For Janette!

Hello, hello! I finally got a new computer battery... and then the charger decided to quit on me. SO, I haven't had access to all of my schtuff, lately. Things have been really busy, but in the middle of it all, I managed to make strawberry cupcakes! Janette asked for the recipe, and like a horrible blogger friend, I'm only now posting it... OOPS! Sorry, Janette!!

This is a Martha Stewart recipe:

• 2/3 cup whole fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/4 cup whole milk, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 2 large egg whites, room temperature

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners; set aside.
2. Place strawberries in a small food processor; process until pureed. You should have about 1/3 cup of puree, add a few more strawberries if necessary or save any extra puree for frosting; set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a small bowl, mix together milk, vanilla, and strawberry puree; set aside.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter on medium-high speed, until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar and continue to beat until well combined and fluffy. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and slowly add egg and egg whites until just blended.
5. With the mixer on low, slowly add half the flour mixture; mix until just blended. Add the milk mixture; mix until just blended. Slowly add remaining flour mixture, scraping down sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary, until just blended.
6. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Transfer muffin tin to oven and bake until tops are just dry to the touch, 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer muffin tin to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool completely in tin before icing.

 ***I would take the cupcakes out sooner than this recipe says to. They were really firm and pretty, but almost too done, in my opinion. I like super moist cupcakes, though. ALSO, whenever I do this next time, I might use a few more strawberries and/or strawberry flavored applesauce. Hmmm... Oh yeah, and I used half-and-half, rather than whole milk.

For frosting:

• 1/2 cup whole frozen strawberries, thawed
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, firm and slightly cold
• Pinch of coarse salt
• 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Place strawberries in the bowl of a small food processor; process until pureed. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and salt on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce mixer speed and slowly add confectioners' sugar; beat until well combined. Add vanilla and 3 tablespoons strawberry puree (save any remaining strawberry puree for another use); mix until just blended. Do not over mix or frosting will incorporate too much air. Frosting consistency should be dense and creamy, like ice cream.

*** I didn't use any salt.. oops. I also doubled the cake recipe, but I kept the frosting recipe the same. I only used HALF of the frosting, so technically... I used a fourth of what the recipe calls for. It really just depends on my how much frosting you want piled up on your cupcakes. This frosting was absolutely DELICIOUS!!!


I have lots more to blog about, but that will just have to wait. I hope everyone has a great week!