Strawberry Cupcakes

By critty

Ingredients

• White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
• 2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup strawberry Nesquik powder
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 large eggs
• 3 large egg whites
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup strawberry applesauce
• 2 tsp vanilla extract (I used vanilla bean paste)
• 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 6 oz white chocolate, melted and cooled

Details

Adapted from myadventuresinthecountry.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°. Line 28 muffin cups with cupcakes liners. Set aside. Combine the flour, sugar, strawberry Nesquik, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of an electric stand mixer and whisk to remove any lumps. Next, add the softened butter and mix until mixture becomes crumbly. Increase the speed of the mixer and continue to mix until the crumbs start to cling together. The mixture may or may not completely combine to form a paste and that's okay. Mine did not.

Add the eggs and egg whites, one at a time, mixing well after each addition, being sure to scrape the bowl as you work. Next, beat in the sour cream, applesauce, and vanilla. Mix until fluffy, but do not over mix.

Using a medium to large cookie scoop, place batter into lined muffin tins. Bake in 350° oven for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes before removing from cupcake pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Once cooled, frost with white chocolate buttercream and top with chocolate covered strawberry, if desired.

White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
Melt the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. I use 30 second intervals at 50% power and my chocolate is usually melted in about a minute. Set aside to cool. Meanwhile, cream the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Slowly add the cooled white chocolate and mix until frosting is smooth and creamy.