Recipe: Vanilla Bean and Chai Cupcakes
This is one of the first recipes I ever created back in 2010 on an old blog, inspired by the vanilla chai lattes at Cafe Essen in Canberra... sadly now closed but so many great memories. I still get asked to make these by family and friends, everyone loves them and you will be instantly popular if you make these.
Vanilla Bean and Chai Cupcakes
Makes 12
Cupcakes
- 100g unsalted butter, at room temp
- 200g caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1/2 quantity of chai spice mix (recipe follows)
- 190g plain flour, sifted
- 125ml buttermilk
- 1/2 tsp bicarb soda
- 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
Buttercream
- 250g unsalted butter, at room temp
- 400g icing sugar
- 1/2 quantity chai spice mix
- 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1-2 TBS hot water, if needed
- Optional pinch of salt
Chai Spice Mix
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Mix together in a bowl. Use half in the cupcake batter and the other half in the buttercream.
Method
Preheat the oven to 160C (no fan if that is an option).
Cream together the butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy and beat in the vanilla bean paste. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Fold in the flour, chai spices and buttermilk. Mix together the bicarb and vinegar in a bowl and add to the batter and stir to combine well but don't overmix. Spoon into 12 prepared cupcake cases and bake 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. You will know they are almost ready when your kitchen smells amazing!
While they are cooling down, make the buttercream by whipping the butter until pale and light. Beat in the vanilla bean paste and the other half of the chai spice mix. Incorporate the icing sugar in batches, start low so you don't get sugar flying everywhere and then increase the speed. If your buttercream is a bit stuff, add a splash or two of hot water and beat well.
Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and add an optional dusting of cinnamon sugar.
Double the recipe to make an 8" cake!
Decorating inspiration:
