Soft, fragrant vanilla bean cake is frosted with a purple berry frosting that tastes like spring, but can use a jar of preserves or jam tucked away in your fridge.
To me, baking with vanilla bean is crazy fancy and it makes me feel cool. It tastes good too, but it’s mostly for the fancy feeling. Using preserves that have been sitting in my fridge for 8 months, well that just makes me feel smart! I bet you have a partially used jar of jam in your fridge right now. I don’t even have to look. 
Berry and Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
Description
Soft, fragrant vanilla bean cake is frosted with a purple berry frosting that tastes like spring, but can use a jar of preserves or jam tucked away in your fridge.
Ingredients
for the cupcakes
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk
- 4 large egg whites (room temperature)
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature)
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- seeds scraped from one vanilla bean – I used two and it made it even better! But it’s not necessary
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
for the frosting
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted buter, room temperature
- 1/4-1/2 cup preserves of your choice – I used raspberry because it’s what I had
- 4-5 cups of confectioners sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 tbsp milk to consistency
- Handful of berries of your choice
Instructions
or the cupcakes
- Preheat your oven to 350 and put liners of your choice into your cupcake pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, vanilla, and egg whites.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter, sugar and vanilla bean seeds at medium speed until the butter and sugar are very light – this should take at least 2 minutes. Add one third of the flour mixture and mix on low speed until it’s just incorporated. Beat in half of the milk, vanilla, egg mixture, then beat in half of the remaining dry ingredients until well incorporated. Add the rest of the milk and eggs, beating until the batter fully incorporated and smooth, then add the last of the dry ingredients and mix on medium for one minute.
- You can use a spoon to put the batter into the cupcake liners, or you can do what I do and use a cookie scoop.
- Bake for 18-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centers come out clean. Cool them completely before frosting!
for the frosting
- Beat your butter until it is smooth and soft. Add your vanilla and preserves and beat until very well mixed. Add your confectioners sugar 1 cup at a time, scraping the bowl thoroughly between each addition. Add milk if if it gets too stiff. You want the frosting to hold it’s shape but easily make it’s way through your frosting tip. When your frosting is the right consistency, add your berries and beat them in for about 30 seconds. You’ll end up with little bits of them in your frosting and it’ll make it look really natural and delicious!
- Category: Baking
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of berry for the frosting?
Yes, you can use any type of berry preserves or jam that you have on hand, such as raspberry or blueberry, to create a different flavor for your frosting.
How do I incorporate the vanilla bean into the cake batter?
To incorporate the vanilla bean, split the bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds, then mix the seeds into your wet ingredients before combining them with the dry ingredients.
What should I do if I don’t have any berry preserves?
If you don’t have berry preserves, you can make a quick berry sauce by cooking fresh or frozen berries with a bit of sugar until they break down, then cool it before using it in your frosting.
