Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes!

For Easter I made a decadent Strawberry Champagne cake, and I thought I would make the cake again, but in cupcake form. The secretary in my office was honored today for being spectacular (she really is), and I thought I would contribute to the celebration with these decadent cupcakes. Everyone loved them! Laurie, who doesn't usually like a fruit or berry treat, told me that these cupcakes are point worthy! She is on Weight Watchers (and looks phenomenal), so every point counts! That was most certainly an honor to hear. And, at the request of Matti, I shall now post the recipe I used. I hope you make these and enjoy them as much as I did! :)

Gorgeous Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes!

 Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes

Makes 12 cupcakes

½ cup (1 stick) butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 ½ cups cake flour

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

¼ cup champagne

¼ cup pureed strawberries

½ tsp vanilla extract

¾ cup chopped fresh strawberries

2 egg whites

Cream butter and sugar until light and smooth. Add the egg and mix until completely incorporated.

In a separate bowl combine and sift the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a dish combine the puree and champagne. Alternate adding the flour and strawberry mixtures to the butter mixture. Start and end with flour for a fluffy cake. Add the vanilla. Add the strawberries mixing until just incorporated. Fold in half the egg whites, then fold in the remainder.

I like to put the batter into a piping bag to fill the cupcake tins. Batter should reach just over ¾ of the tin.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

1 cup butter

1 package (2 pounds) powdered sugar

heaping 1/3 cup pureed strawberries

1 tsp vanilla

chocolate shavings for garnish

Cream the butter until light and fluffy. With continuous mixing, add a bit of the powdered sugar (add some of the strawberry puree if it gets too thick). Keep adding the sugar in small increments until completely blended with the butter. Add the remainder of the strawberry puree and the vanilla. If the frosting is still thick, add some champagne! Add chocolate shavings on top of the frosted cupcake for a decadent treat!

Ready for the office!

 These cupcakes were truly decadent. There are a lot of strawberries, but the flavor is mild. The chocolate garnish not only makes the final product pretty, but perfectly compliments the floral tones throughout the cupcake. 

Happy baking!