VANILLA CUPCAKES

(from the "Cake Boss")
(RECIPE POSTED BY JAMIE CAMERON HUNTER)
These cupcakes are so good! I made these cupcakes for my daughter's birthday

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. fine sea salt
1/4 cup milk, room temperature
1/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 large egg plus 1 white, room temperature

Vanilla Buttercream
1 cup butter, softened cool room temperature
2 1/2 cups icing sugar
2 tsp. milk
Innards scraped from one vanilla bean
1 tsp. vanilla extract
pinch fine sea salt

Preheat oven to 350, center rack.
Line a 12 portion muffin pan with cupcake liners.
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
In another bowl, whisk together the milk, buttermilk and vanilla.
With mixer, combine the butter and sugar, beat medium, 2-3 minutes. Scrape down sides.
On low, add the whole egg, increase to medium and beat until incorporated. Scrape down sides, repeat with egg white.
On medium-low, add the dry mixture, alternating with the wet in three additions of dry, i.e. dry, wet, dry, wet, dry, scraping between additons. Mix just until combined on last addition. Mixture will not look completely smooth.
Fill liners 3/4 full with batter - do not overfill or cake will bake slightly concave.
Bake 17 - 20 minutes until toothpick comes out clean from center. This cake has a flat top - will not dome. Allow to cool before frosting.

Buttercream
Beat the butter until fluffy on medium. Turn to low, add icing sugar by 1/4 cup until incorporated. Add milk, vanilla bean bits, extract and salt. Increase to med-high, beat a minute or two until light and fluffy.