14valentines Day 2: Hunger

[pocky_slash]

Today's 14valentines theme is Hunger. Click on the link to read a great essay on the subject and see links to others' contributions for the day.

Keep reading for the awesome cupcakes I am making next week for Valentine's Day.

Vanilla-Strawberry Marbled Valentine's Day Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 sick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 egg whites
1/2 cup strawberry preserves

Frosting:
1 8oz package of cream cheese
1/4 cup (half a stick) butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups confectioner's sugar
red food coloring (optional)

Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place paper liners in standard muffin pan or grease each muffin cup lightly.
   
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix well.
   
3. Beat granulated sugar and butter in large bowl with electric mixer for 1 minute. Add milk and vanilla and mix at low speed for 30 seconds.
   
4. Gradually add flour mixture while beating at low speed.
   
5. Add egg whites and beat for one minute.
   
6. Pour batter into liners so they are 1/2 full.
   
7. Drop 1 teaspoon of strawberry preserves on top of batter and use a toothpick to swirl it throughout the cupcake liner.
   
8. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Set aside to cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

1. Mix cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter with an electric mixer. Add vanilla. Mix just until combined.
   
2. Add sugar gradually. Be careful not to over-mix, or frosting will be too soft to spread. (If you do over-mix, just add more powdered sugar until it reaches the desired consistency.)
   
3. Spread frosting over cooled cupcakes.
   
4. Add a drop of food coloring (just a drop!) to each cupcakes and swirl it through the icing with a toothpick.

Makes and frosts 28 cupcakes. If you have fresh strawberries, they work nicely as a garnish, as well.