristina
April 13, 2012 at 10:14 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
omygosh yum! I’m making these!! (only trying vegan!) I always use soy milk, do you think one dairy sub is better than the other to use in vegan baking?
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:21 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That’s a good question. I always use almond milk and haven’t had a problem, but I would imagine that they all work similarly.
Allie
April 13, 2012 at 10:24 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
There’s nothing like a GOOD cupcake… especially with Nutella! <3
Kelly
April 13, 2012 at 10:57 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Mmm vanilla bean cupcakes?? Yes please!!
Suzi
April 13, 2012 at 11:11 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Whoa these look totally wonderful. Are tose photos the vegan version. I am going to have to try these using the non-dairy nilk and vinegar to replace the buttermilk. Very nice.
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:22 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The photos are of the version with “real” buttermilk. I have done them both ways though. Let me know how they turn out for you!
Ashley @ Freckles & Spice
April 13, 2012 at 12:02 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love carrot and classic vanilla. This weekend I had a strawberry lavender that was to diet for.
And I prefer buttercream frosting to cream cheese.
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:25 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Strawberry lavender does sound amazing! And like something to “diet” for.
Ashley @ Freckles & Spice
April 13, 2012 at 12:02 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love carrot and classic vanilla. This weekend I had a strawberry lavender that was to die for.
And I prefer buttercream frosting to cream cheese.
Jamie
April 13, 2012 at 12:49 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Look delicious! Maybe I will request these for my birthday. Except I will be the one making them anyway…
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:25 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Awwww… at least you can lick the spoon.
Kiri W.
April 13, 2012 at 1:37 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
NOMNOMNOM! More like 6
I love Friday the 13th – I found a 20 dollar bill once!
This weekend, I’m meeting Sofie from GermanFoodie, my first ever blog date!
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:32 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Fun!! I love blog dates. Going to check out your blog to see how it went.
Andrea @ Vegvacious
April 13, 2012 at 1:38 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It’s not easy to find vanilla beans around here, but I sooooo need to find some to make these! Looks delicious!
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:38 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You could just add in more vanilla… but I do love the taste you get from the actual bean.
Carol @ Lucky Zucca
April 13, 2012 at 2:17 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Those sound delicious!! Mmmm nutella…….. Happy Friday the 13th to you!! Usually I don’t even realize it is Friday the 13th… today I totally have. It has been just fine (and I hope it continues to be! Knock on wood) but it has been trying me too! I lost my license (dropped it out of my pocket on my walk with Sadie… then found it) and then Chickfila gave me strips instead of nuggets! And it was my first trip to Chickfila in like 2 months. I was so looking forward to the nuggets. Fail.
Anyways, you already know this, but I’m looking forward to the Braves game tonight!
Cucina49
April 13, 2012 at 3:23 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I can imagine that these were a huge hit at the shower! Look at those vanilla bean flecks–I would absolutely inhale three of them without even thinking about it.
Laura @ LauraLivesLife
April 13, 2012 at 3:41 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve decided that life is too short to ever go without Nutella in my kitchen – I love these and am totally craving cupcakes! I think first post-graduation baking plan will be to figure out how to make GF cupcakes!
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:40 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That sounds like a wonderful philosophy! I hear GF cupcakes aren’t too hard thanks to GF flour. Let me know how you do!
Tiffany
April 13, 2012 at 4:12 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You can never have too many cupcakes … and you can never have too much Nutella!
janetha
April 13, 2012 at 4:17 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I LOVE VANILLA BEAN! yum.
Hayley @ Oat Couture
April 13, 2012 at 5:02 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wahh your killing me and my high raw plant based thing I have going on for the next couple of weeks!! Damn Cyprus Fashion Days and their small sample size clothes! However I figure if I have to lose a few pounds I may as well do it the healthy way and give my body a good cleanse at the same time! Though it definitely means no nutella covered cupcakes for me… sobb…
However the day AFTER the job is a whole nother thing… 
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:42 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ll stop! I’m about to try to go more raw for the rest of the month. A little much with the sweets lately.
You’ll deserve a TON of Nutella after Fashion Days!
Choc Chip Uru
April 13, 2012 at 5:40 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
These cupcakes look like the kings of cupcakes! Nothing beats a vanilla – nice and traditional – but when teamed up with Nutella, becomes an explosion of addictive flavour
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:44 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You have such a way with words – “an explosion of addictive flavour,” indeed!
Baking Serendipity
April 14, 2012 at 12:14 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Nutella frosting!?! I’m totally in. I love these!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.
April 14, 2012 at 11:57 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yum yum YUM! These are fabulous!!
Somer
April 15, 2012 at 12:12 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
So Yummy Looking! Thanks for making a vegan option! I imagine you could easily do earth balance and justin’s chocolate hazelnut butter for a vegan frosting (nutella uses skim milk)!
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:46 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you! I’ve never tried making icing from Earth Balance… is the texture the same? Great idea!
Somer
April 16, 2012 at 5:51 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Earth Balance is amazing, before I went vegan, I was a huge butter fan and thought I would be broken hearted when I changed my diet, but earth Balance is a great substitute, I can’t tell the difference in a finished product. It performs just like butter in pie crusts, cookies, etc.
Laura
April 17, 2012 at 10:03 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve definitely used it quite often – just wasn’t sure how it would do in something non-baked like icing.
Thanks!
Somer
April 17, 2012 at 10:07 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Doh! If I had browsed your site more, I probably would have seen that
my bad!
Lisa ♥ Healthful Sense
April 15, 2012 at 10:20 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
My son is looking at this post with me as I write and he’s asking if we can make them right.now!! =)
Delicious!! Thank u for the ((hugs)) this morning =)
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:49 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That’s awesome! Did you make him some?
Heather @ Better With Veggies
April 15, 2012 at 5:11 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Okay – so I owe you donuts & you owe ME a vegan version of these cupcakes. Deal?
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:49 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Deal!
Catalina @ Cake with Love
April 15, 2012 at 10:24 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Nutella frosting? I am in, these sound very good!
Laura
April 16, 2012 at 3:50 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks! More proof that you can never go wring with Nutella.
Natalie @ will jog for food
April 16, 2012 at 8:06 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Those cupcakes look amazing! My fave is probably Red Velvet
Rachel @ My Naturally Frugal Family
April 17, 2012 at 4:12 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love cupcakes, as you don’t have to think about portion control, unless you are downing 3 at a time
!
I do so love a vanilla cupcake and really enjoy a good vegan buttercream with strawberries…just makes me think of spring time.
Although Nutella is quite delicious and has so many applications…well done to put it on cupcakes.
Baker Street
April 18, 2012 at 5:40 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Those little stars on top look super cute! Bet these tasted divine.
Hannah
April 18, 2012 at 11:45 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sprinkles make the world a better place. These look happy
Laura
April 18, 2012 at 11:47 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I couldn’t agree more about sprinkles.