These never-fail bakery-style gluten free vanilla cupcakes are incredibly moist and tender. They can even easily be made dairy free, too! And don't forget that creamy frosting — cupcakes like these are made for an incredible frosting.
Why you're going to love this gluten free cupcake recipe
I like a cupcake with a nice, flat top, so it’s easy to pile on a nice, fluffy frosting. You can see for yourself that this recipe for gluten free vanilla cupcakes is the perfect frosting delivery system.
My recipe for the very best gluten free vanilla cake is truly perfect in every possible way—and it does happen to make very nice cupcakes. But it requires some sifting and other fussiness in the method, and the cupcakes don’t bake up as flat.
These easy gluten free vanilla cupcakes effortlessly rise into a flat top, and they don’t require any sifting of the dry ingredients.
And then the tenderness… let's talk about that tenderness. These gluten free vanilla cupcakes are so light, fluffy, and moist, they really do taste like something you'd pick up at a fancy bakery. But alas, that fancy bakery is your kitchen; isn't it grand?!
They're also perfect for nearly any occasion. Birthday party? Game night? Wednesday night? Celebrate events big and small with cupcakes. You can even freeze these delicious little treats, so you can enjoy them later.
Seriously, who needs an expensive gluten free cupcake mix when you can make them from scratch in about the same amount of time?
Do gluten free cupcakes taste “different”?
No! Well, they certainly shouldn’t have a strange aftertaste or a gritty mouthfeel. They should have a moist and tender crumb, just like you’d expect from a cupcake in a bakery. A good bakery!
If you’ve had gluten free vanilla cupcakes in the past and found them to be “good, for gluten free,” you weren’t eating the right cupcake, made with the right recipe and ingredients.
A gritty mouthfeel is from an all purpose gluten free flour blend made with a gritty rice flour. A strange aftertaste or mouthfeel likely means the flour wasn’t good quality and well-balanced.
A dry cupcake might be made with the wrong recipe, so the ingredients were poorly balanced. Or, again, the flour blend wasn’t good quality.
Cupcakes: mini cakes or not?
Did you know that not all cake recipes make good cupcakes? It's true! Just like not all muffin recipes can be made as quick breads (or vice versa).
When you bake cake batter in miniature portions, even if it bakes flat in a round or square cake pan, it may dome quite a bit when portioned into the wells of a cupcake tin.
Gluten free vanilla cupcake ingredients
The best gluten free flour for cupcakes
The best gluten free flour blend for cakes and cupcakes is a combination of Better Batter gluten free flour, which can be replaced in all cases with my mock Better Batter all purpose gluten free flour, and cornstarch. All cake flour, including gluten free cake flour, contains cornstarch.
In conventional cake-baking, cornstarch is used to reduce the amount of gluten formation in baked goods. In that way, it makes for a lighter, more tender result.
In gluten free cake-baking, cornstarch is used to soften the blend because, once combined with liquid, it becomes gelatinous. It helps create a flour blend that expands during baking and creates a more tender crumb.
Properly measuring gluten free flour
When people tell me that they've had problems with gluten free baking, I can typically trace their problem back to the gf flour they're using. Sometimes, it's simply not appropriate for the recipe. But many other times, it's because they haven't used the right amount, despite using a measuring cup.
That's because a measuring cup isn't a reliable way to measure flour. I know what you're thinking: “how can that be?!” Let me explain.
Think about how you measure flour. If it's by sticking the measuring cup into the bag or storage container, you're already off to a bad start. When you do that, you pack the flour into the cup. This means you're going to end up with more than the recipe calls for.
Plus, dry measuring cups aren't standardized in size. So your “cup” might be different from mine, even if we were both to measure perfectly right every time (which, of course, we can't).
The best way to measure gluten free flours is to use a kitchen scale. You'll notice that all my recipes also include ingredients in grams, so use that to ensure you're baking cupcakes precisely the way I have.
More gluten free vanilla cupcake ingredient notes
- Baking powder and baking soda – these ingredients help your cupcakes rise and give them that light, airy texture that's just perfect
- Salt – the ultimate flavor enhancer, salt really brings out the taste of the sugar and vanilla
- Butter – also helps with the texture and aroma of the cupcakes, but also adds richness and serves as a flavor delivery system
- Granulated sugar – these cupcakes are sweet thanks to the sugar, but this ingredient also works as a tenderizer
- Eggs – egg gives the cake structure and contributes a bit of moisture and rise
- Vanilla extract – this is what gives the cupcakes that awesome flavor that reminds you of birthdays, summer afternoons, and pure happiness
- Milk – use regular milk or buttermilk, though I find that the latter results in the most tender cupcakes with the crumb you want to press into the tines of a fork
Tips for making these gluten free vanilla cupcakes
Do use room-temperature ingredients
Room-temperature ingredients just mix better, so do yourself a favor and pull out the cold ingredients about an hour before you're ready to bake. If you haven't planned ahead, try immersing your eggs in warm water for 10 minutes to increase their temperature gently, and chop up your butter so it warms faster at room temp.
Don't over-beat your cupcake batter
Mixing introduces air into your batter. This is fine because the air helps these cupcakes come out light and fluffy. But when you over-mix your batter or mix it using a high setting, you're going to introduce a lot of air — and during the baking process, it's going to develop big air pockets that form holes in your cupcakes.
Don't over-fill your gf cupcake cups
Just be sure not to overfill the wells of the cupcake tin (2/3 of the way full is absolutely perfect). This prevents the dreaded cupcake explosion, where your cupcakes spill over and look like they've gone boom.
An easy way to get uniformly sized cupcakes is to use a greased ice cream or muffin scoop. It ensure a perfect portion every time.
Don't over-bake your cupcakes
I know it sounds like I'm saying things over and over again, but it's only because these tips really will help you bake the best gluten free cupcakes ever!
Bake your cupcakes at no more than 325°F, and only until the tops spring back when pressed very lightly in the center. The toothpick test is not the best test for doneness here.
Do let your cupcakes cool before frosting
I get it: It's hard to resist cupcakes, what with their softness and enticing aroma. But if you're going to frost yours, you really do have to let them cool completely first. If you don't, your frosting will melt and make a sticky mess.
The best gluten free frosting for the best gluten free cupcakes
I've included a recipe for traditional vanilla buttercream frosting, and it's always a favorite. If you'd like something a little lighter, and a bit less expected, try our “Best” Vanilla Frosting. It's a cooked flour frosting that can be made in stages.
Instead of relying upon confectioners' sugar for the proper consistency, a cooked flour frosting has significantly less sugar than buttercream. And it's soft and velvety, but still stable at room temperature.
I haven't ever tried making it with dairy-free butter, I'm afraid. I bet it would work with butter-flavored Spectrum nonhydrogenated shortening, though.
How to store your gf vanilla cupcakes
Because these gluten free cupcakes don't contain preservatives, they won't last for weeks on your kitchen counter. I generally find that they're good for a couple of days before they start to go stale.
If you make more cupcakes than you can eat in that time frame, I suggest freezing them for longer-term storage.
Whatever you do, don't put them in the fridge. That just speeds up the drying process.
Freezing gluten free vanilla cupcakes
I love the idea of having a cupcake for lunch. Sometimes alongside other things, sometimes on its own. Thankfully, I can do this whenever I'd like by freezing my gf cupcakes to enjoy whenever the mood strikes. Best of all, these cupcakes freeze up perfectly whether they're plain or frosted.
Freezing unfrosted cupcakes
It's super easy to freeze gf cupcakes. Just make sure they're completely cool, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, drop them into a freezer-safe, zip-top bag or other airtight container, and toss them into the freezer. The cupcakes will stay good for up to three months.
Freezing frosted cupcakes
Freezing frosted cupcakes take a little more work, but the payoff is worth it. What you'll do differently is place your frosted cupcakes on a plate or baking sheet and put them in the freezer until the frosting is completely frozen, typically four to five hours.
Once the cupcakes are frozen, wrap them in plastic and put them in a zip-top bag. These cupcakes will also last about three months in the freezer.
Defrosting frozen gluten free cupcakes
Whether you've got plain or frosted cupcakes, defrosting is a cinch. Just leave the cupcakes on the kitchen counter to defrost for two to three hours. For the freshest cupcakes, cover them with a dome so they don't dry out as they defrost.
