Strawberries & Cream Valentine's Day Cupcakes

Before you stick your nose up & think, "That's just a strawberry cupcake!"  Think again!  I make this recipe EVERY year for valentines day.  You can even buy the heart shaped pans & do a double layer heart cake for your lover.  My hubby freaks out if I haven't bought the ingredients for this cake as February rolls around.  This cake is so moist, so fruity & matched with the cream cheese frosting speckled of strawberries, it's a match made in heaven!  Try to eat just one of these!  I dare you!  Great for parties or kids' valentine's treats as well.

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Strawberries & Cream Valentine Cupcakes

Recipe by: Amber (Dessert Now, Dinner Later!)

Cake:

• 1 pkg Pillsbury White Cake Mix
• 1-3oz pkg strawberry gelatin dessert
• 4 large eggs
• 2/3 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 3/4 (16oz) pkg frozen whole strawberries (no sugar added) pureed (save 2 Tbsp for frosting)
• 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour

Strawberries & Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1-8oz pkg Neufchatel Cream Cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 Tbsp frozen whole strawberries (no sugar added) pureed
• 2 cups powdered sugar

1. For cake: Mix all ingredients in a large bowl with a hand blender for 2 minutes on medium speed.  Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full of batter; do not overfill.  Bake at 350*F for 25-30 min or until they spring back when touched.  (** If making two 8" or 9" rounds, bake for 35 min, if doing a large 9x13 pan, bake 45 min)
2. For frosting: Whip cream cheese with butter until all lumps are gone & it's nice & creamy.  Add strawberry puree until just combined (it's a small amount to give it a slight pink hugh.)  Add powdered sugar all at once & blend until just combined.  Do not overmix.  Keep in fridge until ready to frost cooled cupcakes.
3. When cupcakes are cooled, pipe frosting & sprinkle with sugar crystals or garnish with a sliced strawberry.  Keep refrigerated.  

Makes 24 cupcakes

Before you stick your nose up & think, "That's just a strawberry cupcake!"  Think again!  I make this recipe EVERY year for valentines day.  You can even buy the heart shaped pans & do a double layer heart cake for your lover.  My hubby freaks out if I haven't bought the ingredients for this cake as February rolls around.  This cake is so moist, so fruity & matched with the cream cheese frosting speckled of strawberries, it's a match made in heaven!  Try to eat just one of these!  I dare you!  Great for parties or kids' valentine's treats as well.

Pin It

Strawberries & Cream Valentine Cupcakes

Recipe by: Amber (Dessert Now, Dinner Later!)

Cake:

• 1 pkg Pillsbury White Cake Mix
• 1-3oz pkg strawberry gelatin dessert
• 4 large eggs
• 2/3 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 3/4 (16oz) pkg frozen whole strawberries (no sugar added) pureed (save 2 Tbsp for frosting)
• 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour

Strawberries & Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1-8oz pkg Neufchatel Cream Cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 Tbsp frozen whole strawberries (no sugar added) pureed
• 2 cups powdered sugar

1. For cake: Mix all ingredients in a large bowl with a hand blender for 2 minutes on medium speed.  Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full of batter; do not overfill.  Bake at 350*F for 25-30 min or until they spring back when touched.  (** If making two 8" or 9" rounds, bake for 35 min, if doing a large 9x13 pan, bake 45 min)
2. For frosting: Whip cream cheese with butter until all lumps are gone & it's nice & creamy.  Add strawberry puree until just combined (it's a small amount to give it a slight pink hugh.)  Add powdered sugar all at once & blend until just combined.  Do not overmix.  Keep in fridge until ready to frost cooled cupcakes.
3. When cupcakes are cooled, pipe frosting & sprinkle with sugar crystals or garnish with a sliced strawberry.  Keep refrigerated.  

Makes 24 cupcakes