Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C, or gas mark 4).

Step 2

Combine all the dry in ingredients, except for the vanilla seeds, and blend well.

Step 3

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and use a mixer to blend well. You can use a food processor, hand or standing mixer to get it well-blended. Let the batter sit for a few minutes and mix once more. Optionally, add the vanilla beans and blend well. The batter is thin.

Step 4

Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 of the way with batter.

Step 5

Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.

Step 6

Cool and then frost.

Step 7

Store covered for a few days at room temperature, or the refrigerator for a few weeks, or freeze for a few months.