Perfect Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes: Ingredients and Substitutions
Gluten free, dairy free vanilla cupcakes
These cupcakes and buttercream can easily be made dairy free by using vegan butter (my favorite brands are Melt and Miyoko's Kitchen), or butter-flavored nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening in place of butter.
Any unsweetened nondairy milk works well in place of cow's milk. I like unsweetened almond milk because it has some fat and is less watery than some nondairy milks.
These cupcakes are more tender with buttermilk. If you're dairy free or don't have buttermilk, you can make a buttermilk replacement with half milk (dairy or nondairy) and half plain yogurt (dairy or nondairy) by volume.
Gluten free, egg-free vanilla cupcakes
It's a little tricky to replace the egg and egg white here than it would be if the recipe called only for whole eggs. I haven't tried it, but you can try replacing the egg and egg white with 1 1/2 chia eggs.
Be sure to use ground chia seeds, not whole seeds, though. And avoid flax eggs, particularly in a recipe as simple as this, as flax has a strong flavor.
Gluten free, vegan vanilla cupcakes
While it may be tricky to substitute the eggs in this simple gluten free cupcakes recipe, dairy is easy. And as the dairy and eggs are the only non-vegan ingredients, you can follow my substitution advice for each above to make vegan-friendly cupcakes. Just be sure your sugar isn't made with bone char, if you're a strict vegan.
FAQs
Which gluten free flour should I use for this gf cupcake recipe?
I recommend that you use a mixture of Better Batter and corn starch in the ratio provided in the recipe. Adding cornstarch lightens the gluten free flour to give it a consistency that's more like traditional cake flour.
Whatever you do, don't use a single-ingredient flour like brown rice flour, coconut flour, or almond flour. You have to use a blend to get anywhere near the right consistency.
Can I use vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla extract?
Yes, you can use vanilla bean paste instead, just note that it's going to have a stronger flavor than the vanilla extract. When substituting, include the same amount of paste as you would vanilla extract.
How to you make moist gluten free cupcakes?
The secret to moist gf cucpcakes is using the right gluten free flour blend, measured by weight, and a well-balanced recipe.
Not all gluten free flours are created equal, so if you use one that's more starchy, it's going to absorb all your moisture and leave you with dry cupcakes. Plus, they won't brown at all.
I used a mixture of Better Batter and cornstarch to perfect this easy gluten free cupcake recipe. Follow my instructions, and I promise you'll end up with incredibly moist and tender cupcakes.
Can I use this recipe to make gluten free mini cupcakes?
Yep — just adjust your baking time as mini cupcakes don't need as much. And testing for doneness is the same: Press lightly on the top of a cupcake. If it springs back up, the cupcakes are ready.
Can I use this gluten free vanilla cupcake recipe to make a cake?
No, this recipe isn't quite right for making a cake. Instead, try my Classic Gluten Free Vanilla Sheet Cake recipe. The ingredient ratios are much better for baking in a larger pan.
Can I make these gluten free white cupcakes in advance?
These gf cupcakes will keep at room temperature for about two days, so if you're making them for a party or other event, I'd recommend making them only the day before.
If you need more time, go ahead and bake them, but then freeze them until needed. To defrost, just leave them on the counter for a couple of hours, covered with a dome so they don't dry out.
Why did my gluten free cupcakes spill over?
If your cupcakes look like they've exploded, you've likely overfilled them. Remember, only fill your wells 2/3 of the way. This offers just enough room for the batter to climb up the sides of the wells without spilling over.
Why did my gf vanilla cupcakes sink?
The most common reason that gluten free cupcakes sink is that your oven ran too hot, so the outside cooked before the center developed the proper structure to support it. So when the cupcakes cool, they cave in.
If your oven temperature is too low, your cupcakes will probably rise reliably, but won't rise very high. The only really reliable way to gauge oven temperature is with a standalone oven thermometer that you replace often. That's what I do!
Do these vanilla gluten free cupcakes need to be refrigerated?
No, and I would actually caution against putting them in the fridge as they'll dry out. Instead, leave them out at room temperature in a covered container for up to two days. If you need to store them longer than that, freeze them.
Bakery-style gluten free vanilla cupcakes
Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes Recipe | Bakery-style cupcakes at home
Equipment
- Stand mixer or handheld mixer
Ingredients
For the vanilla cupcakes.
