Raspberry Cream Cupcakes

Raspberry Cream Cupcakes

The other day I stumbled upon this really old photo of these cupcakes on my computer.  I used to make this recipe all the time for dessert.  It’s always a winner, and has earned a permanent spot in the “desserts” section of my recipe binder.  My recipe binder is full of all my tried and true, most favorite recipes.  (In the future, I’m planning to write a post about how I organize my recipes, so stay tuned!)

I first made these cupcakes years ago, after watching Giada de Laurentiis make them on the Food Network.  They are really easy to make because a boxed white cake mix is used as a base for the cupcakes.  The addition of egg whites, butter, and almond & vanilla extract bring these cupcakes to life, making them so much better than an ordinary boxed cake mix.  The whipped cream has mashed berries mixed into it, which imparts a wonderful pink color and makes it extra delicious.  This is the perfect recipe if you are pinched for time and need to whip up dessert on a moment’s notice!  Enjoy!

Raspberry Cream Cupcakes

(print recipe)

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25-ounce) box white cake mix (recommended: Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe)
• 1  1/3 cups water
• 3 large eggs whites
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 (6-ounce) containers fresh raspberries, cut in half or 1 (16-ounce) container fresh strawberries, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/3  cup powdered sugar, plus additional for dusting

Directions

1. Line 18 muffin cups with muffin papers. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the cake mix, water, egg whites, melted butter, almond extract, and vanilla extract in a large bowl for 2 minutes, or until the batter is well blended. Using about 1/3 cup of batter for each cupcake, spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups.
3. Bake the cupcakes until they are very pale golden on top, about 15 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely on a cooling rack.
4. Using a fork, coarsely mash 1 ½ containers of raspberries in a medium bowl. Beat the cream and 1/3 cup of powdered sugar in a large bowl until firm peaks form. Fold the mashed raspberries into the whipped cream.
5. Remove the muffin papers from the cupcakes and cut the tops off of each cupcake. Spoon the raspberry whipped cream atop the cupcake bottoms. Place the cupcake tops on the cupcakes. Dust with more powdered sugar and serve with the remaining berries.

Yield: 18 cupcakes

Recipe from: The Food Network, Giada de Laurentiis