There’s still time to make one or two more deliciously sweet Valentine treats! The kids love cupcakes and strawberries, so we made Strawberry Poke Valentine Cupcakes today. They both helped with the poking of the cupcakes (so funny, they thought) and in sprinkling the Valentine candy hearts on top of the frosted treats.
Strawberry Poke Valentine Cupcakes are easy to make. I started by making a classic white cake. I was out of cake flour, so I substituted 2 tablespoons of flour with cornstarch for each cup of all-purpose flour then sifted the flour five times (see Joy the Baker’s post on the Best Cake Flour Substitute). Because I was going to poke the cupcakes and fill the holes with strawberry Jell-O, I reduced the sugar by 1/2 cup (normally I would use 2 cups of granulated sugar). I also used two baking cups. The first baking cup was used to line the cupcake pan. After I poked the cupcakes and filled them with hot Jell-O, I let them sit until completely cool, then I added the frosting and placed each cupcake in a second baking cup.
I saved two or three teaspoons of the warm strawberry Jell-O and added it to the frosting. The Jello-O gave it a mellow strawberry flavor and a nice pink tint that didn’t overshadow the white and red heart candies. My grand-daughter gave me a silent thumbs up while she eagerly licked the small bits of frosting left in the bowl.
Strawberry Poke Valentine Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 3 cups cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 egg whites
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 3- ounce box strawberry Jell-O
- 42 Valentine themed baking cups
Frosting
- 4 cups confectioners sugar
- ½ cup shortening
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or strawberry extract
- Valentine candy sprinkles
Instructions
To make the cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup regular size muffin pans with 24 of the Valentine themed baking cups.
- In a small bowl or cup, stir together milk and vanilla. In a separate bowl, sift flour and baking powder together.
- Set electric mixer to medium, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add flour to butter mixture alternately with milk. Beat on low speed until blended.
- In a separate bowl, beat egg whites at medium speed until stiff peaks form; gently fold into batter. Fill baking cups about two-thirds full.
- Bake at 350°F for 18-22 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for about 5 minutes, then remove to wire racks. Cool about 20 minutes.
- While the cupcakes are cooling, bring 1 cup of water to a boil. In a small bowl, pour boiling water over Jell-O. Mix until dissolved.
- Using a toothpick, poke each cupcake several times. Spoon one tablespoon of the jello mixture over each cupcake. Return to wire racks. Cool completely before frosting.
To make frosting:
- In a large bowl, cream together the confectioners' sugar and shortening until smooth.
- Add vanilla. Add milk a little at a time until frosting is smooth and stiff, about 5 minutes.
- Dollop about one heaping tablespoon of frosting on top of each cupcake. Fluff frosting with back of spoon. Add about a pinch of Valentine themed sprinkles to top of each cupcake. Put each decorated cupcake in second baking cup.
Shared at: Showcase Your Talent Thursday, Create It Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Share Your Cup Thursday, Brilliant Blog Posts, Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop, Wednesday Roundup, Freedom Fridays, The Weekend Re-Treat Link Party, Friday Frenzy, Pretty Pintastic Party, Moonlight & Mason Jars, What’s Cookin Wednesday, Awesome Life Friday, Worthwhile Wednesdays, Foodie Friday and Everything Else Party, Foodie Friends Friday, Flaunt It Friday, Craft Friendly Friday, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Whimsy Wednesday, Wow Us Wednesdays, Artsy Fartsy Linky Party, Home Matters Linky Party, Best of the Weekend, Link Party Palooza, My 2 Favorite Things, Super Saturday, My Favorite Things Saturday, Dare to Share
These look awesome!
Thanks. They were tasty too!
These are so pretty and look very tasty! Can’t wait to try them. 🙂 Visiting from SITS link party!
Oh lovely! Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts , I also run #tastytuesdays if you fancy linking. Please do add my badge. Thanks
I pinned #tastytuesdays to my Blog Hops and Linky Parties pinterest board, and I added it to my Parties page. I’ll be sure to link up on Tuesday!
I’ve never had a poke cake OR cupcake but I can’t wait to give it a try. I like that strawberry hit in the cupcakes.
How fun and YUMMY! Thanks so much for joining us at the #HomeMattersParty – we hope to see you again next week!
These look wonderful and super yummy! I think I will be trying out your recipe very soon! I would LOVE it if you would come share them @ the What to do Weekends Party! It’s live now! I hope to see you there! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Theresa
Shared! Liked all of your social media, too!
Your Strawberry Poke Valentine Cupcake looks so pretty and delicious! Hope you had a great Valentine weekend and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Yum, Yum! I have had strawberry poke cake, but it’s been ages. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope you come back tomorrow and share some more of your favorite things!! Pinned!
Hi Sherry! Theresa again, I just wanted to pop by and let you know that we Features your wonderful Strawberry Poke Cupcakes Tonight! The new Party just went Live so come grab your button! I hope you’ll join us again this week.
Cheers!
Theresa
Thanks so much for the feature!
These look WONDERFUL !!!
I love strawberry 🙂
These look delicious and just right for Valentine’s, Sherry! Pinned:).