- 1 ½ cups (210 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend (I like Better Batter here)
- ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
- 2 tablespoons (18 g) cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 tablespoons (112 g) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 (50 g, weighed out of shell) egg at room temperature
- 1 (25 g) egg white at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup (5 ⅓ fluid ounces) milk or buttermilk at room temperature
For vanilla buttercream frosting.
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar plus more as necessary
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Milk by the teaspoon as necessary
Instructions
For the cupcakes.
- Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line 16 wells of standard muffin tins with cupcake liners or grease the wells, and set the tins aside.
- In a small bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and whisk to combine well. Set the bowl of dry ingredients aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a large bowl with a handheld mixer, place the butter, sugar, egg, egg white and vanilla, and beat at medium-low speed to combine. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat until it appears whipped (about 2 minutes).
- To the large bowl with the butter mixture, add the dry ingredients in 3 batches, alternating with the milk or buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Beat lightly after each addition until just combined. Do not overmix. The batter should be light and fluffy.
- Fill the prepared wells of the muffin tin about 2/3 of the way full of the batter. Shake the tin back and forth to evenly distribute the batter in each of the wells.
- Place the tin in the center of the preheated oven and bake until the cupcakes are very lightly golden brown and spring back when pressed lightly in the center (about 20 minutes). Don’t over bake.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool for at least 5 minutes in the tin before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining cupcake batter. Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting and/or decorating.
For the frosting.
- In a large bowl with a hand mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, place the butter. Beat on medium speed until creamy (about 30 seconds).
- Add the 1 cup (115 g) of confectioners’ sugar, the salt, vanilla, and 1 teaspoonful of milk, and beat on medium speed until well-combined (about 1 minute).
- Beat in more confectioners’ sugar until the consistency is thick but not stiff. Turn up the mixer speed to high and beat for about 5 minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with your favorite piping tip. Pipe the frosting on the cooled cupcakes, or use two spoons to scoop a dollop onto each cupcake.
Notes
Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes Recipe | Bakery-style cupcakes at home
Equipment
- Stand mixer or handheld mixer
Ingredients
For the vanilla cupcakes.
- 1 ½ cups (210 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend (I like Better Batter here)
- ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
- 2 tablespoons (18 g) cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 tablespoons (112 g) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 (50 g, weighed out of shell) egg at room temperature
- 1 (25 g) egg white at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup (5 ⅓ fluid ounces) milk or buttermilk at room temperature
For vanilla buttercream frosting.
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar plus more as necessary
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Milk by the teaspoon as necessary
Instructions
For the cupcakes.
- Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line 16 wells of standard muffin tins with cupcake liners or grease the wells, and set the tins aside.
- In a small bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and whisk to combine well. Set the bowl of dry ingredients aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a large bowl with a handheld mixer, place the butter, sugar, egg, egg white and vanilla, and beat at medium-low speed to combine. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat until it appears whipped (about 2 minutes).
- To the large bowl with the butter mixture, add the dry ingredients in 3 batches, alternating with the milk or buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Beat lightly after each addition until just combined. Do not overmix. The batter should be light and fluffy.
- Fill the prepared wells of the muffin tin about 2/3 of the way full of the batter. Shake the tin back and forth to evenly distribute the batter in each of the wells.
- Place the tin in the center of the preheated oven and bake until the cupcakes are very lightly golden brown and spring back when pressed lightly in the center (about 20 minutes). Don’t over bake.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool for at least 5 minutes in the tin before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining cupcake batter. Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting and/or decorating.
For the frosting.
- In a large bowl with a hand mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, place the butter. Beat on medium speed until creamy (about 30 seconds).
- Add the 1 cup (115 g) of confectioners’ sugar, the salt, vanilla, and 1 teaspoonful of milk, and beat on medium speed until well-combined (about 1 minute).
- Beat in more confectioners’ sugar until the consistency is thick but not stiff. Turn up the mixer speed to high and beat for about 5 minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with your favorite piping tip. Pipe the frosting on the cooled cupcakes, or use two spoons to scoop a dollop onto each cupcake.
