Easy Strawberry Valentine's Cupcakes
/Love is in the air. What better way to celebrate than with a batch of Easy Valentine's Cupcakes that are as simple to make as they are delicious! The pink strawberry-infused sponge is perfect for Valentine's Day.
Valentine Strawberry And Vanilla Cupcakes.
I love to bake cupcakes for special occasions, and this easy recipe is a great way to impress your guests without spending hours in the kitchen.
These simple strawberry cupcakes are bursting with flavour. Not only do they have a strawberry and vanilla pink sponge but they're also topped with a strawberry preserve buttercream frosting and topped with fresh strawberries.
They’re perfect sweet treats for birthday parties, Valentine’s Day, afternoon tea and any other special occasion you can think of.
Valentine's Day Pink Cupcakes.
These easy homemade cupcakes are made using a classic vanilla sponge. The strawberry flavour comes from adding preserves to the cupcake batter.
The trick to getting the strawberry flavour just right is by using strawberry preserves in both the sponge and buttercream. There's nothing like the combination of sweet strawberries and creamy buttercream.
And don't forget to add a few drops of red gel food colouring to make the perfect Valentine's Day cupcakes.
To make them extra special, top them with fresh strawberries and some heart-shaped pink sprinkles.
Valentine's Day Cupcake Recipes.
1. Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and lining a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside; we'll come back to it shortly.
3. In a separate large bowl, beat together the sugar and vegetable oil until smooth and combined.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, giving them a good beating between each egg.
5. Add in the strawberry preserves and vanilla extract.
6. Slowly introduce the dry ingredients into the mix, beating until everything comes together.
7. Add the buttermilk and 2 to 3 drops of red gel food colouring. Mix until fully combined.
8. Fill each cupcake liner 2/3 of the way full with this strawberry-infused batter.
9. Pop them in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
10. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan until they're safe to touch, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Pink Strawberry Frosting.
While the cupcakes cool, let's prepare the frosting. I prefer to use buttercream frosting but a cream cheese frosting would work just as well.
1. Beat together the softened butter, vanilla extract, and strawberry preserves.
2. Add 2-3 drops of red gel food colouring and beat until mixed.
3. Add the powdered sugar (icing sugar) and milk, then beat until the frosting reaches a smooth and creamy consistency.
4. Fill a piping bag with the strawberry frosting and pipe a swirl on top of each cooled cupcake using a pastry star tip.
5. Top with a freshly sliced strawberry to finish.
And there you have it! Easy Valentine cupcakes served on a platter and ready to impress.
Whether you're making these cupcakes for a romantic evening with your significant other, a class party or a Galantine's Day celebration with friends, they are the perfect way to show them you care.
Tips for Perfect Strawberry Cupcakes.
Room Temperature Ingredients:
Allow eggs, buttermilk, and other refrigerated ingredients to come to room temperature before mixing. This helps achieve a smoother batter and makes your cupcakes moist and fluffy.
Whisk, Don't Overmix:
Whisk the dry ingredients thoroughly but be cautious not to overmix the batter once wet ingredients are added. Overmixing can knock all the air out and lead to dense cupcakes.
Cool Completely.
Make sure your cupcakes are completely cooled before you attempt to frost them. You put so much hard work into that fluffy frosting, that you don’t want it melting!
Store Strategically:
If not serving immediately, store cupcakes in an airtight container to maintain freshness. You can refrigerate if necessary for 5-7 days but bring them to room temperature before serving.
