Strawberry Cupcakes With Strawberry Buttercream

marthastewart.com/more-cupcakes

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 34

Ingredients

• ingredients for cupcake

• 2 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup cake flour (not self-rising)
• 1  tablespoon baking powder
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 8  ounces unsalted butter, softened
• 2 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 3  large  eggs plus 1 large  egg whites
• 1  cup  whole milk
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2  cups  finely chopped strawberries, plus small strawberries for garnish

• Ingredients for Strawberry Buttercream

• 4  large  egg whites, room temperature
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 3⁄4 lb unsalted butter, softened, cut into small pieces
• 1 1⁄2 cups fresh strawberries, pureed

Directions

1. Directions for Cupcakes:
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.
3. Reduce speed to low. Mix milk & vanilla in a bowl. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with wet ingredients and ending with dry; stir chopped strawberries into batter. Scrape sides of bowl. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Once cupcakes are cool, frost tops with strawberry buttercream. Frosted cupcakes will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 2 days. Top with a strawberry just before serving.
4. Directions for Strawberry Buttercream:
5. Place whites and sugar in a heatproof mixer bowl set over a pot of simmering water. Whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture registers 160 degrees on a candy thermometer.
6. Remove from heat, and attach bowl to a mixer. Whisk on medium speed for 5 minutes. Increase speed to medium-high, and whisk until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 6 minutes. Reduce speed to medium, and add butter, 1 piece at a time, whisking well after each addition.
7. Switch to a paddle attachment. With mixer on low, add strawberry puree, and beat until smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. Use immediately, or cover, and refrigerate for up to 3 days. (Bring to room temperature, and beat on low speed until smooth before using.).