Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes 🍓🧁
Ingredients:
4 large eggs 🥚
1 cup diced ripe strawberries 🍓
1 box strawberry cake mix 📦
1 3.4 oz package instant cheesecake pudding mix 🍰
1 3.4 oz instant strawberry pudding mix 🍓
1 cup Cool Whip, thawed from an 8 oz container 🍦
1 cup milk 🥛
5-6 cups powdered sugar 🍬
4 oz cream cheese, softened 🧀
1/2 cup shortening 🧈
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 🧈
1/4 cup oil 🛢️
Pinch of salt 🧂
1 tsp vanilla extract 🌱
1 tsp strawberry extract 🍓
24 whole strawberries 🍓
48 graham cracker cookie sticks 🍪
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 325°F and line your muffin tins with 24 cupcake liners.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, instant strawberry pudding mix, oil, milk, and eggs. Beat everything together on medium speed for about 2 minutes until it's well blended.
3. Spoon the batter into the muffin tins, filling each liner about two-thirds full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops spring back when touched. Once they’re done, let the cupcakes cool on a wire rack.
4. While the cupcakes are cooling, let's whip up that cheesecake filling! In a separate small bowl, whisk together the milk and cheesecake pudding mix until it thickens. In another bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until it’s nice and smooth, then blend in the pudding mixture until combined. Finally, fold in the Cool Whip until it's all smooth and creamy.
5. Grab a cupcake corer or a small knife and cut out a small circle from the center of each cooled cupcake. Fill each cupcake center with that decadent cheesecake filling. Pop the filled cupcakes into the refrigerator to chill while you make the frosting.
6. For the strawberry buttercream, beat the shortening and softened butter together in a bowl until creamy and fluffy. Add in the salt, vanilla, and strawberry extract, mixing until it's all combined.
7. Gradually add in half of the powdered sugar, mixing until it’s fully incorporated and smooth.
8. Puree the diced strawberries in a food processor—adding a tablespoon of water if needed to help it blend easier. Mix that strawberry puree into the buttercream until it's creamy, then add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until it’s light and fluffy.
9. Now it's time to assemble! Use a large piping bag fitted with an icing tip (like 1M) to swirl that delicious strawberry frosting on top of each cupcake.
10. Before serving, don’t forget to top each cupcake with a fresh strawberry and two graham cracker cookie sticks for extra flair! Keep refrigerated until you're ready to enjoy!
Enjoy your delicious Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes!