Find Recipes Instantly! (Type the Recipe name or any Ingredient) Starlight Cupcakes 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups sugar Starlight Cupcakes 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup shortening (half margarine or butter, if desired) -- softened 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 eggs Heat oven to 350F degrees. Beat all ingredients in large mixer bowl on low speed, scraping bowl constantly, 30 seconds. Beat on high speed, scraping bowl frequently, 3 minutes. Pour batter into paper-lined medium muffin cups, filling each about half full. Bake 20 minutes. Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Makes 24 You can also use raisins, chocolate chips, gumdrops, Red Hots, or nuts for decorations. 3 cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 2 cups sugar 5 large eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon pure almond extract 1 cup nonfat buttermilk 2 recipes Cream Cheese Frosting 1/2 pint blueberries, for decorating 1/2 pint raspberries, for decorating White sprinkles and nonpareils, for decorating 1. Heat oven to 350°. Line two twelve-holed muffin pans with baking cups; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. 2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until pale, light, and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. With the mixer running, add eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract; beat until combined. 3. With mixer on low speed, add 1 cup reserved flour mixture; mix until combined. Add 1/2 cup buttermilk; combine. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk, ending with flour, until all has been incorporated. 4. Fill each baking cup with 1/4 cup batter; batter should almost reach tops of cups. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer tins to a wire rack to cool. 5. Remove cupcakes from tins, and frost with cream-cheese frosting. If desired, use a pastry bag fitted with a plain writing tip to pipe letters or designs onto cupcakes. Decorate with berries, sprinkles, and nonpareils.