Valentine’s Day is this week. This week!
So, I decided to do a bit of ‘pink’ baking. How about some delectable vanilla bean cupcakes with fresh strawberry buttercream frosting.
I took the easy quick route by using a box mix of vanilla cake for the cupcakes. I added a few vanilla beans to give the cupcakes extra flavor. Vanilla beans are easy to use and I adore the look of the tiny speckled vanilla beans in the finished product! Easy peasy and oh so good.
Ingredients for cupcakes:
- 1 box of your favorite vanilla (white or yellow) cake mix (my current fav is Pamela’s)
- 2 vanilla beans or 1 teaspoon vanilla paste (I prefer the convenience of vanilla paste)
Directions
- Follow the box directions for mixing cake batter.
- (I’m vegan so I use flax eggs. 1 tablespoon freshly ground flax to 3 tablespoons water.)
- Slice each vanilla bean length wise and carefully scrape out the bean paste.
- Add the bean paste to the cake batter and mix well.
- Bake cupcakes as directed on box.
- Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
I’ve been wanting to try my hand at Fresh Strawberry Butter-Cream Frosting since NY bought me a cupcake with the delectable frosting at a local bake shop.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups butter at room temperature. (I use Earth Balance butter substitute)
- 5 cups organic confectioners sugar
- 1/2 cup fresh pureed strawberries
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Beat 1 1/2 cups butter in large mixing bowl until creamy.
- Mix in 5 cups confectioners sugar 1 cup at a time.
- Add 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract and beat until creamy. It will be quite stiff.
- Add 1/2 cup fresh pureed strawberries.
- Beat to a creamy but semi-stiff consistency.
- You may need to add more confectioners sugar or pureed strawberries for desired consistency.
Now … frost your cupcakes, cake or cookies.
- Cut the tip/corner off a pastry bag or ziploc bag and fit a large cake decorating star tip through the hole.
- Spoon the frosting into the bag.
- Frost the cupcakes (cake or cookies) as desired. Decorate with sprinkles or a chocolate kiss.
Enjoy!
Oh! And Happy Valentine’s Day!
- 1 box vanilla cake mix. Gluten free if preferred.
- 2 vanilla beans
- 1 1/2 cups butter at room temperature
- 5 cups confectioners sugar
- 1/2 cup fresh pureed strawberries
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Follow the box directions for mixing cake batter.
- Slice each vanilla bean length wise and carefully scrape out the bean paste.
- Add the bean paste to the cake batter and mix well.
- Bake cupcakes as directed on box.
- Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
- Beat 1 1/2 cups butter in large mixing bowl until creamy.
- Mix in 5 cups confectioners sugar 1 cup at a time.
- Add 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract and beat until creamy. It will be quite stiff.
- Add 1/2 cup fresh pureed strawberries.
- Beat to a creamy but semi-stiff consistency.
- You may need to add more confectioners sugar or pureed strawberries for desired consistency.
- Cut the tip/corner off a pastry bag or ziploc bag and fit a large cake decorating star tip through the hole.
- Spoon the frosting into the the bag.
- Frost the cupcakes as desired. Decorate with sprinkles or a chocolate kiss.
- Enjoy!
Debra @ A Frugal Friend says
LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Parris S. says
OMG! These look so yummy. I love anything strawberry. My sweet tooth is screaming for a 1/2 dozen right about now!! 🙂
David Fultner says
I love this vanila.
anna says
like to try this
Laurajj says
Oh this looks so yummy! I normally do not make my own, but I have to try this one! My family loves strawberries…..they would really enjoy this!
ellen beck says
Happy Valentines Day! (belated) These look delicious. You take some amazing pictures! I love the way these look and I bet hey taste even better.
Priscilla Pursell says
Looks delicious!
Sara Phillips says
Oh boy! Those sure do look good! And they’d be perfect for Valentine’s day!