Gluten Free Strawberry Cupcakes
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup (3 oz package) gluten free strawberry jello mix
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups gluten free flour mix
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4-6 strawberries; chopped and mashed or pureed to equal 1/2 cup
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a muffin pan(s) with 12-15 cupcake papers. In a large mixing bowl beat sugar, jello and eggs at medium speed for 1 minute. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix on medium speed for 1 minute. Pour batter into the pans dividing evenly and filling each cupcake 2/3 full. I like to use my 1 1/2 Tablespoon cookie scoop and put 2 scoops of batter in each cupcake liner. Bake cupcakes in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the middle of cupcake comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool for a few minutes and then remove them from the pan to finish cooling. Frost cooled cupcakes with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting. (below)
**I never frost all of my cupcakes. Instead I put half of them in the freezer, unfrosted and I store the extra frosting in the fridge. Whenever we want cupcakes I grab a few out of the freezer along with the frosting from the fridge. The cupcakes thaw on the counter within 20 minutes or 15 seconds in the microwave. Just frost and enjoy. Fresh cupcakes every day for a week (less in our house)!
2 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2 Tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature
1 strawberry, chopped & mashed or pureed (1-2 Tablespoons)
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
milk if needed
Place cream cheese, butter and pureed strawberry in a mixing bowl and beat until combined. Mix in the lemon juice (optional but brightens up the flavor). Add the powdered sugar and mix on low until combined then turn mixer to high and beat for 1-2 minutes until frosting is light and creamy. Check the frosting's spreading consistency at this time. Cream cheese frosting tends to be on the soft side so you probably won't need any additional liquid. If the spreading consistency is too stiff mix in some milk 1 teaspoon at a time checking spreading consistency after each addition. Store frosting in the refrigerator until ready to use.
**The strawberry makes the frosting a pale pink. I added a little food coloring to make it brighter.
Strawberry "Happy Birthdays"
