Best Sourdough Discard Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream

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These vanilla sourdough cupcakes are so moist and tender that they’ll be the best cupcakes you’ll ever have and a new family favorite. The rich buttery crumb pairs well with the slight tang of the sourdough. Best of all, this easy recipe is quick to make! 

If you’re searching for the most perfect sourdough cupcakes, I’ve got you covered!

Out of all the sourdough recipes I’ve made, this by far is one of my favorites! This is saying a lot since I am usually a chocolate sourdough cupcakes fan. Moreover, sweets such as sourdough chocolate cake and sourdough vanilla cake are tough to beat. However, these vanilla cupcakes are on a level of their own; these surpass the quality of cupcakes from a professional bakery. 

Why You’ll Love This Sourdough Cupcakes Recipe

• The BEST vanilla cupcakes you will EVER eat. Period.
• ULTRA MOIST AND TENDER cupcakes! None of that dry stuff your aunt makes at family get-togethers.
• Packed with flavor
• This sourdough recipe is quick! You can be eating delicious cupcakes within 45 minutes
• Perfect dessert for the entire family (even your picky kids will love them)
• Simple ingredients that are easy to find
• Easy to make!

Reader Kerri commented: “Amazing cupcakes and such a great recipe! Turned out so moist and flavorful! My daughter said they are the best cupcakes she’s ever had!“

Key Ingredients For Sourdough Cupcakes

• Flour: All Purpose Flour is the base for these cupcakes. No need to go out and buy cake flour.
• Sugar: For sweetness. Every sweet treat need sweetness.
• Baking Soda and Baking Powder: Leavening agents
• Kosher Salt: Flavor enhancer that all foods need
• Melted Unsalted Butter: Melted and at room temperature
• 3 Egg Whites: Can be boxed or from whole eggs
• Vanilla Extract: Gives lots of flavor to these cupcakes
• Sour Cream: Aids in making the cupcakes ultra moist
• Whole Milk: Milk adds moisture
• Sourdough Starter Discard: The sour tang gives the best flavor to cupcakes. I prefer using unfed discard for this recipe over an active sourdough starter as that gives the cupcakes the best tang.

For best results, check out my Baking Conversion Chart. I list cup measurements, weight in grams, and even the brands of ingredients that I use.

Simple Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

The frosting we will use for these cupcakes is American buttercream. It is the easiest frosting to make and is delicious.

• Butter: Needs to be room temperature or else your buttercream will be chunky.
• Powdered Sugar: Sifted, to remove any chunks. Our goal is a smooth butercream
• Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor!
• Heavy Cream: Gives maximum creaminess and richness. However, whole milk is perfectly acceptable.
• Kosher Salt: This will enhance the taste! Trust me, even sweet frostings will benefit from added salt.

If you don’t have a sourdough starter, read my guide on how to make a sourdough starter at home.

Step-By-Step Photos Of Sourdough Discard Vanilla Cupcakes Recipe

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the cupcake liners in the cupcake tin.

Step 2

Sift the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt) into a large mixing bowl. Whisk together. Make sure the flour mixture is thoroughly combined.

Step 3

In a medium bowl, add the wet ingredients (melted butter, egg whites, vanilla extract, sour cream, milk and sourdough discard). Whisk together until combined.

Step 4

Add the wet ingredients to the large bowl of dry ingredients. Mix until combined.

Fill the cupcake liners ⅔ of the way full. Bake cupcakes for 18 minutes or until the tops are springy to the touch. You can use a toothpick or cake tester as well. Let the cupcakes cool on a wire rack before frosting. 

How Much Cupcake Batter Do I Put In Each Liner?

You’ll want to fill the paper liners until they are ⅔ of the way full. Why? Because the batter gets support from the liners. It climbs up the paper as it rises. 

Check out the picture of a baking experiment I did with the sourdough cupcake batter. If they are underfilled, then you’ll have sad looking cupcakes. Overfilled, and the cupcake will overflow and be lopsided!

How To Make The Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Vanilla buttercream frosting is easy to make! All it takes is five minutes. 

1. Place the room temperature butter in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, cream on medium speed for one to two minutes.
2. Add the powdered sugar in batches. Then, add salt, heavy cream and pure vanilla extract. Mix until fluffy.
3. Transfer the frosting into a piping bag
4. Pipe the vanilla buttercream on each cupcake

If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can use an electric mixer. However, I don’t recommend making frosting by hand since it will take ten minutes of whisking. It’ll be quite the workout!

Tips For The Perfect Sourdough Vanilla Cupcakes

• For best results, use room temperature ingredients. 
• Make sure the flour mixture is thoroughly combined before adding the wet ingredients. This will lead to more consistent cupcakes.
• Don’t overmix the batter. Overmixing will develop the gluten in the flour, which leads to a tough texture for baked goods. Just mix until there are no more dry bits of flour. Check out my step-by-step photos for the correct cupcake batter consistency.
• Do not overfill the cupcake liners. 
• Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before piping the frosting.
• Store properly to keep moist for days!

How To Store Sourdough Cupcakes to Keep Them Moist

To keep these sourdough cupcakes moist, they will need to be kept in an airtight container. Air will dry out cupcakes, so it’s best to place them in an airtight container as soon as possible.

Storing Frosted Cupcakes

Frosted cupcakes will stay fresh in an airtight container for 3-4 days at room temperature (source: Southern Living). You can eat any leftover cupcakes the next day. However, if the frosting has any dairy, you’ll want to store them in the refrigerator.

Storing Unfrosted Cupcakes

The best way to store cupcakes to eat for later! You can always frost them whenever you’re ready to eat them for ultimate freshness.

Steps To Store Cupcakes In Freezer:

1. Wrap the cupcakes with plastic wrap and place in an airtight container
2. Leave at room temperature for up to four days. Or, freeze them if you don’t plan on eating them soon.
3. Defrost on the counter
4. Add frosting when ready to eat.

Other Sourdough Discard Recipes To Try

Rich Sourdough Chocolate Cupcakes
Divine Sourdough Chocolate Cake
Easy Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ultimate Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls