Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a cupcake pan with 12 paper baking cups.
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. (If you have an electric mixer, cream the butter and the sugar on medium speed for about three minutes.)
Mix in the eggs and the vanilla.
In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together until well combined.
Add the dry ingredients to the batter in thirds, alternately with two additions of milk, until just combined.
Scoop the batter into the paper baking cups in the cupcake pan.
Bake for 20 minutes, rotating the cupcake pan halfway through baking, in the centre of the oven.
Place the cupcakes on a wire rack to cool completely.