For the buttercream

1. In a food processor, pulse the butter until creamy and smoothed out — about 5 quick pulses.
2. Add 1 1/2 cups of the powdered sugar and pulse for about 5-10 seconds.
3. Add the remaining sugar, pulsing for another 5-10 seconds.
4. Add vanilla extract and pulse.
5. Slowly drizzle in 2 tablespoons of heavy cream while pulsing. You don’t want it runny, you just want it smooth and thick enough to hold up.
6. Taste it. Add the tiny pinch of salt and add the delicious scrapings from 1 vanilla bean and pulse until evenly distributed — about 10 seconds.
7. Either spread the frosting onto the cupcakes with an off-set spatula or use a piping bag.

**If you don’t have a food processor, you can do this by hand with an electric hand mixer or a whisk, but make sure you sift the powdered sugar first. No need to sift if you’re using a food processor though.

For the cupcakes

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin/cupcake tin with paper or foil liners.
2. Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Quickly and on the lowest speed, mix around to make sure everything is evenly distributed.
3. Add softened butter, sour cream, egg and egg yolks, vanilla and vanilla bean caviar (split the vanilla bean down the middle with a sharp knife, use the back of the knife to scrape the yummy beans out); on medium speed (start w/ the slowest first or the flour will fly) beat for about 30 seconds or until mixed together. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula and mix by hand until smooth and no flour pockets remain.
4. Divide the batter evenly in the little paper or tin cupcake liners. I used a 3tbsp cookie scoop for a perfect measurement. Place on the middle oven rack and bake for about 20 minutes (no longer than 24) or until lightly golden or toothpick comes out clean. I actually baked mine for about 18 minutes before removing from oven, and they were perfect.
5. Remove the cupcakes from cupcake pan and cool at room temperature.
6. Frost them and try not to cry. They’re even better the next day, which is wonderfully insane!