About
Is there anything more lovely than Valentine's Day Cupcakes? Rosy, tender, and sweet strawberry-flavored morsels make for a romantic gesture and a brilliant dessert! Topped with a cloud of fluffy whipped cream frosting, Valentine's Day Cupcakes are truly the heart and soul of the holiday!
Ingredients
- For the cupcakes:
- 1/2 cup seedless strawberry jam or preserves, warmed
- 1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large egg whites, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- red food coloring, optional, to taste
- For the frosting:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- fresh strawberries, optional, to taste, halved, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 -Line a 16-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
Step 3 -Strain the warmed jam through a fine-mesh strainer and discard the pulp.
Step 4 -In a large bowl, add the butter and the granulated sugar and use an electric handheld mixer to beat until light and fluffy, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 5 -Add the egg whites, 1 at a time, to the butter mixture and beat well after each addition.
Step 6 -Add the strained jam and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla to the butter mixture and beat to combine.
Step 7 -In a small bowl, add the milk and the sour cream and whisk until smooth.
Step 8 -In a separate bowl, add the flour, the baking powder, the baking soda, and the salt and whisk to combine.
Step 9 -In thirds and alternating between the two, add the flour mixture and the milk mixture to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition to create a batter.
Step 10 -Add about 4 drops of the red food coloring to the batter and stir gently to combine.
Step 11 -Fill each of the prepared muffin cups about 3/4 full each.
Step 12 -Bake the cupcakes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes.
Step 13 -Allow the cupcakes to cool in the muffin tin for 10 minutes.
Step 14 -Transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 15 -In a large bowl, add the heavy cream and by hand or using an electric handheld mixer, beat until slightly thickened.
Step 16 -Add the confectioners' sugar and the remaining vanilla to the whipped cream and beat until the cream thickens to stiff peaks.
Step 17 -Dollop or pipe the frosting over the cupcakes.
Step 18 -Top the cupcakes with the fresh strawberries and serve.
