Recipe: Yellow Buttermilk Cupcakes (Martha Stewart)

YELLOW BUTTERMILK CUPCAKES

"Two types of flour contribute to the cupcakes' singular texture: Cake flour makes for a delicate crumb, while all-purpose flour keeps them from being too tender."

3 cups cake flour (not -self--rising)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (2 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 1/4 cups sugar
5 large whole eggs plus 3 egg yolks, room temperature
2 cups buttermilk, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Frosting (your choice)
Round candy sprinkles (nonpareils), for decorating (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners.

Sift together both flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.

Reduce speed to medium. Add whole eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add yolks, and beat until thoroughly combined.

Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk, and beating until combined after each. Beat in vanilla. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full.

Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until cupcakes spring back when lightly touched and a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool 10 minutes; turn out cupcakes onto racks and let cool completely.

Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.

TO FINISH:
Use a small offset spatula to spread cupcakes with frosting. Refrigerate up to 3 days in airtight containers; bring to room temperature and, if desired, decorate with sprinkles before serving.

Makes 36 cupcakes
Source: Martha Stewart's Cupcakes by Martha Stewart Living Magazine