Pretty in Pink

My nickname as a little girl was Princess. My favorite color is purple. I love all things glittery. Ruffles make an outfit special. Needless to say, I've always been a girly girl. So when I saw these sweet little cupcakes I knew they were destined to sit in my kitchen. Plus, including strawberries in the buttercream counts as healthy, right? Well, maybe not. But these are still delicate and delicious nonetheless. I could see them sitting on one of my antique cake platters at a baby shower for a little girl. Now to find someone who's having a baby...

This recipe is from Sophistimom, and goes something like this:

vanilla bean cupcakes

1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

1 stick butter, melted

1 egg

1/4 cup sour cream (I used Greek yogurt instead)

3/4 cup milk

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

seeds scraped from one vanilla bean (these can always be left out, and the cupcakes will still be delicious)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard muffin tin with cupcake liners. Combine all ingredients in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Fill cupcake liners slightly more then halfway full.

2. Bake for 15 minutes, or until center cupcakes bounce back when touched. Transfer to a wire 

rack and let cool completely. Frost with strawberry buttercream.

strawberry buttercream

3 large strawberries at room temperature

1 stick butter, at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3-4 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon heavy cream (I used Greek yogurt for this as well)

In a food processor, pulse strawberries until pureed. Add in butter and vanilla, and about 2 cups of the sugar. Pulse until well combined. Incorporate cream. Add in small amounts of powdered sugar, pulsing after each addition, to reach the desired consistency. Frosting should be smooth and soft, yet hold its shape.

Nothing too difficult, as you can see. And with a hand-held mixer, making that buttercream was a snap. Just be sure to let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting them or the buttercream will get melty and slide right off. So go put on your frilly apron and high heels, put on a pot of tea, and make these pretty cupcakes to channel your inner girly girl!