Basic Vanilla and Chocolate Cupcakes

For the vanilla cupcakes:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
  
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  
• 1 cup granulated sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
  
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
  

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together to combine. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating on medium speed to combine, and scraping well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla to combine.
5. Pour 1/3 of the buttermilk into the batter and mix on low speed to combine. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix to combine. Repeat two more times, until all of the liquid and flour is added and fully incorporated.
6. Scoop the batter into the prepared pan using a #16 scoop (or just fill each cavity 3/4 of the way full).
7. Bake the cupcakes until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Cool for 5 to 10 minutes in the pan, then invert onto a rack to cool completely before frosting and finishing.

For the chocolate cupcakes:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
  
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  
• 1 cup granulated sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
  
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
  

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt together to combine.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating on medium speed to combine, and scraping well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla to combine.
5. Pour 1/3 of the buttermilk into the batter and mix on low speed to combine. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix to combine. Repeat two more times, until all of the liquid and flour is added and fully incorporated.
6. Scoop the batter into the prepared pan using a #40 scoop (or just fill each cavity 3/4 of the way full).
7. Bake the cupcakes until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Cool for 5 to 10 minutes in the pan, then invert onto a rack to cool completely before frosting and finishing.