Ingredients:
- 190g cake flour
- 200g granulated sugar
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 115g unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 large egg whites, room temperature
- 60g full-fat sour cream
- 120ml whole milk
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 60g rainbow jimmies sprinkles
Instructions:
- Preheat and Prep. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12 cup muffin tin with your favorite paper liners. Note: Preheating for at least 20 minutes ensures the oven temp is stable.
- Cream the Base. In a stand mixer, beat 115g of room temperature butter and 200g granulated sugar for 3 to 5 minutes until pale, voluminous, and fluffy.
- Whisk the Liquids. In a separate bowl, combine the egg whites, 60g sour cream, 120ml whole milk, and 2 tsp vanilla bean paste. Note: Whisk until no streaks of egg white remain.
- Slow Emulsion. Gradually pour the liquid mixture into the butter while the mixer runs on low speed. It may look slightly curdled, but keep going until it smooths out.
- Sift the Dry. Sift together the 190g cake flour, 1.5 tsp baking powder, and 0.5 tsp salt directly into the bowl.
- The Gentle Fold. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet batter until just combined and no flour streaks are visible.
- Add the Confetti. Carefully fold in the 60g of rainbow jimmies. Do not over mix, or the colors will bleed into the batter.
- Bake to Perfection. Divide the batter evenly and bake for 18 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and the tops spring back.
- Whip the Frosting. Beat 230g butter until smooth, then gradually add 480g powdered sugar, 45ml heavy cream, and a pinch of salt. Whip until it looks like a thick, white cloud.
- Cool and Pipe. Let the cupcakes cool completely on a rack before piping with the frosting. Wait until they are cold to the touch.