By this time, reading my all previous baking related blogs, one must have got how much I love combining fruits in baking. Here is a new recipe of strawberry cupcakes, which is definitely unique since it does not involve jell-o but actual strawberry puree.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup chopped or diced strawberries
• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature (divided into 4 & 3 tablespoons)
• 2/3^rd cup sugar
• 1 ½ cup all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ½ tablespoon curd / 1 egg
• 8 oz cream cheese
• ½ cup confectioner’s sugar

 Procedure:

• Preheat oven at 375º F/ 190º C.
• In a skillet, preferably cast iron, heat 4 tablespoons of butter. Once it starts melting, add strawberries and sugar. On medium low flame, let the mixture boil for 15-20 minutes. If you prefer strawberry chunks in cupcake then mash it lightly. If you do not prefer chunks then let the mixture cool down and then grind it in a blender.
• Now add all purpose flour, baking soda and baking powder in this mixture and mix it well with the help of spatula.
• Pour the batter in cupcake liners and bake till it passes the knife test.
• Now before preparing frosting, make sure that the cream cheese and butter are at room temperature. In a large bowl, mash cream cheese with the help of spatula and then add butter and confectioner’s sugar. Mix it with hand mixer on medium speed till you get desired consistency.
• Let the cupcakes completely cool down before you start decorating them with the frosting.