I recently started baking cupcakes from scratch and, like others on this forum, am having trouble finding a good basic recipe for both a cake batter and buttercream frosting. I too am guilty of comparing the scratch recipes I've tried to the box mixes and every time the scratch mixes come out dry or just not the right flavor. I found this recipe online and was wondering if it was any good. Thanks so much!

Copy Cat Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix

3 cups cake flour
2 cups superfine sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup shortening
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons imitation butter flavoring
10 drops yellow food coloring
1 1/3 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
Stir to combine.
Combine shortening, vanilla, and food coloring with an electric mixer in a small bowl.
Spoon shortening mixture into dry ingredients and beat well with mixer on medium speed.
Mix until no chunks of shortening are visible.
The mix should resemble cornmeal.
This is your cake mix, which you can keep in a sealed container for several months until you are ready to make the cake.

To make the cake

Preheat oven to 350
Grease the sides and bottom of two 9 inch baking pans or one 13x9 inch pan.
Lightly flour pans.
Blend dry cake mix with the water, oil, and eggs in a large bowl on low speed until moistened.
Increase to medium speed and beat for two minutes.
Pour batter into pans and bake for 30-33 minutes for 9 inch pan, 35-38 minutes for 13x9 pan. Cupcakes take 19-22 minutes.