Ingredients
- Cupcake:
- 1 package (18-1/4 oz) cake mix, plain white or yellow
- 1 package (3 oz) strawberry gelatin
- 1 cup finely chopped, fresh strawberries, with juice, from 1-1/2 cups whole berries
- 3/4 cup milk
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- Frosting:
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, reduced-fat, at room temperature
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, unsalted, at room temperature
- 3 cups (up to 3 1/2 cups) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 1/2 cups (fresh) strawberries, mashed and drained (3/4 cup hulled berries)
- Sprinkles, pink and white, for garnish (optional)
- 24 slices strawberry, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Step 1
Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners. Combine cake mix, gelatin, strawberries and juice, milk, oil and eggs in large mixing bowl. Blend with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Stop machine and scrape down sides of bowl. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping down sides again if needed. Spoon about 1/3 cup batter into each lined cupcake cup, filling it 3/4 full. (You will get between 22 and 24 cupcakes; remove empty liners, if any.). Place pans side by side in oven. Bake until cupcakes are lightly golden and spring back when pressed gently with finger, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven, place pans on wire racks to cool for 5 minutes, then remove cupcakes to wire racks to cool for another 15 minutes.
*Frosting:*
Blend cream cheese and butter in large mixing bowl with electric mixer on low speed until combined, 30 seconds. Stop mixer and add 3 cups confectioners’ sugar and mashed strawberries. Mix on low speed until incorporated, 1 minute. Increase speed to medium and blend until frosting is fluffy, 30 to 45 seconds longer, adding up to 1/2 cup more sugar if needed to get a spreadable consistency.
Place a heaping tablespoon of frosting on each cupcake and swirl to spread it out with back of spoon. Refrigerate, uncovered, until frosting sets, 20 minutes. Decorate with sprinkles and strawberry slices, if desired.