Almost Cake Mix Vanilla Cupcakes!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup Crisco shortening, room temperature
• 2 cups sugar, ground in the processor until fine (measure before processing)
• 4 large eggs
• 3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon almond extract or lemon extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 3/4 cups cake flour or all-purpose flour (or combined together)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 cup warm half-and-half cream or full-fat milk (this is important, warm the milk!)

Directions

1. 1

   Set oven to 375 degrees (will reduce oven temperature just before baking cupcakes).

2. 2

   Line 24 muffin pans with paper cupcake liners.

3. 3

   In an electric mixer, cream butter and shortening until fluffy.

4. 4

   Add in the eggs(one at a time) and the extracts and beat about 3-4 minutes on high speed (the mixture will seem to be a bit lumpy but will even out when you add in the sugar).

5. 5

   Add in the sugar; beat well (another 3 minutes) until sugar is COMPLETELY combined.

6. 6

   In a bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking powder.

7. 7

   Blend into the creamed ingredients, along with the warm milk until smooth (about 3 minutes).

8. 8

   Fill the prepared pans about two-thirds full.

9. 9

   IMMEDIATELY, reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.

10. 10

    Place the cupcakes in oven, and bake for about 20-24 minutes, or until the cupcakes test done.