This is Amy’s recipe (like how I call her “Amy?” Yeah, we’re totally BFF.) Anyway, this is from her book I Like You. I’ve re-written the recipe so it’s a little easier to follow. Her recipes are kind of in a conversational tone in the book, which is hilarious but sometimes confusing when you have a 10-month-old pulling your pants down as you read. I’ve also used her recipe for buttercream, named for her rabbit Tattletail, but I’ve rearranged the order in which things are added according to tricks I’ve learned from Sweet Mandy B’s. The frosting will turn out much fluffier this way.

You will need:
1 & 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1 & 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. pure vanilla
2 & 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 & 1/2 cups flour
1 & 1/4 cups milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line cupcakes pans with paper liners.
Cream butter and sugar with electric mixer, then add eggs. Add vanilla, baking powder, salt, flour and milk. Beat until well mixed and batter is smooth. Fill cups 2/3 full and bake for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Makes aprox. 2 dozen cupcakes. Amy says she always gets 18 cupcakes because she’s doing something wrong. I got 21 so who knows what I did.

Tattletail’s Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

You will need:
1 lb. confectioner’s sugar (sifted*)
1 stick unsalted butter
1 tsp. pure vanilla
1/4 cup light cream or milk
1 tbs. vegetable shortening*

Cream butter and shortening, then add vanilla and cream. Add sugar in small batches, cranking your mixer’s speed up high. I learned from Martha Stewart to cover my stand mixer with a towel when adding dry ingredients to prevent huge messes. You can also buy splash guards for this purpose. Once you’ve added all the sugar whip the bejesus out of the frosting until it’s pure white and very fluffy, anywhere from 5-15 minutes depending on your personal preference. I would recommend using this frosting immediately, within and hour to maintain it’s fluff. To re-fluff, re-whip.
*These are my additions to Amy’s original recipe, take them or leave them.

PS Tomorrow the cupcakes not seen in this picture will become orange and blue Chicago Bears Super Bowl cupcakes. If they turn out funny and/or cute I’ll post more pictures. GO BEARS!!!

Here they are:

GO BEARS!!!

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