Sunday, January 4, 2009

Pink Strawberry Cupcakes for a Special Birthday

We often joke that Hallmark has a card for just about every obscure, random, and questionable holiday though I believe we celebrate a holiday that Hallmark hasn't quite captured yet. For the 2nd glorious year in a row, hubby and I have celebrated Bling's Birthday. For those that need a little clarification, Bling is my lovely dear friend that I wear everyday on my ring finger.

On New Year's Eve of 2004/2005, hubby proposed and Bling officially became a part of our lives. Since then we've celebrated Bling's Birthday on New Year's Eve, complete with cupcakes and of course, a little champagne. We're easily amused. And clearly a little crazy.

This year, hubby acquiesced to my very girly request of pink, strawberry cupcakes. A man who can make fresh strawberry cupcakes with strawberry icing is a keeper, don't you think?! With no guidance from this micro manager of the kitchen, hubby pulled off some absolutely delicious cupcakes that were gone in a just a few short days.


Fresh strawberries are folded into the cupcake batter which is lightened with non-fat yogurt; softened butter eagerly brings back the sinfulness factor. Powdered sugar, more butter and more fresh strawberries make for a sweet, light and very strawberry frosting. These are amazing and I look forward to my upcoming birthday for a few more of these treats!

Bling's Strawberry Cupcakes
Found by Hubby on Cooking with Amy

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
6 ounces vanilla yogurt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup fresh strawberries, diced

Frosting:
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 fresh strawberries (we used about 3)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper liners. With a mixer, beat the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the egg, yogurt and vanilla, blending until smooth.

2. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add slowly to the wet ingredients and blend, then fold in the strawberries.

3. Divide the mixture equally between the 12 paper-lined cupcake cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.

4. Beat together butter, powdered sugar, and mashed strawberry in medium-size bowl until creamy and smooth. Chill frosting for 15 minutes or until thick. Frost cupcakes with a spatula. Keep cupcakes in the refrigerator loosely covered.

33 comments:

kat said...

Oh yum! Those look absolutely perfect!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

I love this!! So then should I be saying Happy Anniversary instead of Happy Birthday?? :-D

Leslie said...

OMG..that is too funny! But who wouldnt celebrate DIAMONDS????????????????!!!!

Esi said...

Happy birthday to the BLING!! I think it's perfectly acceptable to have a party in celebration of bling :)

Bunny said...

Your absolutely right, any man that'll venture into the kitchen to make pink cupcakes is a keeper! Happy birthday BLING!!

Unknown said...

i love love love how adorably pink they are...^_^

they look perfect with your bling bling hehe

Anonymous said...

I want to celebrate bling too...I' think I've been married too long because I no longer remember the day! How horrible huh? Happy day to you.

Pam said...

How sweet. I love that you celebrate Bling's birthday. The cupcakes are beautiful - perfect for a diamond.

Anonymous said...

What a cute story, and fresh strawberry cupcakes sound great!

Clumbsy Cookie said...

Go hubby! And happy birthday to Bling! That must be the luckiest ring in the world to have those cupcakes!

Snooky doodle said...

Ha how nice ! Another birthday :) These cupcakes look so cute and yummy wish it was my birthday not bling. He doesn t eat :)

alexandra's kitchen said...

yes indeed a keeper! what a guy. Happy Anniversary of engagement. What a great way to celebrate New Year's Eve.

Kate said...

Oh my goodness, how cute! My "bling's" birthday is coming up soon...I wonder what my hubby would say if I said I wanted to make cupcakes for her birthday...haha.

And I agree, a man who can make these cupcakes is definitely a keeper!

Stephanie said...

OMG I love celebrating the bling! Great cupcakes too :)

The Blonde Duck said...

I think that's so cute your engagement ring has a birthday! That's so fun!

Kim in the Kitchen said...

My husband and I got engaged on New Year's Eve one year before you guys! We don't bake a cake for it, but I like the idea:)

La Bella Cooks said...

Happiest birthday, Bling!

TS of eatingclub vancouver said...

"We're easily amused. And clearly a little crazy."

LOL!!! I especially like the bday hat on bling, by the way. Teehee.

grace said...

thanks for the chuckle, sharon! and by chuckle, i of course mean loud, obnoxious guffaw. :)
needless to say, you have good taste--any man who makes girly cupcakes is definitely a keeper. :)

FROGGITY! said...

and a Happy New Year to you!

THAT'S SOOO CUTE! I love that story! :) and they look delish too!

That Girl said...

We celebrate my Bling's birthday too...but mostly we just call it "my birthday"

MaryBeth said...

How cute is he? They look really good.

Ana Powell said...

Happy anniversary
"Blings" are girls best friends.
Just adorable your pink cupcakes and yummy for sure.
x

Mary said...

Those look so delicious! My hubby definitely would have made cupcakes from the box;) Happy birthday, bling!

Maria said...

The cupcakes look amazing!! What a fun celebration!

tiarastantrums said...

look so yummy

Katie said...

Sounds SO good! I will have to try these!

test it comm said...

Happy bling day! :) Those strawberry cupcakes look good!

Jenny said...

Great story! Those pink cupcakes are adorable! Happy Birthday to Bling!

krysta said...

happy anniversary of the day of your engagement... i'm sure that will be a hallmark card soon, never doubt the hallmark co.! what a sweetie your husband is for making you these!

Hayley said...

How lucky you are to have a pink- cupcake baking husband. Strawberry cupcakes are my favorite. Oh, and I love the ring, so sparkly!

Katrina said...

What a great guy to make you cupcakes and buy you that bling! Must be because you're a great gal!

Anonymous said...

I could see myself eating that frosting straight out of the bowl.