Delicious Strawberry Cupcakes & Strawberry Frosting

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup fresh strawberries, sliced in half
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• 3 tablespoons fresh strawberries, pureed
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 dash salt

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350'.
• 2 using cupcake liners, place 12 liners in a muffin pan and set to the side.
• 3 in a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt and set a side.
• 4 in a food processor or blender add strawberries and process until pureed.
• 5 empty pureed strawberries into a 1/3c measuring cup and set aside. add rest of strawberry puree to a small bowl and set aside to use in the frosting.
• 6 using a electric mixer with bowl, cream butter on medium high speed until lightly fluffy.
• 7 gradually add sugar and continue to mix until well blended. reduce speed to low and slowly add one egg and egg whites and mix until lightly blended.
• 8 add vanilla extract if using.
• 9 mix together milk and 1/3c strawberry puree.
• 10 alternate flour and milk mixture to mixer slowly ending with flour. scrap down sides of bowl and continue to blend well.
• 11 using a ice cream scoop or tablespoon, add batter to prepared muffin cups.
• 12 bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• 13 cool cupcakes completely on a wire rack before adding the frosting.
• 14 to make the strawberry frosting:.
• 15 using a electric mixer with bowl, add 1 cup butter (soften) and salt and blend on medium high until fluffy.
• 16 reduce speed to low and add powdered sugar and blend well.
• 17 add vanilla extract and 3tbs of the strawberry puree, blend well.
• 18 using a knife frost the cupcakes and top with decorative candies.