So the minute I saw this blogger's post for these strawberry cheese cake inspired cuppycakes, i knew i would have to bake them for sure. (As did half of the internet.) Because they just looked ridiculously delicious. So i saved the page and waited for a good time. Obviously a good time meant the first time i used my handy dandy stand mixer.
They're all over the internet, and i can see why. So pretty! Taste wise, i'd bake them again but they aren't my favorites. I prefer my own strawberry-strawberry cupcakes, but they are still SUPER yummy. I love strawberries! So sad to see the season ending though.
I get so excited when im about to start baking and i lay everything out, and then measure out ingredients. I guess everyone has their secret nerdiness. At least my nerdiness fills tummies? I only wish that i had a nifty 1k camera that would magically take awesome pictures for me too. Maybe one day.
Graham Cracker Crust
(preheat oven to 350)
1.5 packets of graham crackers, crumbled
1.5 sticks of non salted butter
Crush up the graham crackers (rolling pin in a ziplock)! Add melted butter (minute and half in the microwave) and squish between your (super clean) hands.
Line 2 muffin pans with liners. I chose red today. And i say chose because this is what i look at each day i bake. I love pretty liners <3
One tablespoon of the mixture goes into each cupcake liner. Smush down.
Put into oven around 4 minutes, or until the grahams start turning brown. Remove and set aside.
Vanilla Cake with Strawberries
Makes 24, exactly
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1,5 sticks of unsalted butter, room temp
1 cup + 2 Tbs sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
4 large eggs, room temp
2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled & coarsely chopped (approx one 16 oz container, minus 6 medium/small strawberries used later for topping).
In a larger bowl, crack open your eggs and separate the egg whites. This is what you want. This is actually the first time i tried doing this. I was bad. hahaha. Next time ill just buy egg whites in a carton. Less messy.
Beat the eggwhites for about 4 minutes. You will see them go from liquid, to bubbly, to thick foam. Once they have "glossy peaks" you stop beating. Im still working on this. But it's amazing how quickly eggs can change their property!
Next, in a large bowl cream together butter and sugar. This was when the stand mixer came out!!! Awesome. Beat until fluffy.
Add vanilla. Add 1/2 the flour, then 1/2 the yogurt, then the remaining flour and remaining yogurt. Beat on low in between these additions. The mixture looks a little dry, but don't worry that will change.
Stop the mixer and manually fold in the egg whites. Don't mix, fold in. Lastly, fold in the 2 cups of strawberries.
Throw them in the oven for about 15-20 minutes. Keep an eye on them! Remove when done.
Stare at them and have a difficult battle with yourself as you tell yourself you cannot shove them in your mouth, they just came out of the oven and they need to cool.
Cream Cheese Frosting
1.5 package (12 oz) cream cheese
1 stick unsalted butter at room temp
2.5 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cream together butter and cream cheese. Add vanilla. Slowly add powdered sugar.
Once the cupcakes are cooled, frost the tops with the cream cheese.
1/2 a graham cracker, crumbled (one will be enough for all 24)
6 strawberries, cut into fours
Now take your frosted cupcake...
Add a sprinkle of graham cracker "dust"...
And a strawberry slice to finish it off.
Now give it lots of friends.
As a bonus, these cupcakes are pretty on the outside AND the inside. They're the Miss America of Cupcakes, i think. Layers of graham crackers, strawberries and frosting. Nom.
This one is cut in half to show off that pretty but let's be real. No one eats just half of one, right?
I brought these to my gym this morning. Haha. Yes my gym. My boxing instructor ate 3.5 during my one hour work out. And got on one knee. Just saying. All in all, a job well done my friends. Made yummy cupcakes and i finally got to break in that new mixer!!!
xoxo,
Anna
P.S. OH, also, while putting groceries away this weekend I found a container of cajeta in the fridge. I think it was a secret calling that I need to get on those tres leches cupcakes (or ANY cupcakes) and somehow incorporate cajeta in it as well. Cajeta is a delicious, thick Mexican caramel. Gotta use it on something! Hopefully I can get those out for my mom's birthday before i leave on vacation. Stay tuned! update// finally made them 4 months later: Cajeta Tres Leches Cupcakes.
