Erin’s Recipe Rundown
Texture: Light and airy crumb with creamy frosting.
Taste: Buttermilk + vanilla = sweet, flavorful cupcakes.
Ease: Easy to make bakery-quality cupcakes — perfect for birthday parties and events!
Top Tip: Several of the ingredients need to be at room temperature when added to the mixture. Don’t forget to prep these ingredients before you’re ready to bake!
Recommended GF Flour: Use a high-quality flour that contains xanthan gum. Both King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure-for-Measure Flour and Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1:1 Baking Flour work well!
Would I make these again? Absolutely! These cupcakes are moist, airy, and packed full of flavor. They’re topped with the creamiest buttercream frosting — perfection in every bite!
xoxo erin
This post was originally published in August 2023. It was updated with new photos and instructions in May 2025.
These gluten-free vanilla cupcakes check all the boxes for bakery-style treats that are sure to impress! They’re light and airy, with perfectly domed tops, and topped with the smoothest buttercream frosting.
I specifically designed this recipe with cupcakes in mind, which is why it’s a little different from my reader-favorite gluten-free vanilla cake. While they share similar flavors, each recipe is designed to create the perfect crumb for the way it’s served. They’re both my go-tos for birthday parties, special occasions, class parties, and more!
Featured Comment
From Tessa: “Incredible! Easy to follow, so so delicious, and those who can eat gluten didn’t even realize they were gluten free!”
Table of Contents
- Erin’s Recipe Rundown
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- Gluten-Free Cake Flour
- Frosting Tip
- How to Make Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes
- Make-Ahead/Storage/Freezing Instructions
- Can these gluten-free vanilla cupcakes be made dairy-free? What about nut-free?
- What does filling every other cupcake well do?
- What is the best way to frost them?
- Gluten-Free Cupcake Tips
- More Gluten-Free Cupcake Recipes
- Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes (BEST EVER!) Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are a few notes on some of the key ingredients to make these gluten-free vanilla cupcakes. Jump to the recipe card below for the exact measurements
- Gluten-free flour: It’s important to use a high-quality gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum for this recipe. For these cupcakes, both Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1:1 Baking Flour and King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure-for-Measure Flour work well!
- Cornstarch: Adding a little cornstarch to the gluten-free flour is a trick to create easy gluten-free cake flour that lightens the gluten-free flour blend for the best crumb.
- Baking powder: Baking powder helps create a light, fluffy cupcake with the perfect rise.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a key ingredient that helps set these cupcakes apart from the rest. It creates an ultra-moist, fluffy cupcake! For dairy-free, use unsweetened dairy-free milk mixed with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice.
- Butter/Oil: A combination of oil and butter are crucial for achieving the ideal texture. I like to use salted butter for all of my gluten-free baking. It has more depth of flavor than unsalted! For dairy-free, use vegan butter.
- Eggs: This gluten-free vanilla cupcake recipe requires four large, room-temperature eggs. By adding them in one at a time and beating them on high, lots of air gets incorporated into the batter for a light, airy crumb.
- Vanilla: I always recommend using real vanilla extract for cupcakes. Vanilla bean paste is another great option!
Gluten-Free Cake Flour
I use a combination of gluten-free flour and cornstarch to create my own gluten-free cake flour. I use this trick in my gluten-free angel food cupcakes too!
- Powdered sugar: The fine texture of the powdered sugar helps create a light and smooth buttercream.
- Milk: I like to use regular milk for this frosting, but dairy-free options will work too! The milk thins out the consistency enough so that the frosting is spreadable.
- Butter: I prefer salted butter since it creates more depth of flavor. For dairy-free, you can use vegan butter in its place.
- Salt: I love adding a pinch of salt to my frosting recipes. It adds the perfect bit of complexity and really brings out the flavor.
Frosting Tip
A pinch of kosher salt makes the frosting extra delicious! It helps to cut the sweetness and bring out the flavor.
How to Make Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes
Here’s an overview of how to make these cupcakes. You can jump to the recipe for the full instructions!
- In a medium bowl: Whisk together all of the dry ingredients (gluten-free flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt).
- In the bowl of a stand mixer: Use a whisk attachment to beat the softened butter and oil until they’re completely blended (about 3 minutes). You can also use a hand mixer with a large bowl!
- With the mixer on medium-low: Slowly add the sugar into the butter/oil mixture, then beat on high until it becomes light and fluffy (about 3 minutes). You’re looking for it to turn a very pale yellow.
- Incorporate in air: Add the eggs one at a time. It helps to scrape down the bowl in between each egg. Add in the vanilla and beat on high (2 minutes). This adds a lot of air to the batter for light and fluffy cupcakes!
- With the mixer on low: Add half of the dry mixture, then half of the buttermilk. Mix until they’re fully combined, then repeat the process by adding the rest of the dry mixture followed by the rest of the buttermilk.
