White Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes
Serves | Total Time |
---|---|
14-15 | 27 minutes |
Ingredients - Cake
- 0.25 cup strawberry purée
- 207 g cake flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 0.25 tsp baking soda
- 0.25 tsp salt
- 115 g unsalted butter
- 200 g granulated sugar
- 3 egg whites
- 60 g sour cream
- 1.5 tsp vanilla
- 80 ml milk
Ingredients - Frosting
- 25 g freeze-dried strawberries
- 170 g white chocolate
- 230 g unsalted butter
- 240 g confectioners' sugar
- 2 Tbsp heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 0.13 tsp salt
- some white chocolate covered strawberry (optional)
Cookware
- 1 12-cup muffin pan
- 1 cupcake liners
- 1 handheld or stand mixer
- 1 rubber spatula
- 1 double boiler
- 1 blender or food processor
- 1 Wilton 8B piping tip
Instructions - Cake
Step 1
Make the reduced 1/2 cup of strawberry purée by simmering 1/2 lb (227 g) of strawberries on low to medium heat for 20 minutes, or until you have a half of cup. Allow it to cool completely.
Step 2
Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. Line a second pan with 2-3 liners – this recipe makes 14-15 cupcakes. Set aside.
Step 3
Whisk the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
Step 4
Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamed, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Beat in the egg whites on high speed until combined, about 2 minutes. Beat in the sour cream and vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients until just incorporated. With the mixer still running on low, slowly pour and mix in the milk just until combined. Do not overmix. Whisk in 1/4 cup of reduced strawberry puree, making sure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl. Batter will be slightly thick.
Step 5
Pour/spoon the batter into the liners. Fill only 2/3 full to avoid baking over the sides. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. For around 35 mini cupcakes, bake for about 11 to 13 minutes, same oven temperature.
Step 6
Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting. Time saving tip: When the cupcakes are almost finished cooling, melt the white chocolate used for the frosting. You can melt it in a double boiler or use the microwave. I melt it in the microwave in 20 second increments, stopping and stirring after each. Let it cool down for 15 minutes before using in the frosting in the next step.
Instructions - Frosting
Step 7
Make the frosting: Using a blender or food processor, process the freeze-dried strawberries into a powdery crumb. You should have around 1/2 cup. Set aside. In a large bowl using a hand-held or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the unsalted butter for 1 minute on high speed until completely smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners' sugar, strawberry powder, melted and cooled white chocolate, 2 Tablespoons heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt and beat on medium-high speed until combined and creamy. Add 2 more Tablespoons of heavy cream to slightly thin out, if desired. Taste, then add another pinch of salt if desired.
Step 8
Frost cooled cupcakes and serve. I used Wilton 8B piping tip and nestled a white chocolate covered strawberry (optional) in the center.
Step 9
Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Tip
If desired, add a drop or 2 of pink or red food coloring to brighten the color of the cupcakes and/or frosting. I added 1 drop of "dusty rose" gel food coloring to the cupcake batter and to the frosting.