Daisy says
I want to make a Donauwelle cake. How do you think this recipe would do with adding some cocoa and a little milk to half of it to make the swirls? I also think the cherries might add a little extra liquid, would you adjust for that or just dry them off as much as possible? Thanks!
Nicole Hunn says
I’m afraid I would not recommend using this recipe in that way, no. You can’t make vanilla batter into a chocolate swirl that simply. You’d really need a recipe for just that. Sorry!
Cora Hordes says
Amazing recipe!! I had to make some cupcakes for Church so I thought to make some GF ones and these were a hit! One little kid said they were the best, and you know what that means when a kid says that!
Nicole Hunn says
Indeed I do know how hard it is to get that sort of positive response from a kid. No filter! So glad you loved them (as did that child!)
Taylor Leigh-Jones says
I made these today, they came out perfectly. Incredibly moist, risen and delicious. I used butter milk in the batter and a white chocolate butter cream and it complimented them perfectly. They are not dry and are very pretty without the wrapper on. I found hitting them on the bench and shaking them to make a world of difference :)
Perfect texture to pipe some ganache in the middle also. Yum!
Vanessa says
Just a heads up to anyone baking at high altitude: you will need to modify this one or they will over rise and sink in the middle. I have made this recipe several times in the past with great results at 2-3000 feet but I am newer to high altitude baking (at 6000 ft now). With gluten free I have been trying recipes as written first because they don’t always need modification. When I make these next I will try reducing leavening 20-25%. I’m always afraid to increase baking temperatures for fear of drying out gluten free items.
Nicole Hunn says
Yes, you always need to make adjustments for high altitude baking, Vanessa. Gluten free baking is no exception. Unfortunately I can’t recreate that condition, so I can’t test any of my recipes at altitude. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Andrea Rincon Jensen says
Just made these today and they were sooooo good!
I take my baking seriously and am always grateful for thorough comments, so this will be a little long.
First time that I made these they rose beautifully, then overflowed, browned and completely caved in in the oven, but the flavor was so good I wanted to try again. First time I used measuring cups, overfilled the liners, and I’m pretty sure I over-mixed the batter because the batter felt a little gummy and sticky before baking.
Second time I made sure to not overfill the cupcakes (I ended up with 18). I weighed my ingredients and made sure to turn off the mixer between adding the flour and milk. They still browned and caved a little, but they stayed risen enough to be able to cut off the sunken part and still have a beautiful fluffy cupcake. The texture was soooooo good. And the flavor was beautiful.
I used the Cup4Cup flour and you could barely tell they were gluten free. I mixed in chopped fresh strawberries to half of the batter as an experiment and Wow! Delicious. I topped these with a passion fruit curd, passion fruit whipped cream and more fresh strawberries. Super good, definitely will use this recipe again. Thank you for it!
Nicole Hunn says
I’m glad you enjoyed them. Adding more moisture to the cupcakes by adding fruit will definitely make them overflow (and also take up more space). And since these are cupcakes, not muffins, they don’t rise into a larger dome, which is why the instructions say to fill the wells 2/3 of the way full. When baked goods rise and then fall when they cool, it’s usually because of a too-hot oven (too much moisture can also contribute), which is why I always recommend an oven thermometer as most ovens run hot and drift out of calibration easily.
Lauren says
These were delicious and easy. I used one cup Pillsbury gluten free flour and a half cup almond flour. I still need to work on my buttercream frosting to get the right texture, but it tasted great. Thanks for this recipe!
Leah says
Hi there! I am looking forward to trying this recipe and it will be my first time using the recommended flour blend, “Better Batter”. Since that flour does contain xantham gum should I omit the xantham gum that is mentioned in the recipe?
Thank you!
Nicole Hunn says
Correct, as the recipe states to omit the xanthan gum if your blend includes it, you’ll omit it when using Better Batter’s classic blend.
Leah says
Thank you! I made them for a party this afternoon and they were amazing. I added a homemade strawberry jam filling and topped them with your buttercream recipe for a “strawberry and cream” cupcake…Wow! Also, thank you for all of the notes. I have been GF for 14 years and understanding the “why” behind a method helps me so much.
Sonya says
Hi, have you or anyone else used King Arthur’s GF 1:1 blend? It already had xanthum gum in it so would I leave out any other ingredients?