- In a prepared cupcake tin: Place liners in every other cup and pour batter into the liners, filling them 3/4 of the way full. Bake (18-30 minutes) until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean (a few moist crumbs are okay). You can refrigerate any extra batter, if needing to bake in batches! Let the cupcakes cool for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool the rest of the way.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer: On medium-high, beat the butter (2 minutes). Add 4 cups of powdered sugar plus the milk, vanilla, and salt. Mix them together on low (30 seconds), then up the mixer to medium-high (2 minutes). You can also use a hand mixer and a large bowl!
- Frost: If the frosting seems too thick, you can add a little more milk. If too thin, add a little more powdered sugar. You want it to be a spreadable consistency. Frost and enjoy!
Make-Ahead/Storage/Freezing Instructions
To Make-Ahead: Unfrosted cupcakes can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. The frosting can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Briefly re-whip it before frosting the cupcakes.
To Store: Store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To Freeze: Unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen for up to 2 months if individually wrapped in plastic wrap and then stored in a freezer bag or airtight container. Thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours before frosting. The frosting can also be frozen for 2 months if stored in an airtight container. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then re-whip before use.
Can these gluten-free vanilla cupcakes be made dairy-free? What about nut-free?
Yes! For the cupcakes, you can use 1⅓ cups unsweetened dairy-free milk mixed with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to replace the buttermilk. Dairy-free butter will work in place of the regular butter too. For the frosting, use dairy-free butter and unsweetened dairy-free milk.
These vanilla cupcakes are naturally nut-free!
What does filling every other cupcake well do?
Spacing out the cupcakes by only filling every other cup allows for better air circulation which helps them to bake more evenly. This helps to create the perfect rise for bakery-style domed cupcakes!
What is the best way to frost them?
Once you get the frosting to a spreadable consistency, scoop the frosting into a piping bag or even just a Ziploc bag. The piping bag can be fitted with different tips, like a classic star tip. For the Ziploc bag, cut one corner off to create a circle opening. Gently pipe the frosting in a circular motion onto the cupcakes. There’s always the option to decorate with sprinkles and other toppings too!
Gluten-Free Cupcake Tips
- I use these cupcake liners. They never stick!
- Be sure the butter is completely at room temperature! It won’t whip up with the oil correctly if it is too cold.
- Use a combination of gluten-free flour and cornstarch to create your own gluten-free cake flour.
- A combination of oil and butter makes for the perfect texture. I highly recommend using both!
- This batter requires a secret ingredient – AIR! Whipping the cupcakes helps add lots of air to the cupcakes and creates a light, fluffy texture.
- Adding a pinch of kosher salt to the frosting helps to cut the sweetness and bring out the flavor.
More Gluten-Free Cupcake Recipes
Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes (BEST EVER!)
Video
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups (337g) gluten-free measure-for-measure flour
- ½ cup (64g) cornstarch
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Other Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (113g) butter at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120ml) neutral oil
- 1 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/3 cups (320ml) buttermilk at room temperature
Frosting Ingredients
- 1 cup (226g) butter at room temperature
- 4-5 cups (480-600g) powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) milk of choice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- pinch of kosher salt
Instructions
Make the Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place paper liners in every other cup of two cupcake tins. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or use a large bowl with a hand mixer), beat the softened butter and oil together until blended well, about 3 minutes.
- With the mixer running on medium-low, slowly add the granulated sugar to the oil and butter. Beat on high until the mixture is light and fluffy and turns a very pale yellow, about 3 minutes.
- Add the eggs in one at a time, scraping down the bowl in between each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract, then beat on high for another 2 minutes. You want to incorporate lots of air!
- With the mixer running on low, add ½ of the dry ingredients followed by ½ of the buttermilk, mixing until fully combined. Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients and buttermilk.
- Using a kitchen scoop or large spoon, fill each baking cup ¾ of the way up. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Repeat with the remaining batter if needed.
- Let the cupcakes cool in their pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to awire rack to cool completely.
Make the Frosting
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, or using a hand mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes.
- Add 4 cups powdered sugar along with the milk, vanilla and salt. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to medium-high speed and whip for a full 2 minutes.
- If the frosting is too thick, add a little more cream/milk. If the frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar to make a spreadable consistency. Frost the cupcakes as desired.
Hello! Is it recommended to let the batter rest before baking?
Hi Christina! Great question! Many gluten-free recipes benefit from resting the dough/batter. We find that this batter doesn’t need it, but if you prefer to rest it for a short bit, that should still work well. We hope you love the cupcakes!
Thank you!
Truly the best!!!
Yay! We’re so glad you loved the cupcakes, Dione. Thank you for the kind feedback!