Lizzies Strawberry Cupcakes Recipes

STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line muffin pans with paper liners.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the granulated sugar, gelatin, butter and cream cheese. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and rum. Combine the flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the milk and strawberries until the batter is smooth. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. The cupcakes are done when they spring back to the touch. Let cool.
• For the strawberry frosting: In a medium bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese. Add the confectioners' sugar, rum and strawberry extract.
• For the strawberry filling: Cut the strawberries into small pieces and place into a medium saucepan. Add the sugar and bring to a light boil. Once the filling begins to boil, turn off the heat, add the rum and let sit for 10 minutes to cool.
• To assemble: Core out the center of the cupcakes and fill with strawberry filling. Then cover the tops of the cupcakes with the strawberry frosting.

BLUSHING STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (24-count) mini muffin tins with paper liners.
• In a blender combine the strawberries (reserve about 12 small strawberries for garnish, slicing each into 4) with 1/4 cup water and puree until smooth. Puree should equal about 1 3/4 cups, if not add more water. Set aside 1/4 cup of the puree for frosting.
• In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, and 1 1/2 cups of pureed strawberries for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of bowl to make sure all the batter is well incorporated. Using a mini ice-cream scoop, fill the muffin tins about 3/4 of the way to the top. Bake until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the tins from the oven cool slightly before removing the muffins. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
• Frosting: In a mixing bowl that fits over the top of a pot of boiling water, combine all of the ingredients, except the vanilla and food coloring. Beat with hand mixer on medium speed, while mixture cooks, until peaks are formed when the beaters are lifted out of the bowl, about 7 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and add vanilla and red food coloring to the desired pink shade. Frost the cupcakes with the colored frosting and garnish each with a strawberry slice.

STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES WITH LEMON ZEST CREAM CHEESE ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line 14 cupcake cups with paper liners.
• To make strawberry puree, pulse frozen strawberries in blender or food processor until evenly chopped. Add 2 tablespoons water, honey, 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, and sugar. Blend until smooth.
• Beat cake mix, 1 cup water, eggs, and vegetable oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened; increase mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes. Beat lemon zest into batter. Fill prepared cupcake cups 2/3 full. Drop a spoonful of strawberry puree into the center of each portion of cupcake batter.
• Bake cupcakes in preheated oven until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 18 to 22 minutes. A toothpick inserted near the center should come out clean. Let cupcakes cool for at least 30 minutes.
• To make icing, place cream cheese and butter in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix in confectioners' sugar; blend in vanilla extract, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Refrigerate icing until cupcakes are cool enough to frost. Frost cooled cupcakes with icing.