PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes


I am so excited that spring is finally upon us. It's been a long winter and I am ready for the sunshine and warmth that the spring brings. And the wonderful produce that comes along with the change of seasons!

One of my favorite things that finally starts showing up in the produce section of the local supermarket is fresh berries! The prices finally lower and I find myself buying whole flats of them. I use them for making fresh homemade jam, jelly, pies...just about anything that I can! So last week when the local market had strawberries at a great price I couldn't help myself from buying bunches of them. And I knew exactly what I was going to use them for (at least the ones that were left over after my husband and son found them in the fridge!)

All winter I have had a recipe rolling around in my head for cupcakes made with fresh berries. (See, I told you I was on a cupcake kick!) I knew that I wanted to use berries in both the cupcake batter and in the frosting and when I finally was able to make the cupcakes I was so very happy with the results. The cupcake itself was so light and fresh tasting, while the frosting turned out tasting like a strawberry milkshake! I hope you enjoy it!

Strawberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Inspired by Paula Deen's Strawberry Cake

Ingredients for Cupcakes
1 package French Vanilla cake mix
1 package strawberry jello (3 oz.)
1 cup of fresh strawberry puree (from 1 1/2 cups whole berries)
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs

Directions for Cupcakes
1. Preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners.
2. Combine the cake mix, gelatin, strawberries and juice, milk, oil and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping down sides if needed.
3. Spoon about 1/3 cup batter into each lined cupcake cup, filling it 3/4 full.
4. Bake until cupcakes are lightly golden and spring back when pressed gently with a finger, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven, place pans on wire racks to cool.

Ingredients for Frosting
1 8 oz. package of cream cheese at room temperature
4 tablespoons of unsalted
3 cups of powdered sugar
1/2 cup fresh strawberry puree (about 3/4 cup fresh berries)

Instructions for Frosting
1. Blend cream cheese and butter in large mixing bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until combined, about 2 minutes.
2. Slowly add in 3 cups powdered sugar and the mashed strawberries. Mix on low speed until incorporated.  Increase speed to medium and blend until frosting is fluffy...about 1 minute. You may need to add up to 1/2 cup more sugar, if needed, to get a spreadable consistency.
3. Refrigerate, uncovered, until frosting sets, 20 minutes.

I frosted my cupcakes just using a disposable pastry bag with the tip cut off. (I couldn't find my large round tip!) You can also decorate with sprinkles and strawberry slices, if desired.

I am linking this up to: Idea Sharing Wednesday, Make It Yours Day, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Show & Tell, Creative Share Wednesday, What I Whipped Up Wednesday, Wicked Awesome Wednesday, Cupcake Tuesday, Fireflies & Jelly Beans, Transformation Thursdays, Strut Your Stuff, It's a Keeper Thursday, Recipe Swap Thursdays,  Sweet Tooth Friday, Whipperberry, Foodie Friday, It's a Hodgepodge Friday, Tidy Mom, Friday Potluck, Friday Favorites, Foodie Friday , Feature Yourself Friday 

19 comments:

  1. These look so yummy! I am excited for our strawberry farm to open and bake these up. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the idea of using fresh strawberry puree!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks beautiful and I love that you pureed some Strawberry for this. I bet my youngest would flip for this because she has been asking for strawberries every day, hahaha!

    ReplyDelete
  4. yummy! I will have to try this recipe out. really great. I saw you on something creative everyday.

    -kathryn
    www.thedragonsfairytail.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. These look amazing! I made a strawberry cake last week and my husband ate the whole thing in one night:) Thakns so much for sharing this and linking up:)

    xoxo Hanna

    ReplyDelete
  6. yummmm! thanks for linking this up to our blog party.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can turn down many sweets,
    but STRAWBERRY gets me everytime!

    LOVE IT

    please stop by and say hi
    www.itsybitsybrianna.wordpress.com

    xoxo
    bB

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love cupcakes. Those look delicious!

    - Jessa
    www.jessajill.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I absolutly adore ANYTHING made with fresh ingredients and these look SUPERB! Perfect for the upcoming seasons! Great job:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. So yummy! I love strawberries.

    Thanks for linking up with Sweet Tooth Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Amen! I love Spring and I love strawberries too. Can't wait to try this.


    The Farm Girl

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love that this recipe uses fresh strawberries!! Super delicious...thanks for linking up to Foodie Friday! If you haven’t already, make sure to pop back over to enter my GIVEAWAY!!! Entries must be by Sunday evening and a winner will be picked Monday!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. We love strawberries this time of the year..we like cupcakes anytime. These look yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  14. oh, those are the cutest cupcakes! i love that they are fresh strawberry! yum yum yum!

    thanks so much for linking up to mangia mondays!

    -kristin

    http://delightfullydowling.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. So yummy! I am making chocolate covered strawberry cucakes this week. Strawberries are just so fresh I couldn't resist. www.mylifeunzipped.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

I love all comments and read every one I get. Thank you for taking the time to write one!

 
Blog Design by Likely Lola