Hidden Strawberry Cupcakes

7/18/2012

Birthdays are a big deal in our house. Last month, we celebrated my husband's birthday with some friends at a baseball game. It was a lot of fun but not the most practical place to take a cake. (Not to mention that it was 108 degrees that day.) I decided instead to send birthday cupcakes to work with him so that his coworkers could join in the birthday celebration instead of trying to get cupcakes to a baseball game.

One of his favorite desserts in strawberry shortcake but that is also not a very practical dessert to send to the office. I came up with my own cupcake version of strawberry shortcake that would be easier to transport and to share with friends - a strawberry shortcake cupcake. A white cake with a fresh strawberry center and whipped cream frosting.

I adapted the white cake recipe from one that I had seen on sugarandsnapshots.com. I loved the idea of adding lemon flavor to the cake to highlight the fresh strawberries.

White Cake Cupcakes
2 1/2 c Cake Flour
1 tbsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1 1/2 c Sugar
1/2 c (1 stick) Unsalted Butter, room temperature
4 egg whites
1 1/4 c buttermilk
2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp lemon juice

In the bowl of your stand mixer combine the sugar and butter and whisk until pale and fluffy.

Combine the egg whites, milk, and lemon flavoring and whisk with a fork to combine.