Raspberry Cream Cupcakes

Pikake21's Note:

I got this recipe from Giada De Laurentiis' show Everyday Italian. They are so easy to make, but very aesthetically pleasing as well. The whipped cream is a light and refreshing touch to the cupcake.

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 18 cupcakes

• 1 (18 ¼ ounce) box white cake mix (recommended Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe)
• 1 1⁄3; cups water
• 3 large egg 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
• powdered sugar , 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 1/2 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.

Reviews

[Ethan's Mom]

I use a very similar recipe but with a different technique. I put the filling in an icing bag with a fairly open tip and inject into the cupckes. Following that, I ice the cupcakes and no one knows that they're about to bite into a little bit of heaven!

[mersaydees]

A co-worker brought these in to celebrate Earth Day '08 because she made them with local dairy cream. They were such a hit that I asked for the recipe and found they are already here! How nice! Like Sugarpea, I wouldn't use a box mix -- I'd use a scratch cake mix. Thanks, Pkiake2!

[sugarpea]

These were an incredible hit with everyone from twelve to eighty-four years old. I used Almost Cake Mix Vanilla Cupcakes Almost Cake Mix Vanilla Cupcakes! rather than the boxed mix, then proceeded with the recipe once the cupcakes were baked. I used both raspberry and blueberry versions as they were both available fresh. If you're looking for an impressive but informal dessert give this one a try.