Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

These yellow cupcakes are wonderfully rich and moist with a sweet vanilla flavor, topped with a smooth and silky chocolate cream cheese frosting.

Servings: 40 Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 5 1/3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 pound unsalted butter (softened)
• 3 cups sugar
• 8 eggs
• 4 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups whole milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs, one at a time; scrape down bowl, beat in vanilla.
5. Add flour mixture and milk alternately, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
6. Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners, each about three-quarters full.
7. Place in preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.
8. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans and placing on wire rack to cool completely.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 10 cups confectioners sugar
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 1/4 cups cream cheese (softened)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup whole milk

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, sift cocoa and confectioners sugar together; set aside.
2. In an electric mixer on medium-speed, beat butter, cream cheese, salt and vanilla until light and fluffy.
3. Turn mixer to low-speed, add sifted confectioners sugar and cocoa mixture alternately with milk until combined. Raise speed to medium and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
4. Store in airtight container until ready to use.