Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Put all dry ingredients, milk, butter and vanilla in the bowl of a electric mixer's bowl. .

Beat at low speed until the ingredients are just blended, then turn the speed up to high for 2 minutes more.

Add the eggs and continue beating at high speed for 2 minutes. (Careful not to over-beat the batter!) 

Line a cupcake pan with cupcake papers and fill the cups ½ full. Bake for 7 - 10 minutes, then rotate the pan (to allow even baking) and bake another 7 - 10 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let cool in the pan, then transfer to a rack. When completely cool before frosting with buttercream, chocolate buttercream, coffee buttercream or a simple ganache.