Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

Imported from my old blog - sparrow.nu. My cousins Lynne and David came over this weekend to make cupcakes again. This may become a weekly tradition. We decided to do a recipe that called for fresh strawberries. This was a nice, light recipe and neither the strawberries or sugar were overwhelming.

Ingredients

• 1 pint of strawberries
• 1 and 1/4 cup sugar
• 1.5 cups all-purpose-flour, sifted
• 1.5 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup milk (2% or whole)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. Strawberry Syrup:
• Part 1: slice strawberries into halves and place in a bowl with 1/4 cup sugar - refrigerate for 1 - 2 hours. Then puree in a food processor or mash into a pulp (fork or potato masher). 
• Part 2: Refrigerate for another 1-2 hours. 
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
3. In a bowl designated for dry ingredients, mix together 1 cup sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix together with whisk, set aside.
4. In a separate bowl designated for wet ingredients, mix eggs, butter, milk and vanilla extract. Beat in low just to combine. 
5. Next, add dry ingredients 1/4 cup at a time into the wet ingredients. Beat on medium speed between additions to combine until batter is light and fluffy. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides and mix again to ensure everything is well combined.
6. Line your cupcake tray with paper cupcake liners. Fill the cupcake liners 1/3rd full with cupcake batter ensuring the entire bottom surface is covered. Next add a spoon-full of strawberry syrup, then add another 1/3rd of batter on top. 
7. Bake for 15 minutes or until cake tester/toothpick comes out dry. 
8. Allow to cool completely BEFORE icing. 

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese
• 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 2 cups icing sugar
• Strawberry syrup (see step 1 in directions above). 

Directions

1. Beat cream cheese, 2tbsp of strawberry syrup and butter together on low speed just to combine. 
2. Add icing sugar 1/4 cup at a time until light and fluffy.
3. Ice cupcakes once cupcakes have been completely cooled. 

** You can choose to use whole strawberries to garnish your cupcakes. 

Recipe adapted from Tasty Kitchen.

Illustrated Instructions for Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes 

A 1M Wilton frosting tip was used to create these "roses".