Strawberry Surprise Cupcakes Recipes

STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Push the strawberry puree through a metal sieve to remove the seeds (this is optional for the cupcake batter).
• Add the strawberry puree to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir gently as the puree comes to a gentle boil. Boil for about 10-15 minutes while stirring, until the puree has reduced to about 1/3 of its original volume - 1/4 cup. Cool fully.
• Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and line muffin pans with muffin papers. You'll end up with about 18 cupcakes total.
• In a medium bowl whisk together the cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• In a large bowl beat the butter and sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes). Beat in the egg and egg white 1 at a time.
• In a liquid measuring cup, whisk together 1/4 cup of reduced strawberry puree, the vanilla extract, and buttermilk.
• Beat about 1/3 of the flour mixture into the butter mixture, alternating with about 1/3 of the buttermilk mixture. Repeat the process until all the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture are added.
• Gently fold the chopped strawberries into the cupcake batter using a rubber spatula.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan, filling each muffin paper about 2/3 to 3/4 full.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 16-19 minutes, or until the tops are set and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• Push the strawberry puree through a metal sieve to remove the seeds. (This is recommended for the frosting).
• Add the strawberry puree to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir gently as the puree comes to a gentle boil. Boil for about 15 minutes while stirring until the puree is thick like jam.
• Remove the pan from the heat and cool the puree fully. I typically put it in the fridge or freezer to speed up the process.
• In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the butter until fluffy (about 3 minutes).
• Turn the mixer down to low speed and beat in 2 cups of powdered sugar, turning the mixer up to medium speed as you incorporate the sugar.
• Beat in 2 tablespoons of the thick, jam-like strawberry puree. **It must be completely cold before adding to the butter, otherwise, your frosting can separate and get watery.
• Beat in the rest of the powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time until the desired sweetness is reached.
• If the frosting seems too thick, beat in a little cream about 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
• Optionally, mix in the red food coloring.
• Frost the cooled cupcakes with a knife, or transfer the frosting to a piping bag and pipe the cupcakes. (I used a 1M tip).

REAL STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Spray cupcake cups with cooking spray, or line with cupcake liners.
• Place 8 strawberries into a blender, and blend until smooth. Pour the puree through a strainer to remove seeds. Puree should equal about 3/4 cup. Set the puree aside.
• In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, white sugar, vegetable oil, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, lemon zest, and strawberry puree until well combined. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla pudding mix (for a moister cupcake), and red food coloring to reach a desired shade of pink. Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake cups, filling each about 2/3 full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cupcakes have risen and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 23 minutes. Allow the cupcakes to cool at least 10 minutes before frosting.
• To make frosting, beat cream cheese and butter together in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until smooth, and mix in confectioners' sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to make a lump-free icing. Frost each cupcake with about 2 tablespoons of icing, and top each cupcake with a strawberry slice.

STRAWBERRY SURPRISE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, sour cream and eggs. Beat on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium 2 minutes., Fill prepared cups half full. Drop 1/2 teaspoon preserves into center of each cupcake; cover with remaining batter., Bake until a toothpick inserted in the cake portion comes out clean, 22-27 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely., Pipe frosting over cupcakes and top each with a strawberry half.

STRAWBERRY-ORANGE SURPRISE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350. Line tweleve 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups. Coat cups with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
• In a bowl, gently stir together diced strawberries and orange marmalade; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk, sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture. Whisk just until combined. Add finely shredded orange peel and gently stir.
• Spoon 1/2 of the batter into prepared muffin cups. Evenly spoon strawberry mixture over batter in muffin cups. Bake 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean. Cool in muffin cups on a wire rack.
• Frost cooled cupcakes with frosting. Store frosted cupcakes in refrigerator. Garnish with orange peel strips and fresh strawberry slices before serving.
• Orange Cream Cheese Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat Neufchatel with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in greek yogurt. Stir in marmalade (frosting will thin slightly). If desired, tint frosting pink with a few drops red food coloring. Cover and chill frosting 4-24 hours before piping on cakes.