Strawberry^2 Cupcakes

Macerated Strawberries

• 1 carton (16 oz) of strawberries, sliced in half
• ¼ cup of sugar

1. Mix strawberries and sugar in a container and have them sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, preferably 24 hours.
2. Blend the macerated strawberries

Strawberry Cupcakes

Ingredients

        Makes 24 cupcakes

• 3 cups of flour
• 2 cups of sugar
• 2 tsp of baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup of unsalted butter, softened
• 4 large eggs
• ½ cup of milk
• ½ of the macerated strawberries blend
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. And line cupcake tins.
2. In a large bowl, Cream butter until smooth. Add sugar slowly and continue beating until thoroughly blended and fluffy.
3. Add eggs 1 at a time and mix thoroughly
4. In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking powder and salt.
5. Add the flour mixture in 4 parts to butter mixture, mixing thoroughly each time.  Halfway through adding flour mixture add milk, vanilla and strawberry blend.
6. Fill each of the cupcake tin about 2/4 full with the batter.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Strawberry Buttercream

• 4-6 cups of powder sugar
• ½ cup of butter
• ½ of the macerated strawberries blend
• 1 tbsp of milk

1. Cream butter
2. Add a cup of powder sugar. Mix
3. Add strawberry blend and milk. Mix thoroughly.
4. Add powder sugar until frosting is desired thickness.