Vanilla Pear Cupcake

This cupcake is a vanilla cupcake with a delicious pear filling and a vanilla buttercream. I promise it's amazing!! They are fall flavors but I think its deliciously appropriate for right now, where its between winter and spring. Enjoy!


Vanilla Cupcakes
Ingredients:


1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar 
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk


Instructions:

1. In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy

2. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition 

3. Beat in the vanilla extract and lemon zest.

4. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt

5. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed

6. Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter and bake for about 17-20 minutes

Pear Filling

Ingredients:


1 pear, peeled pitted and chopped into small pieces
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or paste


Instructions:
1. Add pear and water into a medium sized pan and cook for about 10 minutes over medium high heat
2. Stir together the sugar and cornstarch in a separate bowl then add to the pears and stir until it is dissolved
3. Add vanilla extract
4. Cook until think, about 5-10 minutes. The remove from heat and transfer to a bowl

Vanilla Buttercream:
Ingredients:


1 cup (2 sticks) butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 tablespoons milk


Instructions:
1. Beat the butter until creamy
2. Add sugar 1/2 a cup at a time
3. Add vanilla
4. Add milk  (as needed- if you want it thinker you don't need to add it at all)