Thanks!
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Sonya, I’m afraid I don’t like their blends and can’t recommend them. I discuss flour blends in detail on the all purpose gluten free flour blends page, linked in this recipe and in every one that calls for a blend.
Kelsey says
I’m using Cup4Cup but my batter looks kind of sticky and gummy rather than particularly fluffy before baking. I weighed out everything and used room temp ingredients. Suggestions?
Nicole Hunn says
Did you add additional xanthan gum, Kelsey? Did you use any ingredient substitutions? Those are the only things that come to mind. It could also be that you undermeasured the liquid, which can’t be weighed.
Dana says
Made these today – great texture but all I tasted was butter. I did use vanilla bean paste, which the notes above said would be a stronger vanilla flavor, but it didn’t come through at all. Next time I’ll double the vanilla. Didn’t much care for the frosting either. Just whipped sweet butter. However, the texture was good. Moist and fluffy. I can build off of that! Thank you for sharing!
Bonnie says
Can i add cocoa powder to make these chocolate cupcakes?
Nicole Hunn says
No, Bonnie, there’s more difference between a vanilla and chocolate cupcake than just adding cocoa powder, which would unbalance the recipe. I have a recpe for gluten free chocolate cupcakes. Please use the search function!
Bonnie says
Thank you!
Monica says
These cupcakes look great. Do I omit the cornstarch if I’m using the cup4cup flour?
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Monica, yes! Just measure out more Cup4Cup by weight. :)
Gurleen says
Hi Nicole,
Can I use tapioca starch or arrowroot flour instead of cornstarch? One of my family members is intolerant to cornstarch. Thanks!
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Gurleen, definitely you can use arrowroot. That’s usually the starch I like in place of cornstarch and it should work great here!
Daniella says
I never read the blogs on recipes. This was 100% worth my time. Thank you so much! I’ve been baking GF for over a year now and have been trying to learn how to alter recipes instead of simply using my 1:1 all purpose flour with non GF recipes. I made mini cupcakes and they turned out GREAT. Better Batter was a little pricy, but totally worth it! Learned a lot by reading this page and followed instructions as accurately as I could! Very impressed. I measure Vanilla like I measure garlic (with my heart,) but otherwise, followed as instructed.
Nicole Hunn says
I’m so glad to hear that you had such a good experience, Daniella, and gratified that you were willing to read the post. Food bloggers tend to get a bad reputation for long posts, but I work hard never to waste anyone’s time, just to give you the “why” so you can be successful. Thank you for the thoughtful comment. It means a lot to me! And I love how you measure vanilla and garlic. Sounds smart to me. :)
Samantha says
Hi Nicole! Do the cupcakes freeze well?
Nicole Hunn says
Yes, Samantha! They freeze beautifully. Freeze them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, then pile them into a freezer-safe container and eliminate as much air as possible. Defrost at room temperature!
Heather F says
Mmm, these just came out of the oven and smell amazing! Mine happen to have divots in the middle. Do you know what may have caused that? I had to make substitutions for dairy and egg, and I used Presidents Choice gluten free flour blend. They aren’t extremely sunk in, so there’s just a little more room for frosting ;).
Nicole Hunn says
It’s all of your substitutions, Heather. You’ve made quite a few, including the flour blend, and each influences the result. Together, it’s nearly a different recipe altogether. Glad they smell good, though!
Crystal says
A couple of questions. I’m new to gluten free baking and bought 2 of your books. Do all your recipes work with Better Batter unless a blend is otherwise specified? If you just say gluten-free all-purpose flour and don’t specify a blend, can Better Batter be used? And I think cupcakes are where I should start, right? Is that easy enough to be a first recipe, or is there something else you’d recommend for someone just starting out? I don’t think I am prepared for the cost to make a custom blend right now, and have a lot to learn before I can do so. So, I’d like to make things a little easier and start with Better Batter.
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Crystal, those are all great questions! Yes, you can use Better Batter’s all purpose gluten free flour blend anywhere one of my recipes calls for an “all purpose gluten free flour.” There’s actually never a reason to make mock Better Batter, unless you can’t or don’t want to buy the actual product. Instead of cupcakes, I’d actually start with drop cookies, like these gluten free chocolate chip cookies. Measure by weight, mind the temperature of your ingredients as specified in the recipe, and you’ll do great. If you’re not yet signed up for my email list, I’d do that, since I have a 3-email welcome series right now that’s a really useful, short introduction to the blog and gluten free baking. You can sign up right here, if you’d like.
Lydia Kanar Reichelt says
Cupcake turned out to be sugar cookies lining muffin tins and the frosting was slime. Threw it all together and made delicious cake pops. Both taste amazing but neither resembled what they were intended to resemble. And I followed both recipes to a “T”! Even weighed the ingredients to be sure. super sad.
Nicole Hunn says
Lydia, it’s a shame that you weren’t successful with this recipe. Everyone states that they followed recipes to a T, but the recipe works when made as written, using the ingredients specified, including the all purpose gluten free flour blend specified, with the ingredients at the proper temperatures as specified. I assume you used a gluten free flour blend that is one I recommend against, but you didn’t give me any details, so I can’t help you troubleshoot to figure out where you deviated from the recipe as written. Regarding the frosting, it’s a classic buttercream. If you didn’t make substitutions, then your ingredients were too soft. There isn’t any other way a classic buttercream would be “slime.”
m. elaine yourick says
Could this batter be baked in a small loaf pan or a cake pan?
Nicole Hunn says
Definitely not, Elaine. I have recipes for quick breads, which are baked in loaf pans, and for an excellent vanilla cake, which is what you’ll need for a cake. Please use the search function!
Kimbettly says
HI! Thanks for this easy recipe. I made them a day before my son’s party. Should I refrigerate them unfrosted? Or is it okay to leave them in a sealed container over night?
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Kim, I wouldn’t ever refrigerate them, since the that tends to be very drying. I would definitely leave them in a sealed container at room temperature overnight. For anything longer than that, I’d freeze and defrost, then frost and serve!
Jill says
Made these tonight as a practice run for a welcome home party for our son. Used Pamela’s all-purpose GF flour (because I didn’t have the patience for the all-important science Nicole detailed in her blend (another time)). These were delicious, not very sweet, and I can’t wait to try The Best Vanilla Frosting recipe on them (if they last long enough to frost)! Thank you Nicole for your tireless efforts.
Nicole Hunn says
I’m glad you enjoyed the cupcakes, Jill. I actually don’t have any experience with Pamela’s all purpose gluten free flour blend. I’ve always shied away because it leads with brown rice flour, and contains guar gum, which isn’t as good in heated applications as xanthan gum. It also has a lot of moisture-loving flours in it, so I’ve assumed it makes things gummy. Just to give you some perspective!
Rick Woodward says
Nicole, I have been following you for some time now. I consider you to be the top ” Kitchen Scientist” Baker there is. You are truly outstanding in your research, baking, recipes and caring for all of us who are gluten free and diary free. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do. Best wishes to you and your family. Sincerely, Rick W.
Nicole Hunn says
Thank you so much for the kind words, Rick! I really do try to do all of that, and consider it essential to my ability to promise you success in following my recipes. It can be very rewarding, and it’s definitely made much more so by your kind words. Thank you again for that. It means so much!
Christine M Eckels says
Hi, Pamela –
Can I substitute monkfruit for the granulated sugar?
Thanks –
Chris
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Chris, I’m Nicole, not Pamela. I haven’t tried making these with an alternative, but I do like Lankato brand monkfruit granulated sugar replacement, generally. It does tend to be drying, though, so you may have to add more milk or buttermilk. Please watch the video carefully and try to mimic the consistency of the cupcake batter. In short, you’ll have to experiment!
Pamela says
I have made GF cupcakes in the past. They were great fresh out of the oven. I made them a couple of days in advance and froze them so I could take my time decorating them. When I defrosted the cupcakes, the texture was like riced cauliflower and had a doughy taste. Is that just the nature of GF flours, or is there something I can do to avoid this problem?
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Pamela,
It’s really hard for me to say for sure, since you didn’t use one of my recipes, but it sounds like an issue with a gritty rice flour. That, and unbalanced, poorly-written recipes, are the most common problems with gluten free baking. I recommend taking a look at my Gluten Free Flour Blends page for full information.