Description
Delectable strawberry cardamom cupcakes blend sweet and aromatic flavors in a delightful dessert. Creamy strawberry basil buttercream crowns these elegant treats, offering you a memorable culinary experience with each sublime bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¼ cups (532 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup plus 2 tbsps (255 g) sugar
- 1 cup plus 2 tbsps (255 g) sugar
- 8 tbsps (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 12 tbsps (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg whites
- ¾ cup (177 ml) pureed strawberries
- ½ cup (118 ml) pureed strawberries
- ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (15 g) finely chopped basil
- ½ tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and ground cardamom in a mixing bowl until perfectly combined.
- Butter Transformation: Cream butter and sugar in a stand mixer until light and fluffy, creating a voluminous base.
- Egg Integration: Add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before the next addition.
- Liquid Harmony: Alternately mix dry ingredients and milk-vanilla blend, maintaining a smooth batter consistency.
- Fruity Infusion: Gently fold strawberry puree throughout the batter, ensuring even distribution.
- Baking Ritual: Fill cupcake liners three-quarters full and bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cooling Process: Rest cupcakes briefly in the pan, then transfer to a cooling rack for complete temperature reduction.
- Buttercream Alchemy: Whisk egg whites and sugar over a water bath until sugar dissolves and mixture reaches 160°F.
- Meringue Mastery: Whip the mixture in a stand mixer until robust peaks form, then gradually integrate butter fragments.
- Flavor Fusion: Blend finely chopped basil and strawberry puree into the buttercream, creating a vibrant, aromatic topping.
- Final Flourish: Generously pipe strawberry basil buttercream onto completely cooled cupcakes, garnishing with a drizzle of strawberry puree and delicate edible rose petals.
Notes
- Precision Matters: Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for smooth, even mixing and optimal cupcake texture.
- Temperature Tip: Use an instant-read thermometer when heating egg whites to guarantee food safety and perfect meringue consistency.
- Folding Technique: Gently incorporate strawberry puree to maintain batter’s airiness and prevent deflation of delicate mixture.
- Decoration Hack: Chill buttercream briefly if it becomes too soft for piping, allowing for more precise and elegant cake decorating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 239
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 123 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg